Mal Thomas

Guys... Take a look.... Specifically Angling Trust's involvement with Sussex IFCA's ban on bottom trawled gear. Southern IFCA also gets a mention regarding the voluntary code for black beam management that we had some input on. I will send Emma Rudd a reminder that she should make a visit to us similar to the one they made to the Mumbles Fishing Club. I am busy right now, but I will get to it. Angling Trust Sea News Update | April 2026 POLICY ROUND-UP from HANNAH RUDD Pollack, bass, black bream ... the fight to protect our seas has never been greater Dear fellow sea anglers, If you needed proof our seas are under pressure, this month delivered it - on the water and in the science. The UK Marine Strategy update confirms what anglers have known for years: our seas are in serious decline. And the numbers back it up - 58% of UK catch limits for 2026 have been set above scientific advice. That’s not sustainable. It puts fish stocks, our fishing, and coastal communities at risk. But this is exactly why we keep showing up. We’ve taken recreational fishing and your concerns right to the heart of Westminster, meeting directly with Fisheries Minister Angela Eagle this month. We’ve secured a Defra roundtable on pollack, putting anglers and charter skippers directly in front of decision-makers. If you fish for pollack, and are concerned about the incoming bag limit, make sure your voice is heard by joining us on 28th April and submitting questions to us in advance. We’re also seeing leadership from within our own community. In Southern IFCA’s district, voluntary measures to protect nesting black bream in MCZs are a clear example of anglers and charter skippers stepping up to safeguard spawning fish and secure the future of the fishery. And when management follows the science, it works. The increase in the bass bag limit to three fish reflects a recovering stock - something many of you are already seeing on the water. But we’re not taking our foot off the gas. Through the Bass Management Group and Welsh Seabass Advisory Group, we’re staying firmly in the fight to protect that progress against unsustainable commercial interests like netting and pair trawling. We’ll keep pushing for decisions that rebuild fish populations - not run them down - and challenge industrial-scale commercial pressure where it threatens the future of our fisheries. Bluefin tuna mandatory training Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for the 2026 bluefin tuna fishery. Mandatory training is now in place - a big step in showing the professionalism and responsibility of recreational anglers and charter businesses. But credibility only works if the rules are enforced. We’re pushing hard behind the scenes to stamp out illegal fishing and protect those doing it properly. We’re not the regulator - but we are your voice at the table. And with over 200 applications to join our Bluefin Tuna Advisory Group, it’s clear how much this fishery matters. There’s also opportunity. The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme is now open, with dedicated Marine Management Organisation support for recreational applications - and £132 million available for fisheries and coastal communities in England over the next five years. At the same time, four additional Fisheries Management Plans are closing for consultation in early May, so if you have views on pollack, wrasse and bream let us know via sea@anglingtrust.net. These decisions will shape the future of our fisheries - and we’ll be right in the middle of that fight. And finally – some good news to end. Sussex IFCA have announced a ban on trawling and other towed fishing gear in Beachy Head East MCZ, affording vital protection for our inshore fisheries. Thanks to campaigning, including by local anglers with the support of the Angling Trust, the chalk reef and other important marine habitats can now recover and, hopefully, thrive into the future. Progress isn’t fast. But it is happening - because we keep pushing as your voice every day. This is a fight for our fish, our seas, and the future of sea angling. It’s David vs Goliath - but if we don’t stand up together, who will? Join the Angling Trust today and be part of the fight. HANNAH RUDD is the Angling Trust's Head of Marine. You can contact Hannah via email: sea@anglingtrust.net CHARTER BOATS from JEMMA JEWKES Jemma Jewkes is the Angling Trust's Charter Boat Officer, a role supported by The Seafarers’ Charity. Jemma provides dedicated advocacy for the UK’s charter boat sector, helping skippers, crew, and operators navigate regulatory, financial, and operational challenges. To contact, email jemma.jewkes@anglingtrust.net See you in Whitby ... or Falmouth! In the past few months I’ve been travelling around the country to meet charter skippers and other anglers in person and hear their views. So far, I’ve visited Milford Haven, Weymouth, Brighton and Brightlingsea. Whitby is scheduled for 22nd May, with Falmouth to be confirmed. I’m now acting on what I’ve learned and taking forward the priorities people have shared. The Defra roundtable on pollack is set for Tuesday, 28th April. This is a fantastic opportunity for skippers concerned about bag limits and other issues to have their questions answered. Please sign up for the online meeting and submit your questions by 24th April. You can find details here I have also been continuing the development of the membership database and charter boat finder, and establishing a working group on enforcement in Brighton - more details on these to come. Stay Informed To receive updates and be added to the mailing list, please email jemma.jewkes@anglingtrust.net or sea@anglingtrust.net. Our next Charter Boat Catch-Ups are on Wednesday, 6th May at 5pm and Thursday, 7th May at 2pm. There are separate links for the two meetings: Wednesday, 6th May - Click here to join the meeting Thursday, 7th May - Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 337 068 027 031 5 Passcode: 4h5MC3Vk ANGLER ENGAGEMENT from PETER MORGAN Peter Morgan, the Angling Trust's Sea Angling Engagement Officer, is asking clubs and individual anglers to get in touch if they have any questions relating to issues they face or to share news of success they or their clubs have had. Email peter.morgan@anglingtrust.net or sea@anglingtrust.net Safety campaign launched for boaters Water safety organisations have launched their annual safety campaign for recreational boaters. ‘Reduce the risk, boost your skills’ provides advice for anyone heading out to sea. It is supported by HM Coastguard (part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency), the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Royal Yachting Association. Take a look before you head off on your next fishing trip and check you are ready for any emergencies. You can find details here In addition, further safety advice has been published for new guidance on Personal Locator Beacon registration. These regulations will strengthen search and rescue response to incidents at sea. Check out the regulations here Advice on record catches With the lengthening days and warmer weather many anglers will be out on the beaches or launching their boats in search of their favourite fish. A reminder to anglers in search of specimens that the boat caught weight records were frozen in June 2024. They were replaced with a length-based system. Whilst there is still a weight record list for shore species there are also length-based records many of which are open to qualifying lengths. Guidance and details of how to make a claim can be found here Anyone wishing to find out more, please drop us a line at sea@anglingtrust.net. WALES POLICY from GARETH HENSON Gareth Henson is the Angling Trust's Marine Policy Officer for Wales. He promotes the social and economic value of sea angling in Wales, ensuring that the voices of sea anglers are heard in key fisheries management discussions. If you’d like to get in touch with Gareth, you can reach at sea@anglingtrust.net Manifesto for Welsh Sea Angling I have been working on a Welsh Sea Angling Manifesto in advance of the Senedd elections on the 7th May. The Manifesto is for members of The Senedd representing Welsh constituencies and those with an interest in coastal and rural growth, tourism, and natural resources. It outlines why Welsh Government and politicians should be supporting recreational sea fishing for its economic, health and social benefits as well as its contribution to environmental stewardship. It details a number of asks including recognising the recreational sea fishing in Welsh policy and planning, investing in coastal infrastructure to deliver jobs and growth, and to deliver a Welsh Sea Angling Strategy. Mumbles club visit Earlier this month I met with Mumbles Motor Boat & Fishing Club to talk about the Angling Trust and specifically the Sea Angling Diary, the fish handling guidance and feeding into the Fisheries Management Plans, including the Welsh Seabass Advisory Group. It was well attended and positively received. 'Chasing Sea Rhinos' talk I was also invited to an Angling Cymru event: ‘Chasing Sea Rhinos – the history of the Welsh Bluefin tuna fishery’. This event talked about the tuna programme in Wales and the battle for making a recreational tuna fishery with guest speakers Steve Murphy, Andrew Alsop and actor Julian Lewis Jones. I got to meet the influential tuna skippers in Wales and talk all things tuna. This was a very well attended event at Cardiff Bay Yacht Club. MEMBERSHIP OFFERS Enjoy great discounts on bait, tackle and much more! Angling Trust Individual Members receive fantastic savings on bait, tackle and high street goods - what's more, we have offers specifically for sea anglers! Adult membership costs as little as £33 per year - take a look at how much you can save on the link below: Member discounts for sea anglers FUNDRAISING More chances to win in the Anglers Lottery! Sign up to play the Anglers Lottery by Monday 20th May and you'll be entered into the May monthly draw. From next month, you will also be automatically included in the Fab Friday Draws - an extra 4 weekly draws per month! In addition to the £25,000 total possible monthly draw, players have the chance to win 8 prizes every week! 1 x £250, 2 x £100 and 5 x £50. £10 a month = a chance to win big + make a real impact for angling. (T&Cs apply. 18+. Please play responsibly. For support, visit BeGambleAware.org) Find out more and sign up here!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp84p23y6gko?at_link_origin=BBC_Sussex&at_format=video&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_type=web_link&at_medium=social&at_campaign_type=owned&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_link_id=8CBD863A-3A4F-11F1-A689-8B274398003D&at_bbc_team=editorial&fbclid=IwdGRjcARPVyNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR6IKcLl8_nVRV-phrQ5S980HiznD1E4Bdn6391z8mBml2Tj2zVLC9f8qk-nFA_aem_qnj5XG5AS1al-4q8-fv-lAGove

A friend of the Club was off the Poole coast today looking for ancient oyster beds or the new buzz word under water features to restore. Would a beam trawler be seen as a destroyer of such a structure, I hope so.

When the report is finished I can forward it on, a couple of standout highlights, Estuarine Survey's in the Solent area over 12 year period has shown a significant decline in all forms of life, especially fish and particularly small fry. All the Rays species are on a steep decline. Bass and Bream are doing well as we know. Conger are at the highest numbers seen for decades.

Nearly missed it, Happy belated birthday.

Hands up all of you who feel a lot better for the warm weather today, I started to think about further boat cleaning and cutting the grass. Roll on warmer brighter days.😁

Same, working. This working lark has got to stop.

Went to Mudeford quay today, it was ugly.

A good day to attack all the green on the decks and roof. I always know I will end up wet even when togged up, so best done in a bit of Sun. A couple of hours with a power washer and some fresh fuel, whilst running the engine with some revs in neutral, Now I need to tackle the mould inside, that’s another job for another day, got to be home for the rugby. Getting jealous of Charlie’s trips now so must do some planning and mechanical checks before a trip.

Thanks to all the committee members for making the effort to come along and one member in particular who is hopefully joining soon us as long as we haven't put him off to take over from Brian's roles. It was a long meeting and yes we did digress a little, but often good dialogue comes up when people relax and give opinions that are very impactful and useful. We do realise that our speakers do uplift what to some may feel a like a "Wheel Tappers and Shunters and Social Club event" if you can remember back that far, style and dated format with us upfront . We will be asking you about that and any feed back you might have to keep you all entertained on your evening trip out. Things that we are going to target and goals. 1. Speakers, the best we can book for you. If you have anybody you think will be interesting, please put them forward. 2. Members giving after meeting talks on some of their own experiences. Say "Engine rebuilds" "BFT" experiences, You tube films etc. A quiz. 3 We are going to be asking you for your feed back on an organised day out for our non boat owners or I really can't face launching members or I just want to share a day out with other members on our own club boats. I know some members have already said they would like that. 4. As you know we need to revue our charity recipient, can you give that some thought before the AGM in April. 5. As we move forward to a new era the Angling Trust becomes more involved with all aspects of sea fishing, fish stocks, the environment and the impact of pollution and predation. We need to think about showing them our support and perhaps more interactions with them. I have made a start with that and awaiting replies. 6. Our website moving forward from its transition to the current up dated version will still have to move on yet further and we are making more plans wit Mark P on that. 7. Social side, the BBQ is returning to the same venue without the rain hopefully. We also wondered if any of you would be interested in a quiz or two, maybe after a meeting or at an away venue. Those suggestions come from Alan G and a few more from AG in the weeks to come. 8. Our catches/photos and reports, we have realised we are not reaching the public and have become a little insular, therefore not promoting our club and fishing areas like we did in the past, we are looking to change that. I have already sent an email to the Sea Angler to see if we can have an editorial piece done on the club, our boats, skippers and fish catches etc to promote us. 9. I will continue to learn and absorb all I can regards the FMP's "Fishery Management Plans" some arrived today and for me a few days reading in small digestible chunks before the yawning begins. Plus cultivating a better relationship with the Angling Trust. 10. Competitions will follow suit from last year, keeping the bream comp and hopefully one more if you approve. That's a quick up date from your Committee, I need to go and have a power knap most of us did not get home until 11.00pm and even then buzzing with ideas and not much sleep. This is your club and your interactions are what keep it going, in the current climate we are doing better than most so we need to keep on going and growing, cheers all.

Same problem

Um, Sector and group, confusing but thanks. Prefer Recreational Sea Angling Group☺️

Oops no it’s not

Not overly prepared or useful

Correcr

Last night I attended perhaps the best on line WRAGS meeting for some years, mainly because we had 2 guests Peter Morgan Angling Trust and Jonathon Brookes MMO. Sarah Birchenough spoke in more detail than ever, (I wonder why?) about their guidelines, statutory obligations and framework they work to. Sarah had prepared and read out a pre written lengthy script very quickly, it went in one ear and out the other for most attending. I got the clear thought then, it is not what she says, it's what she did not say, particularly when she knows who she is addressing and what our concerns are. In my mind I had a new respect for how well she has managed us over the years, a very clever lady. I did ask for a copy of the script that was read out and immediately the reply was I will forward a summary, why when it is written down in front of you I wondered. Our concerns are not being addressed because they do not fit the SIFCA remit, I have said this before but for some reason it was much clearer. Not just my interpretation, they actually have never outrightly said we can't help you. I believe they should have been clearer and then we could have saved years of attendance and discussions in what we believe is our meeting, but in fact it is theirs Chaired by CH. It is their way of full filling their requirements by Government to talk to local clubs and what better way, consulting with us and discussing codes which have no impact on the results. They stand as judge and jury, particularly clear with the Black Bream code. Yes, they needed practical help and why not carry on the charade that we are working together, working together would be more genuine transparency, a copy of their observations from our meetings and our concerns sent to Defra on our behalf with us copied in, that would suggest we are working together. I do not believe that has ever left their office. We need to grow more teeth, we are a push over, probably I am their biggest adversary and out right pain in the neck, but I am easily swept aside. Hence my path has been much wider than the SIFCA and may be I will get some traction, however it is a part time job.

I think there is some mileage in that idea.

Guys and Gals, following last nights well supported and lively meeting, I was informed of some sad news from one of our long standing members, their support and his attendance record at meetings is outstanding. His wife Elizabeth passed away during our break and we send our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Sole Hunter John and his family. I knew his wife well and her longstanding illness was a very challenging time for all of the family. That did not stop her attending BBQS and the odd meeting between times of suffering. Rest in peace Elizabeth. John was a long time carer and expressed a wish to get back to fishing, his passion. He has a place on my boat whenever we can match up. If you have a comfortable place on your boat trip for a long time member please invite John Dunster out.

Any pictures that is probably the biggest undulate for a couple of years, well done on getting out.

Having spent a fair amount of time pestering and questioning different agencies regards sustainable fishing, I am seeing some seeds of change, even support. Now is the time to make even more inclusive effort between all the fishing community. We will be sending out a few letters and the more signatures or backing we can show the greater the effectiveness, please make the effort to support these seeds of change. I know only too well that we have had years of form filling and Surveys, many believing it will likely end up in more sanctions or bag limits and it often has. Now our stakeholder status is finally being recognised especially with the AT who we thought were not ready to take on the RSA cause, seems they are. They also have a seat at the right table. We are standing up for the future of the fishing area we fish for the following generations, nothing here will be short term, it is a long game at Glacial pace.

Max, I totally agree and as I mentioned I have had a reply from the AT Hannah Rudd and she has invited me to have a chat with her with regards to the points raised in my letter to her and also Peter Morgan her rep who visited us at the Club. I am also going to write to the CEO at the AT who released a letter that had our interests covered.

Following our visit to meet the The SIFCA Team last night headed by the CEO Pia Bateman, we have received a letter today from The SIFCA Team signed by all which is a nice touch. I will let other attendees give their verdict on the meeting. I am going to say it was the most positive experience I have had with the SIFCA and just hope that converts into some investigations into sustainable fishing within the Bay's. As stakeholders we have not had any representation at the Top Table where decisions are made, may be that is changing. I am also going to post separately an Angling Trust published letter again from the CEO Jamie Cook December 2025 which was a real surprise to me, it suggests the AT are also moving more into supporting the RSA and they claim they do have a seat at the right table. From being pretty disappointed with any progress to date, I now feel a little more up beat. I seem to be on a role at the moment, I have had a reply from Hannah Rudd following several chases, more to follow when I get time to digest that. Letter - SIFCA.pdf

Thanks for posting, I had just read it. This is the Seminar we attended.

Another possibility is toxic mud, not a nice habitat.

Yes that has not changed