Larger Charter Boats may be prosecuted!!

[Gremlin]

What a mess.

Southern Sea Fisheries Committee has just decided to widen the implementation of a Byelaw designed to stop large trawlers from fishing inside the 6 mile limit (Hants and Dorset).
This has been the case since 1990 and (rescinded and re-established again '97) and was designed to protect the smaller inshore commercial fleet (under 10m) from fishing pressure.

In their wisdom SSFC has suddenly decided to include Angling Charter Boats over 12m which affects a number of angling skippers from Weymouth to Langstone Harbour.

These skippers are in immediate danger of prosecution if they fish within 6miles of baselines.
For some slower boats this may mean some skippers going out of business.
As one SSFC official told me today "Tell them to fish off Sussex"!
I could not believe my ears!!!!!!

I feel a stink coming on .....

[barbelblanker]

Always the way mate. I USED to be a freelance computer consultant until this bl@@dy government decided to protect hairdressers. They bought in a new interpretation of existing inland revenue law that basically made it impossible for me to operate. One small business went down the pan . While I have little sympathy for the fishing industries unsustainable elements I have total sympathy for charter skippers and sustainable fishermen. As usual the baby has left with the bath water. Sledgehammer to crack a nut it still is then. Luckily IT is an area I can find employment in, what he heck do you do if you are a charter skipper?

[gullyworm]

If only these bafoons would realise that a fish caught with the rod is worth so much more to the local econemy than a trawler caught fish.
The striper Bass on the east coast of the states is a prime example of this.

[DUNWORKING]

if they wear blinkers, nowt you say or do will stop them from there chosen path. if it does not affect them personaly.