Channel Cod Ban

[petesnr]

There will be a cod ban in force from 00.01 on 15th February for the channel sector V11d which basically covers our area from the east to just west of Swanage. This ban is due to the under 10m fleet campaigning against a 100kg per month quota of cod. The minister listened and allowed 1 ton per vessel per month and they have caught their annual quota in 6 weeks. As usual commonsense has gone out of the window and us recreational anglers will suffer doubly since the ban also applies to us and the inshore fllet will target other species such as ray and bass for the rest of the year. The squeeze on the under 10m fleet will eventually lead to a reduction in stocks of many recreational species. The only hope is that the fleet will be reduced in size in the long term.

Peter

[gaffa]

Peter,

 

I have deleted my initial response on this matter

 

 

I considered a 12hr cooling down period was necessary

 

On the other hand I don't think it will have much effect

 

Peteg

[Adam F]

This applies to our club boats then peter? How far out does it cover and until when?

 

Does this mean that anyone catching cod mid-channel this spring is breaking the law?

 

If so - how are they communicating this to the leisure sector??

[great white]

I have just called a Member who has the contacts to check these things

 

I have been told that this area extends from Dover to the 002 00 00 latitude line

 

and goes all the way accross the channel

 

Our friend is going to chech if the ban covers landing of fish within that area or catching them.

I am sure that would be a grey area considering how easy it is to fish outside the area when running out of Poole.

 

If I get more info I will pass it on

 

Charlie

 

 

POST NOTE

I have just had the reply call, after they checked with the MCA

 

The Ban is currently for commercial vessels under 10 metres and NOT for private RSA boats

[Paul J]

I take that to mean that the RSA has little effect on Fish stocks - something we have always understood

 

PJ

[TomBettle]

 

The Ban is currently for commercial vessels under 10 metres and NOT for private RSA boats

Edited February 15, 2008 by TomBettle

[great white]

My contact checked and he definatly stated comercial registered fishing boats under 10m

 

as private boats are not registered then we are not included.

 

As usual I doubt we have the manpower to enforce this especially as it extends all accross the channel.

 

Charlie

[shytalk]

theyr all to busy chasing 12m charter boats !!!!!!

[gaffa]

Guys,

 

Thank you for clarifying matters.

 

I've temporarily stood down from my all guns blazing response.

 

How dare they even contemplate stopping me from catching and even possibly landing my first ever cod.

 

I should be so lucky

 

Peteg

[jack]

Thank Goodness this has all been clarified. Andy and I have not slept a wink for 3 or 4 nights worrying what to do about our cod catches !!

P.S.What do'es a living Cod look like ?.... jack

[duncan]

theyr all to busy chasing 12m charter boats !!!!!!

in a bizzarre twist of fate presumably the 12m ones are fine to land cod from anywhere over 6 miles out, but those under 10m aren't able to land any caught East of 2 degrees!

[gaffa]

Duncan,

 

It seems you have put your finger on a super get out clause for the 12m boats.

 

Just another example of this governments crazy decisions.

 

I didn't bother to keep count after number 54.

 

Peteg

[TomBettle]

When Troms Explorer comes round on her way to Norway, I am so tempted to stop and catch a few mackerel off the Bill just as my little poke in the eye at the idiots calling the shots.

At 13m would I really be being that naughty?

[shytalk]

you think the mackerel will still be about !!!!!!

[petesnr]

It is so typical that the recreational sector is left completely in the dark as to their position when it comes to quotas. In the past we have been included in cod bans and I assumed that this was the case now. Personally I shall be targeting spotted pollack from now on--mind you it's 2 years since I had the last one!

Pete

[duncan]

Peter

 

I think the powers that be did extensive research (taking your, mine and Jack's catch reports and giving them to a 30 person analysis team) and concluded that if we were truly representative of the RSA as a whole there would be little impact on the poor old cod!

 

I have had 9 on board since launch in April 2001 with 2 of those coming from mid channel. On the bright side 2 of them netted