NigelH

Guys Just concentrate on the proposal to gets nets out of the bass fishery. No more gillnetting bass!!!! The EU have proposed it, it needs the fisheries minister's to agree to it in December. If you want to try and help make it happen, email George Eustice at Defra and tell him to agree to it. No more gillnetting bass!! Thanks NigelH

Done

The BBC Countryfile programme is on Sunday 24th NigelH

Hi Steven I think the reason you can't find anything on this is because you do not need a licence as long as your catch is for personal consumption only - you can't sell it. They don't highlight what isn't needed (ie a licence). Some IFCA's have bag limits for personal consumption, but not the Southern IFCA at present. There are minimum landing sizes to be adhered to and you must return any berried lobster or any lobster with a notched tail. For the definitive word, email the Southern IFCA (see their website) Cheers Nigel (and best of luck!)

Thanks Stuie Nigel

Hi Stuie You've got it!! Currently you need a Southern IFCA permit to collect clams etc from the shore, by hand (even just a few for your supper or for bait). This new permit scheme means you only need a permit if you are doing it from a boat ie hand gathering will be legal without a permit. We may need to bring in bag limits later. Post up on here the reply you get from Simon (so I will know I've got it!!) Cheers Nigel

Hi All Picking up on the results of Sea Angling 2012 and the discussion we had at the meeting on Thursday, the Angling Trust are using SA 2012 and the plight of bass to try and influence MP's at next weeks fishing debate. The AT are asking all sea anglers to email their MP as below. 5 minutes that might just make a difference, and way better than Christmas shopping! Angling Trust Briefs MPs on Fishing Industry Debate Please Contact Your MP NOW The Angling Trust is sending a briefing note to all MPs in advance of this year's Fishing Industry debate which will take place on 12th December in the House of Commons. You can download the briefing note from our website HERE. It would be a great help if you could contact your MP and ask them to make sure that they read and take note of the Angling Trust's briefing, and ask them to make time to attend the debate with a view to speaking in favour of the Recreational Sea Angling sector of the UK Fishing Industry, and the social, cultural and economic benefits that Recreational Sea Angling delivers to the wealth and well-being of the UK population. If you are unsure of who your MP is, please visitwww.writetothem.com and put in your postcode. You will be able to email your MP directly from the website. Cheers Nigel

We discussed this at a Southern IFCA meeting on Friday and agreed we would write to the Council offering our support to the club and facility. However, we didn't know they were meeting tomorrow morning so not sure we will get the message through in time. I have also emailed the mayor to let him know that the new Fisheries Minister will announce the results of Sea Angling 2012 on 27th November. Part of Sea Angling 2012 looked specifically at the value of sea angling in Weymouth, but I cannot tell him the results because it's all embargoed until the Ministerial launch. However, I did urge him to delay any decision until he sees what Sea Angling 2012 has to say (I wouldn't want him or his fellow councillors to look foolish). I've also let those in Govt leading Sea Angling 2012 know as a bit of "joined up govt" is needed here!! (For those that don't know, I sit on the Steering Group of Sea Angling 2012 and will be doing a speech at the launch). Hope this isn't too late Nigel

Hi Guys Numbers (Charlie) - It's about 660km2 or 24% of the S.IFCA waters that is being closed to bottom towed gear (trawls and dredges). Yes, it does include most of the south of the IoW Yes, taking trawling out might let (more) static gear in There are three or four things that will drive changes like this The law (especially environment and conservation laws) Economics Public opinion This closure is law driven (the EU Habitats and Birds Directives). These laws may drive other changes over the next couple of years. Other laws may have similar impacts over the next few years in particular the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (both EU Directives transferred into UK law) Economics - commercial fishing economics has always been there. But on 27th November, the findings of Sea Angling 2012 will be made public at a one day conference in London. Richard Benyon will launch the report with the keynote speech. I will also be doing a speech about stakeholder involvement. This will put sea angling economics and a lot more besides right in the middle of policy making (we hope). Public opinion - S.IFCA and other policy makers cannot ignore public opinion (that doesn't mean everyone gets what they ask for, but you've more chance than if you say nothing). The Cornish FSA has a petition running with more than 3000 signatures calling for a ban on all netting within the 10m depth line. It will be interesting to see what effect that has. Now if we had something similar in Dorset............. Nigel

Hi Martin Thanks for pointing me in the right direction and for the important background about the club to bear in mind when looking through those records. Without that a very quick look that I have just done would suggest that there are lots more, lots bigger fish out there now than years ago! Nigel

Well done to all who took part I couldn't get out over the weekend, but did get out on the Friday before. Found 7 or 8 small bass where there should have been some bigger ones, but not a sniff from the big girls (best was only 45cm). Fished the same place yesterday, only one small schoolie, but I lost a very good fish when it shook it's head and my heavy jig head with a barbless hook fell out! Plenty of Pollack though Does the club keep a record of each years bass comp results? As some of you may know, I head up the restoration effort for BASS and that kind of data can be really useful. I get the feeling that the decline in bass stocks is starting to show through. Cheers Nigel

Hi Charlie Great work - keep it up! Can you let me know the time and venue of the next PDSAA meeting (on the 25th July) as I'd like to come along if I am allowed (not sure if it's a closed meeting or not) and if I can make it. Thanks Nigel (Horsman)

Thanks Guys I'm sure she would be interested in groups of kayakers fishing in the harbour together.Hopefully she'll contact Lofty and go from there Nigel

Sorry - yes, I meant Thursday. I did get the deadline right though - this Friday the 30th! Thanks Nigel

Hi Rob Best to drop Alex Potter an email at the address on my previous post. I am sure clubs would be great as well as individuals but the deadline is Friday. Ask her what she is looking for - can't do any harm. Thanks Nigel

Hi Lofty Thanks for that. I'm not sure I can make next Wednesday's meeting, but it's not me that wants to talk to you about kayaking in Poole Harbour. If you (or anyone else) want to talk to the person who is asking, let me know by Friday (or get in touch direct - it's Alex Potter at a.potter@dorsetcc.gov.uk) If I can make it next Wednesday, we can have a chat anyway, otherwise we can save it for another day Cheers Nigel

Hi Lofty A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Angling Summit in Westminster where Richard Benyon said 'I personally believe all fish should be allowed to breed at least once before we start harvesting them' - great news I thought - he then said 'for the bass minimum landing size review (that is currently under way in Defra), however, I will go where the evidence takes us and decide on the basis of the evidence'. The evidence, especially regarding fish stocks and economics, is rarely clear cut. It is different shades of grey and can therefore be interpreted, misinterepreted, spun, you can pick and choose which evidence you like and which evidence you don't like, especially as it can sometimes be quite contradictory. It's even worse when there isn't much evidence in the first place. The evidence Politicians use nowadays has to be capable of standing up to scrutiny in a court (there will always be someone who disagrees with a Politicians decision and fancies a legal challenge to it). Unfortunately, there isn't very much evidence like that about recreational sea angling and how valuable and beneficial RSA is. Without that evidence it is hard for Politicians to take decisions that will improve our sport by, for instance, taking decisions that will lead to more and bigger fish in the sea. It is also this kind of evidence that is ammunition for people like me to fire when we get to meet policy makers and the like. The more ammo I have, the better job I can do. The Politicians want more and better evidence and want to talk to people before they take decisions. That is why they are prepared to fund projects like this. If we don't tell them about what we do when they ask us, it can be hard to complain when things don't go our way. That is why I think we need to take every opportunity we get to shout about how many of us there are and how valuable and beneficial what we do is. PS The

Hi Guys A research project called "Valmer" has just started, with

Hi Guys The Southern IFCA are currently reviewing their Byelaws. They have decided to include in this process a public consultation on certain byelaws, INCLUDING MINIMUM LANDING SIZES. The Byelaw Working Group minutes specifically mention mullet and skates and rays, but the consultatation will be open to comments about all species. If we want to see minimum landing sizes increased so that all fish get at least one chance to breed before they can be taken (as the SIFCA say they want - see their piece in the Poole Harbour Guide, and as the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive says they should be) then please go along to the workshops and say what you want. You won't need to stand up in public or anything like that. Please also circulate this note (from the S.IFCA, below) around as many people/clubs etc as possible. The bigger the turnout, the more chance we have of getting some improvements. Thanks Nigel H STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION WORKSHOPS Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) is tasked with the sustainable management of inshore sea fisheries resources in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight areas. Southern IFCA is currently undertaking a review of all byelaws and will be holding a series of drop in workshop sessions to give all stakeholders the opportunity to input into the byelaw review process and also to provide more information on the role of the IFCA. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on all aspects of management at these sessions, although there will be a particular emphasis on the following byelaws: Minimum sizes; Cockles; A new clam byelaw; Vessels used in fishing; Berried lobsters; Redeposit of shellfish; Electric current; Temporary closure of shellfish beds; Oysters, clams and mussels; Carriage of oysters; Seagrass protection. Sessions will be held at the following locations between 1600 and 2000: