Sea Fishing Licences

[..::Pike Pirate::..]

upon reading the fishing pages in the local paper, i read something which i didnt like the sound of at all. Read for yourself...this is the exact words from the article.

The 176-Page White Paper Marine Bill launched by Environment Secretary David Milliband means sea anglers may have to pay for a licence in the near future.
The bill has been marked unworkable by several bodies, but if it becomes law, shore anglers who have had the right to fish since the Magna Carta will have to pay.

Now im not too happy about this, not to mention it being nearly impossible to police, because i mean, look at the size of our coastline and the popularity of the sport. Please post about your opinions and views on this, im interested to see what others think. (im against it by the way)

[jason78]

Im completly against it !!! its unworkable anyway !!!

[baitmaster]

about time the magna carta was updated and sea anglers to have a licence quite frankly a rod licences is just that so if you are using one you should have to have a licences regardless where you are fishing or what you are fishing for ( i hope it goes through and yes before you ask i do i sea fish )
as a course angler by law i have to purchase a licence which i do, in fact i purchase two at £24.50 per licence which i think is very cheap indeed and never quibble on buying one infact i,ve just come of the EA website where i,ve just purchased my two new licences £49.00 ( less than a pound a week) ) which will be valid form tonight midnight

now im not too happy about this, not to mention it being nearly impossible to police, because i mean, look at the size of our coastline and the popularity of the sport.

now i and many others could have taken that attidude well in this day an age it would be hard to police our water ways as we have 100,s of square miles to cover but they do and very successfully too,
but i don,t and nor should the sea anglers as it will be inforced reardless of the area to cover that excuse is a very lame one at that
why should see angler be exempt i think its about time sea anglers coughed up and bought licences regardless whether you like it or not .

(lets just hope the white paper goes through )

well i,m all for sea anglers having to buy a licence

tightlines
Kevin

[biggun]

I don't sea fish so much now but agree with Kev 100% on this one. I too have just spent my £24.05 without any question, even though for the past two years I have fished most of the local waters and have never been asked to produce my licence!

The money from the course licence is supposed to be spent keeping our waterways in good health and I for one have seen first hand what a good job the E.A is doing.

It is unreasonable to believe that the money from a sea licence would go towards improving our coastal waters but it could be used to improve our beaches and amenities.

Having seen the rubbish left lying around after some sea anglers have moved on, I am totally for this and anyone not willing to put back into the sport has no real right to complain! (I will now duck for cover as most members on here are sea anglers and quite vocal )

[jason78]

What you saying we may need a licence for each rod ?

There is absolutly no benefit to either the fishery or coastline by forcing people to buy a licence.

Its just the commercial boys putting the squeeze on us anglers through Mr Miliband.

[baitmaster]

no its £24.50 for the use or two rods but if you use three like most carpers do or pikers then two licences are required .

no one is forcing any one to buy a licences and it still only in the white paper stage .

we can all argue the pro,s and cons of any licencing act angling in general is very fragile be it course fishing ,sea fishing both are up against there problems course biggest problem is animal rights wanting to ban it or pollution of are rivers by big companies,and although not so bad now leeching of pestersides into our rivers and drains some fraternities of angling have stood up and fought but most the EA have worked hard to bring the polluters to bear and do lots to help despite what people think.
now most sea anglers will argue that with the sea,s they fish are seeing fish stocks depleting at a alarming rate why should they have to buy a licences this is really a difficult one but the argument should be directed towards the government not the EA but most blame them
now the EA as i said have worked hard with pollution and the most recent problem that they have been heavily involved in is the 62,000 tonne msc napoli disaster of the east Devon coast and are still monitoring the situation
the anglers in that area have been really pleased with how its all gone but the devon anglers are glad to be back fishing there local beach .there are many other examples where the EA have been involved like the boscastle incident this is where your licencing money would be going or similar coastal problems and improvement or does the sea angling fraternity think that the above example or similar should not be helped by some form of licensing now i do lightly fish for sea fish and i would buy a licence if needs be to help and assist the EA in keeping our country side and coastline as clean as they can .


tightlines
Kevin

[Greenheart]

I don't mind if one licence covers both Freshwater & Sea fishing as you obviously can't fish both at once. However knowing Blair, Brown & the Robber Barons in this corrupt little Government, they will probably just use it as another Tax & expect us to buy a licence for both. It will also be interesting to see what percentage of any revenue raised goe's back into looking after our waters. Call me a cynic, but I think it's most likely just another stealth Tax, probably to finance Blairs illegal war in the Gulf...

[John Marshall]

Originally Posted by baitmaster

i think its about time sea anglers coughed up and bought licences regardless whether you like it or not .

(lets just hope the white paper goes through )

well i,m all for sea anglers having to buy a licence

tightlines
Kevin

So as a boat angler what do I get out of it???? ever depeleting fish stocks,
higher fuel prices,(due to tax)
To me this is just another way of raising money for Gordons coffers, while we're about it why not make all boat owners have a sea fund licence, it gets millions from drivers.

[baitmaster]

how much do you think they should start the sea fund licence then ??


tightlines
kevin

[tat]

I fish both,and have a freshwater licence.But as has already been stated,the EA use the money to monitor,stock and police rivers and lakes.
Please explain how,if the licence bill goes through,the SEA can be monitored,stocked and policed.especially stocked.
I will not mind paying the licence if the money will go towards improving our coastline,piers and fishing qualities,as the EA do on the freshwater side.
Would it COME under the EA or would a new body have to be brought into being,at great cost,probably.And it would also create MORE beaurocracy.
I have just read my post through and had a very cynical thought.Is this a government way of saving money by passing on the responsibility of caring for our coasts and seas to some other body,at no cost to themselves?
Maybe I am being cynical,but we shall see.