9 1/2 Days

http://www.probassfisher.com/2009/05/al ... eason.html

Jim,

im not clear from this, is somebody hauling the net, taking out fish and setting it back in the same
place, or have they just set it there and not bothered to pull it at all? Ive heard the theory that all the dead fish
can scare fish away from an area for a long time in this case, which sounds plausible. either way its
very annoying, could you get a couple of lads and just remove it?

jw

Thats a disgrace 10 days and it seems the fishery board has done nothing at all. Seems to me the fella who set it wont go back to retrieve it in case he is caught in the act.

sorry its not that clear -i'll tidy it up later today, was written in a rush!

Friday April 24th - at 19:30 I get a call from a local angler who tells me of the net position and size - he estimates its total length at 150-180 metres. He has already informed the ERFB.Then I get another call from a walker who asks me if its possible that theres a net in such a place. Then I ring the ERFB at about 20:00 and they acknowledge my call and inform me that they have already received calls about this net and were passing on the relevant information to the correct personel.

Saturday April 25th - at 08:20 the angler calls me again to tell me the net is still in position, but due to stormy weather is moving slightly towards shore. I drive to the location with a friend of mine and make some photographs (the grey colored ones). Attempts were made to contact the ERFB. I drive to Waterford and then on to Tralee until Tuesday 28th.

I had a workshop on Wednesday 29th and drove to Monaghan on Thursday 30th morning at seven. At this time i'm thinking the net problem is gone away surely. I ring the ERFB who cannot tell me the status of the net or what action has been taken in relation to it.

Friday May 1st - I return to Wexford late and agree to bring Alan on some casting/fishing tuition on Sunday morning May 3rd for three hours. I go to my favourite location which I use for workshops etc and I immediatley spot the net as seen in the blue picture.

I cannot determine

if the original net was ever moved by anyone
if this is the original net
if this is a new net
if the net is been reset regularly
if any action was taken in relation to the net by any authority

This location is very special to me (and many others) it provides me with a quiet location where I can teach people a lot about bass fishing and many customers have caught some wonderful fish there themselves.

Danish, French, Dutch, American, Irish, English, Swedish, Australian, Scottish,New Zealanders, all these people have fished here and want to come back again. They have a valuable returning, sustainable input into local economies, but somewhere along the line thats forgotten about and so are anglers.

In a country thats gone to the dogs it just another example of inept management, lack of any vision or imagination, and constriction by layers of bullshit.

Jim, that really is disgraceful and I dread to think of the damage it has done. I can't understand the delay from the ERFB in removing it.

This looks like illegal netting of bass to me. Why should you be the one to incur any liability by removing it? Your taxes pay the people who should be intervening. I suggest:

1) Get onto the local politicians by phone today - all candidates for election are almost declared now for June - and highlight the issue and the impact on the local economy. Two days ago, Cowen announced an interdepartment committee to coordinate the development of marine resources. You remind them of that. The net should be out of there within a day if they want a vote. Let [b]them[/b] call the ERFB and the cops.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0502/marine.html

2) As the ERFB are covered by FOI legislation, why not submit a request for the paper trail of actions following your initial call? I would also look for the roster of staff working within the last ten days to be disclosed along with details on vacation, and "privilege days" allowed to ERFB staff. Then I'd publish it on the Internet.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 211572.ece

There are a lot of things that I could say here that I darent, but let me assure you it is illegal bass netting. My hesitations are influenced by many things including what I can only call a legal world of semantics where the perpetrator (repeat and widely known) is flouting and playing the legislation to his benefit.

My sense of confusion and frustration, which I'm sure some of you share, is in fact compunded by my expectations of the authorities to proceed in a logical manner and then failing to do so.

Naively I played a few mental games, like maybe the net is under observation and I've just blown the cover....or similar stupid justifications for hoping the situation has a reason

Ask yourself this question I didnt ring the guy who owns the net to tell him I had rang the ERFB so why was it abandoned?

Sorry to continue this painful thread but i'm just hearing reports of sixteen boxes of bass landed from Greenore point in the past few days from one boat - this is a different operator so the issue is escalating.....and why not I suppose?

Again I would say to the people who called - I dont have an answer, sorry!

Again I would say to the people who called - I dont have an answer, sorry!

thats a sad state of affairs and typical of the authoritys , and jim why should you have the answer , you done your best

I hear you CA.

The instant I put my hand on the net it starts to become Jims little war against the poachers. Isolated and a voice in the wilderness it will mean nothing other than the net will now be on the beach, I’ll go home having achieved absolutely zero.

I do wonder about the small numbers of comments made to this post expressing outrage, solidarity, or any cohesive group action in respect of the situation. Where are the volunteers for help to take action, to stand on the beach at the net (in the sea) as a group of anglers united against this continued exploitation and lack of enforcment, preferably with a journalist to make a story and photographs and explain the situation as it is happening?

Anyway guys I have to leave this alone - it eats away at you in many ways - but remember this - they are everybodies fish, a national resource, a protected species.

Hi Jim

It disgusts me to think that this illegal activity continues despite various calls to ERFB etc.

These thieves/pirates are openly mocking the law as it is not being enforced by the fat cats in ERFB and SFPA. The thieves are prepared to pay the small fines as its a small price to pay when compared to the value of the stolen fish.

The buyers need to be targeted, we all know the names of the wholesalers who are buying the stolen fish(as do the authorities) and selling them on under the guise of them being "french line caught wild bass".
Surely the ERFB who are being paid using tax payers money to promote angling in Ireland can see that if this activity is not stopped well then there will be nothing left to promote in the near future.

I know the vast vast majority of anglers who are lucky enough to catch a bass are employing C&R and this is fantastic but we need to get together to form a strong lobby group to stop this illegal activity. If you consider this recent haul of bass there is upwards of 200 fish taken at a time when they are probably about to spawn and this seems to be happening week after week.

If it was salmon there would be uproar.

I propose that we draft a letter to local politicians, the Minister For the Marine , the ERFB and SPFA expressing our concerns. The only way to get action is if we show strength in numbers and show ourselves as a threat to votes.

We should then arrange a day of picketing outside the ERFB in Blackrock.

I see that there has been nearly 350 views of this post. Can we have a show of hands of people who would be willing to get involved in a picket in the next couple of weeks, perhaps during the closed season?

It is now time to get involved and take action guys.


andrew

That's a disgrace that the ERFB didn't do anything about it - although I suppose it was possible that they were watching for the netter to retrieve the net and catch him in the act - as that would be a much better deterrant than just removing the net. Maybe he spotted them so abandoned the net. But at this stage you would think that they would remove the net.

Guys, reading between the lines, it seems to me that Jim is crying out for help from local anglers. It's time to band together and take a public stand.

Can't there be a Wexford Bass Alliance organised along the lines of the East Cork Bass Alliance?

Hi Guys

See below taken directly from the ERFB website. i suggest you all read this and then phone them on 01 2787022 and ask them why information given to them regarding an illegal net doesnt appear to have been acted upon and also ask them what are the doing about the 16 boxes of bass landed over the weekend. It would be a simple matter of inspectors standing outside fish wholesalers etc on a daily basis.

They may say they dont have the resources but there seems to be no shortgage of inspectors on the east coast asking genuine anglers for salmon/seatrout licences on a daily basis. I suppose thats more important to them as they can see the direct source of revenue generated from licences as opposed to the revenue generated by the angling industry as a whole. i.e the bigger picture!

You could also send an email to info@erfb.ie.

We dont and shouldnt have to stand for this carry on from state bodies anymore.

tanglerat a bass alliance may be the way forward but they always end up as a situation where one or 2 guys are left to do all the work. Lets all try to unite on this issue and put a phone call thru to them. a little bit of work carried out by a large number has more effect than lots of work by a couple of individuals. I see over 403 views of the thread now. imagine the power of 100 of them calling the ERFB.


andrew

Fisheries Protection

One of the core functions of the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board is to protect and conserve fish and fisheries habitat within the Eastern Region which extends from the full length of the east coast from Carlingford Lough in County Louth to Killen Point just east of Bannow Bay, Co. Wexford and from river base lines up to 12 miles out to sea. The inland extent of of the region follows the river catchments to places such as Emyvale and Scotstown Co. Monaghan, Virginia and Bailieboro in Co. Cavan and Tyrrellspass Co. Westmeath.

The following tasks are performed by ERFB staff as part of their daily duties:

* Enforcing primary Fisheries Legislation including Bye Laws and Orders.
* Protecting fish species including Salmon, Sea Trout, Brown Trout, Eels, Coarse Fish and Sea Bass.
* Seizure of illegal fishing equipment, prosecution of offenders and court duties.
* Enforcing the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging (Quota) Scheme Regulations, for both commercial and recreational fisheries (amended annually according to district quota allocation). This also entails inspection of commercial salmon outlets, hotels and restaurants etc.
* Enforcement of pike angling and commercial eel regulations.
* Participation in cross-functional duties which include assisting ERFB / CFB research and Marine Institute development sections as required.
* Monitoring and investigation of potential sources of pollution including farm surveys, sampling and assessment of proposed development/infrastructural projects for any potential impact upon the fisheries resource. This entails close involvement with the Board’s Fisheries Environmental Officers (FEO's).
* Mobile and Foot Patrols of rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters.
* Coastal protection duties are carried out using the Regional Fisheries Boards Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB's)
* In conjunction with staff from the other Fisheries Boards, ERFB staff participate in Large Patrol Vessel (LPV) and Naval fishery protection patrols.
* Staff participate in aerial surveillance of fisheries activity and terrestrial surveys in conjunction with the Air Corps.

.

tanglerat a Bass alliance may be the way forward but they always end up as a situation where one or 2 guys are left to do all the work.

Very true. And if only you could get just 3 or 4 guys to share out the workload, but have every other concerned local angler willing to stand up beside them publically, you have the start of something.

It seems to be the way of things - one or two to do the work is always possible. What's hardest is to get enough support and backup for those one or two so that they don't find themselves isolated when the "fun" starts.....

[lure fisher]

Another quote from the ERFB website:

"Bass angling is a varied and exciting form of fishing. Anglers throughout the world recognise and respect the species as a true sport fish. With diminishing sea fish stocks world wide, the decision by Minister Eamonn Ryan, TD to strengthen the bass conservation legislation is one that all Irish stakeholders can be proud of. Ireland is now being recognised as the premier venue for a Bass angling holiday. Tourist anglers choosing Ireland want a quality experience."

Its a joke isnt it?

Cmon guys make that call. 01 2787022.

Andrew

Last edited by lure fisher on Wed May 06, 2009 8:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

call will be made in the morning with many more i hope

Well done carpets.

Lets all post up the response we get from the ERFB without mentioning names etc.


Andrew

good luck with this lads - hopefully something good comes out of it

just got an email from erfb saying the offending net has been removed, sure its only the tip of a very big iceburg