Steve S

The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “The decision to water down the recent European decision on the bass stocks”. Government responded: The petition title misrepresents the EU process. UK Government successfully ensured anglers could fish for sport and the derogation for gillnets excluded driftnets that take most UK netting catches. The UK Government has not sought to water down the EU decision to protect bass stocks agreed in the EU fisheries Council on 15 December 2015, as suggested in the petition title. The terms of the petition are either a misrepresentation or misunderstanding of the EU process and the UK Government’s approach. It is actually the UK Government that has consistently pressed for EU action to address the decline of the stock, and we secured emergency action in 2015. We were not the authors of the recent proposal for 2016, however – this was a Commission proposal – nor indeed of the derogations offered in the compromise deal tabled at Council. However the agreement for 2016 is tougher on most sectors than that for 2015. The UK Government did manage to achieve some key outcomes to adjust both the proposal and the related compromise deal. These help to protect the EU bass stock’s progress to sustainable fishing and the interests of both recreational and small scale commercial fishermen as EU bass fisheries move towards that goal, as follows. We fought for and secured continuation of a recreational catch and release fishery for recreational sea anglers during the 6 month moratorium on bass catches, which was under threat in the Commission proposal wording. This means that anglers and charter vessels can continue sport-fishing activity throughout the year, subject to the ban proposed by the Commission on keeping bass during the first six months, coupled with a single fish daily bag limit per person in the second half of the year. While accepting the principle of the proposed 6 month moratorium and a subsequent catch limit of 1 tonne per vessel per month for most commercial fisheries, we aimed to avoid disproportionate impacts on the lower impact, small-scale inshore hook and line and inshore fixed gillnet fisheries during the first 6 months. But as the UK Government position was for a more modest derogation than that offered on the day, we sought to reduce the impact of this on bass stocks. Our negotiating position was based on different fisheries’ relative impacts and reflected several factors. Hook and line has the highest degree of selectivity for the right size of bass taken – though gillnets also perform well compared with other fishing methods. We also needed to consider the proportion of the bass catch taken by UK vessels using these methods: although the nets gear group has previously accounted for half of the annual UK bass total landings (46% average from 2011-2013), drift-netting is estimated to account for up to 90% of this, as the Commission are aware, and drift-netting was not agreed for inclusion in the derogation. In the final compromise these two commercial fisheries (hook and line and fixed gillnets) were given identical derogations for all Member States fishing for bass (February-March moratorium and 1.3 tonne catch limit all year). The UK Government negotiating position in advance of the Council decision had been to press for lower – and differentiated – catch limits for derogations to apply for these two EU fisheries (excluding drift-netting) during the moratorium. But while the compromise offered higher monthly catch limits for netting, matching the limits for hook and line, these are not applicable to the majority of UK netting activity and are combined with the complete closure for two months. It was necessary to agree EU-level measures for bass in this way because we share the fishery with other Member States who need to be fully signed up if we are to achieve stock recovery. We now at least have a firm timetable with Member States’ and Commission agreement, to achieve sustainable fishing of bass by 2018, and the EU’s interim management package will increasingly be complemented by regional measures, including in the context of multi-annual management plans driven by the Member States concerned, as well as national ones. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Click this link to view the response online: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/116747?reveal_response=yes The Petitions Committee will take a look at this petition and its response. They can press the government for action and gather evidence. If this petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the Committee will consider it for a debate. The Committee is made up of 11 MPs, from political parties in government and in opposition. It is entirely independent of the Government. Find out more about the Committee: https://petition.parliament.uk/help#petitions-committee Thanks, The Petitions team UK Government and Parliament

So the Needles site has been designated. What does that actually mean?

Very smart indeed Adam. Hope it's easy to keep clean.

Now that is one nice boat, looks like it can handle bad weather as well. Just be a bit chilly for local waters, or am I going soft?

I'm planning to take Tigerfish over at least once this year. Targeting most probably early May for the first weather window. As ever small tides are prefered. I really enjoy the different sort of fishing there if we can make a trip during Alderney week that adds another dimension, this year I want to be holding a torch [emoji2]. Taking 2 or 3 crew, no names confirmed yet.

A typical Richard Little John diatribe against Europe. The minister gave in to pressure from the commercials.

Nice bit of kit Graham. Plenty of interesting weather around to really test her out.

[emoji53] [emoji37] words fail me

All the gear no idea!

1) Court Jester - Neal, Stuie & Alfie 2) Madness - Martin, Dean, Terry B 3) Kelly's Hero- John S, Allan G, Dave S. Plus non member. 4) Reel Magic Dave Kev 5) Illusion Tom Crew TBA Both non members 6) Wishin Too- Nigel & Mal 7) Marlin - Greg, Vic(Non Member) 8) Kingfisher - Chris, Lester 9) Slice of Life. Lofty 10) just chillin - rich, emma and matt (non member Had to pull Tigerfish out of the comp today, been told I have some jobs to do, apparently fishing on Friday was enough . Hope it goes well for you all.

1) Court Jester - Neal, Stuie plus TBA 2) Tigerfish Steve S, Alun J, others tba

Belated happy birthday Terry. Sounds like the food is top notch.

Greenham Regis do a good job and nice people to boot.

Nice one Steve a double from a kayak, very good.

1. Court Jester Neal, Stuie ,Tony 2. Sweet Pea Mal + Trevor 3. Alfresco Charlie Will + TBC 4. Frisky Fox - Mike and Carol 5. Kingfisher - Chris W, Dogfish Dave 6. Fisheagle- Allan Green, Dave Samuel and Mick Pike. 7. Madness - Martin + Dean + Room for one more anybody? 8. Just chillin - rich and Emma 9. Marlin - Greg and Brad (Let the Challenge begin!!) 10. Tigerfish - Steve, Diane 11.Wishin Too-Nigel,Martin Cherrett 12. JV2 - AdamF, AlunJ & RobF

Hope you have a good one Stuie Steve

Posted Today, 06:53 PM 1. Court Jester Neal, Stuie plus crew 2. Sweet Pea Mal + Trevor 3. Alfresco Charlie Will + TBC 4. Frisky Fox - Mike and Carol 5. Kingfisher - Chris W, Dogfish Dave 6. Fisheagle- Allan Green, Dave Samuel and Mick Pike. 7. Madness - Martin + Dean + Room for one more anybody? 8. Just chillin - rich and Emma 9. Marlin - Greg and Brad (Let the Challenge begin!!) 10. Tigerfish - Steve, others tbc

Well done, good to know there are a few around.

You are cracking up with all the music Rob

Upgrading the alternator: maybe depends how meaty it is already, For battery type something of a cross between starter and domestic would be idea, otherwise go for a domestic type the absolute current is more in the 80amp range than the 600amp or so a starter motor can take so within range of a domestic consumption. Charging 3 different battery banks is somewhat complex but quite common, some changes could be required (more expense) to your existing setup. If you want to take this further Mike i'll be happy to have a chat with you about it, I do have some experience in this area.

You could fit a windlass Mike. Using one can take a fair bit of power from the battery so you should have the engine running to recharge. I would suggest a separate battery fitted near the windlass to avoid issues with your current setup. Also the cables need not be so heavy duty then.

For my boat (Targa 31) a high power windlass is brilliant as it has a walk round deck, there are no safety issues being on the bow. 4 mins to retrieve 100m, I free the clutch to allow the anchor to drop at a fast but controlled rate. Looking at the photo of a Parker 770 I'm not sure I would want to be walking up to the bow if it cut up rough while at anchor or indeed freeing the clutch for a manual release while dropping anchor. As Dave says using the winch to drop the anchor is very slow, too slow IMO for precision anchoring at the sort of depth's we get round here. I think you would be better off on safety grounds staying in the stern of the boat and use a high power side mounted capstan (if possible), or Alderney ring with a rode run channel to a good quality roller on the bow.

I think multiplat is better as it beds down well in the anchor locker and does not twist up. You just need to be sure the windlass supports it check on the manufacturers brochure. Mine does and it works great.

I suggest you have a stock of leads up to 1 1/2 lb. That should sort you out for round here. Some places are still unfishable at anchor with 1 1/2 lb at certain tides but IMO using any more is just no fun so I just don't fish them when the tide is really pushing.

Interesting report Chris seem like a fair few were lost, maybe they were biting a bit short.