Stuie

Birthday greetings Dean - hope you're celebrating in style...

Best wishes to you both. Agood day for 'fettling your tackle' indoors no doubt.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-35724137

Good bite that Chris.

http://technology-trust-news.org/104K-3Z2WW-A5JA5V7Z31/cr.aspx?v=0

Response from Dr Adam Brown Dear Stuart Thanks for your email which was forwarded to me and I am very sorry that you feel that you can no longer take part. I am in touch with the Angling Trust, with whom we work closely, and am aware of their position. Can I clarify that Substance are commissioned to undertake the Diary catch and spend survey by Cefas. We do not set either the way in which the <10m fleet are monitored nor European or national government policies on bass catches. What I would say is that whatever the situation it is important for recreational angling that its impact (environmental, economic and social) is as accurately understood as possible: indeed, following the experience of Sea Angling 2012 a different approach (the diaries) is being tried this year to try to provide a more accurate analysis of recreational catches. As such it is certainly not a tick box exercise for us, but one involving some very in depth work. This then offers a model of good practice against which other approaches can be assessed. However, I understand your position and am copying in Kieran Hyder from Cefas who will pass your comments on to Defra. Best regards Adam Dr. Adam Brown substance. 3rd Floor Fourways House Hilton St. Manchester M1 2EJ www.substance.net

Oops - just sounded off to the substance team - To whom it may concern, Since agreeing to take part in this survey I have given the issue much thought.I now feel it an unecessary waste of my time - and your time - to continue this survey. It was only 4 years ago that a full and in depth survey of recreational sea angling (RSA) was carried out. I took an active part in this survey which appears to have been a total waste of time for me and all those who took part. The 2012 results mean nothing as has been confirmed by our government (and your paymaster no doubt) taking none of the results into account and showing no parallel in depth survey of the commercial fishing industry. It appears to recreational sea anglers that they are being made a scape-goat for the demise of the European Bass when in reality it is the nets of the commercial sector that are the real threat to stocks. Controls on the commercial sector are shabby to say the least by comparison. There is no reason I can see for RSA's to 'bend the truth,as there is no financial gain. Can you hand on heart say the same applies to all commercial bass angler? I suspect this survey is another unnecessary government tick-box exercise while burying their heads in the sand as to the real problem. Why re-invent the wheel? Look at the USA's East Coast Striped Bass example - it really isn't rocket science, but of course enforcement costs money. I'm not alone in being very passionate about these issues and what government and the EC need to do is take immediate punitive action against commercial bass fishermen. Sincerely

All a load of box ticking taking the easy option - the RSA's. Not difficult to work out where the problem lies - who benefits financially from being conservative with the truth?

In the committee section Tony - on the menu choice poll. Bending the elbow too much I see.

Best wishes Duncan - I hope you're out enjoying yourself..

Tuesday, 23rd February, 2016 Reminder to Specimen and Species anglers of bass rule changes for 2016 Specimen anglers and species hunters are being reminded to return all bass alive to the sea from now until July 1st 2016 in line with the EU conservation measures for 2016. The Angling Trust has agreed to implement a ‘measure & release’ rule for anglers who wish to enter bass caught into its popular Sea Specimen Awards Scheme between now and July 1st 2016. This rule will allow specimen fish to be recorded based on the total length of bass allowing anglers fishing from the shore, or without access to certified scales at the point of capture of a specimen fish, to measure fish before returning them alive to the sea. Specimen weights have been converted into lengths using the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network's (SSACN) Give Fish A Chance online converter. The changes to the scheme will begin immediately and the rules of the scheme will be amended accordingly. Anglers competing in the Angling Trust’s popular Species Hunt challenge are also being reminded to return all bass caught untilJuly 1st. Any pictures of bass entered that look to be dead or taken away from the point of capture will not be accepted. Recreational anglers have always sort to preserve stocks of all species of fish and many years ago formulated a 'catch & release' scheme for both boat and shore competitions. More recently the Specimen Awards Scheme introduced a ‘weighed at sea’ category to allow anglers to return protected or threatened species that would have previously been required to be weighed on land to claim a Specimen Award. The inclusion of ‘measure & release’ in the Sea Specimen Award Scheme reflects a legal requirement for bass caught by recreational anglers to be returned during the first six months of 2016 as well as the hard-fought campaign by the Angling Trust to allow the 'catch & release' of bass during this period. From July 1st until the end of 2016 recreational anglers will be allowed to retain one bass per day. ENDS --------------------------------------------------------------------- Further information: Anglers wishing to make a claim for a specimen bass can buy a durable bass measuring tape for only £3 from the Bass Anglers' Sportfishing Society (BASS) website. The Specimen Award Scheme is open to individual Angling Trust members and members of Angling Trust member clubs. To find the new specimen lengths for bass in your Region, and for more information about the Sea Specimen Awards Scheme, CLICK HERE. For more information download the Angling Trust’s guide to ‘All the facts about the 2016 EU bass fishing measures’. Contacts: Eric Gerry, Specimen Award Scheme Administrator, email:ericgerry@aol.com James Lewis, Angling Trust Regional Officer and Species Hunt Administrator, email: james.lewis@anglingtrust.net Picture: Credit: Matt Powell, Fishing and Foraging Wales Angling Trust: The Angling Trust is the national representative and governing body for angling in England. It is united in a collaborative relationship with Fish Legal, a separate membership association using the law to protect fish stocks and the rights of its members throughout the UK. Joint membership packages with Fish Legal are available for individuals, clubs, fisheries and other categories. Find out all about the Angling Trust and its work atwww.anglingtrust.net or call us on 01568 620447

Looks fine Tony.

Perhaps we should discuss these issues as a committee to look for a way forward if one is needed.

Best wishes to you both.

Planning to go out tomorrow morning - anyone else venturing out or would like to crew? Hope to get outside and look for whiting & rays.

Interesting article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35562253

Well done Rob - very competent resolution

Good luck Mikey...

Sorry to hear of your new problems Mike. Hope it's an easy fix from here.

Angling Trust News Release concerning the debate - http://www.anglingtrust.net/news.asp?itemid=2923&itemTitle=Big+day+out+for+bass+at+Parliament%3A+MPs+back+motion+over+unfair+restrictions+on+sea+anglers&section=29&sectionTitle=Angling+Trust+News

I hope you both enjoy your day and celebrate in style.

http://emarketing.blue-leaf.co.uk/t/ViewEmail/r/1CBB815AD6D48B062540EF23F30FEDED/48DC3077CD455777C35B3650D253B2D9

http://technology-trust-news.org/104K-40PWH-A5JA5V7Z31/cr.aspx?v=0

Here's a reply from my MP - no support there - just following the party line for a quiet life. Dear Mr Cooper, Thank you for contacting me about recreational sea angling. I understand how important this is to life and Ports like Poole. I appreciate your frustration over the moratorium that has been imposed on catching and keeping seabass in the first six months of the year. Having looked into this, I have been assured that at the December meeting of the European Fisheries Council the UK’s main concern was to agree measures that will allow bass fishing to become sustainable by 2018, and the package agreed puts us on the right path to do so. The UK fought for, and secured, agreement that recreational catch-and-release is still permitted throughout the six-month moratorium period. This means that anglers and charter vessels can continue sport-fishing throughout the year, and will only be prohibited from keeping the fish they catch. In the second half of the year there will be a daily limit of one fish per person. In considering restrictions on commercial fishing, Ministers had to consider the impacts of the different methods. Gillnets perform relatively well at taking bass of the right size, whereas drift nets are estimated to account for up to 90 per cent of all bass taken by nets. That’s why the UK pressed for drift nets to face a full 6 month closure, while allowing a limited derogation for fixed gillnets. I understand it was necessary to agree EU-level measures for bass in this way because we share the fishery with other European countries, and they need to be fully signed up if we are to achieve stock recovery. There is now a firm timetable to achieve sustainable fishing of bass by 2018, and I believe that has to be the priority. Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. Robert Syms MP

Can't get into the link Charlie - looks like it's an internal review... Wouldn't allow me to register.