take a look, and don't be quick to judge...

[geejayy]

Originally Posted by devondave

they showed the skipper crying because he had caught and killed all these lovely fish but they were either undersize or he was over his quota on the specific fish so he had to dump the lot DEAD back into the sea..its all well and good upping the size limit but it just means even more fish than before are going to be dumped dead because they are not allowed to land them its not going to conserve anything!

ok finished ranting ... sorry ..

i'll agree with that wholehartedly, at the end of the day quota's and size limmits, i feel, do little for conservation in the comercial sector as dave says
once they're netted they're dead.
i'm no expert, but mesh size i should think maybe a governing factor to help release undersized fish however 1 size won't fit all species and you can't always guarrentee targeting just one specie.
+the oceans are open to all nations and some enforce net restrictions harder than others it would seem. restrict 'days at sea' might be another way to go?

on the angling side of things, yes, education is the key and far be it for me so start 'casting the first stone' for in the past i have been guilty of taking undersized fish or getting over enthusiastic with hauling out mackerel.

every year i see or hear of an angler who chuffed to bits with his/her success has reported their catch, and i wouldn't want to rain on their parade by vitrolically slagging them off for unwittingly takeing an undersized fish.
but they need to be educated and msl's need to be widely published.
a free sheet with every bait/tackle purchase would not be a bad idea.
this won't stop those who know but disregard msl's but may help the casual angler from unwittingly falling foul of the law.

though commercial netters have no choice at the moment but to dump undersized or over quota fish,
anglers have a CHOICE as when landed most fish are still live and viable for release, hence we need to be more aware and reponsible as we can make a difference .

[devondave]

i think you hit the nail on the head!

the thing is if they cut days at sea people lose jobs.. so i can understand reluctancy in doing this.. but at least fish stocks will have some kind of recovery so there job will last for century's rather than years!

as for mesh size im not sure that will work.. as i said before i once worked on a gill netter.. and the mesh was huge! yet still the occasional small whiting pollack whatever managed to get caught in the net!

still something needs to be done and hopefully someone with the powers needed will see sense in that soon!

[upnorth1]

thats why I'm all for a licence - then maybe all fish may be monitored??

...and the anglers of-course!

[geejayy]

as much as i hate paying for anything that was once granted as a buckshee right ,
you're starting to win me over on that one paul , as soon it will the right to dangle a bait in an empty sea.

[fishypaul]

do you really think it could catch on though,for one thing i have serious doubts whether the money raised would go in the right direction,the government will see it as another way of taking money off us,
what about enforcing it,i can't see DEFRA paying to employ hundreds of bailiffs to patrol our beaches and piers,because that is what would be needed to make it work,

[geejayy]

aye, thats where my reservations lie with regard to this licence/tax.

[upnorth1]

Originally Posted by fishypaul

do you really think it could catch on though,for one thing i have serious doubts whether the money raised would go in the right direction,the government will see it as another way of taking money off us,
what about enforcing it,i can't see DEFRA paying to employ hundreds of bailiffs to patrol our beaches and piers,because that is what would be needed to make it work,

don't think for one minute bailiffs will patrol every part of coastline.
Do bailiffs patrol EVERY waterway? - no.
popular areas where mass mackerel slaughter takes place every year could be targets, bass nursery areas also - but they COULD and will turn up anywhere - would you be prepared to risk it?
If the money goes to administration then I'm dead against it - if it gives ALL anglers a voice and a say in all angling related matters - then my wallet is out and where do I pay please....