Special Protection Areas in Wexford-will it affect Angling?

The Shannon Estuary was the first marine SAC. No problems fishing here or bait collecting. There is still some comercial activity such as poting and there was questions raised in the Dail some years back by the green party about sprat netting effecting anglers and dolphins but the fisheries minister rejected this as anglers had no interest in sprats. Missing the point what to dolphins and fish live on.

Donagh

Here are some links that people should have a look at to inform themselves.

National Parks and wildlife service
http://www.npws.ie/en/


SPAs
http://www.npws.ie/en/ConservationSites ... AreasSPAs/


Implications of Site Designation

http://www.npws.ie/en/ConservationSites ... signation/


http://www.npws.ie/en/ConservationSites ... ndspecies/


Other links

http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2007/ ... eland.html

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2004/en/si/0900.html

http://www.ecoaudit.ie/areas.htm

I don't know who is organising the Wexford meeting, nor whether they have a particular agenda.
jd

:twisted: I received a call from George Lett who is a mussel fisherman in Wexford Harbour in relation to this new european directive. THERE IS A PUBLIC MEETING IN THE TALBOT HOTEL IN WEXFORD ON TUESDAY 12TH FEB AT 8.00 p.m

From info received the areas affected will be from Enniscorthy bridge down the slaney to wexford harbour and the slobs stretching to our ladys island, ballyteigue bay , killag, lacken, duncormick, saltmills. Really it will affect the whole of the south coast. ALL THESE AREAS ARE TO BE DESIGNATED AREAS. A 'intention to designate' document was recently issued to landowners outlining a huge area. The european birds directive requires member states to protect birds at their breeding,feeding,roosting and wintering areas said a spokesman for the dept of environment.

Any sporting activity that is causing a significant disturbance to the wildlife is to be banned.

The digging of bait commercially is to be banned.

The harvesting of marine species is to be banned. I am not sure if the musselmen are exempt but it will definitely effect crabbing.

From my info. the dept of environment and wildlife service will have the power to enforce this new directive.

THIS WILL EFFECT ANYBODY INVOLVED IN AGRICULTURE,FISHING,LEISURE OR SPORTING ACTIVITIES, WALKING SAILING OR PONY TREKING. OUR RIGHTS, TRADITIONAL CULTURE AND ACTIVITIES COULD BE SERIOUSLY THREATENED SHOULD THIS PROCEED.

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE PLEASE ATTEND THIS PUBLIC MEETING

i know a good few people with traps in wexford harbour, their not too happy to say the least .
i find ludicrous that the authorities care so much about angling,hunting basically any leisure activity that associates itself with the outdoors and effects wildlife but yet they take no action when a trawler or dredger goes out and cleans the seabed of all life on what are vitality important ecosystems, lobby for quotas which imo are the stupidest decision ever taken by the authorities which means the boats can be more selective in what the catch ensuring higher prices and a hell of a lot of dead and waisted bycatch.
to all the people who voted for the green party i say this, you should have seen this coming and if you didn't, then my friend your very naive in thinking their for the greater good of the world. they base their politics on scare tactic much in the same way the church did in past times and economic destructive ideals.

here here eric, i think you hit the nail on the head.

Hiya Brian,

I'll be there Tuesday anyhow. Must remind turbot-charger too,I'm sure he'll tag along too.

IMO this is only the start of it. Next we'll have people promoting feckin rod licences etc...(was proposed before as far as I am aware, but you can bet it will resurface again sooner rather than later).

I still can't see how this effects angling.

As JD said earlier:

I talked to the parks service- Angling is not on the radar for this at all.
Nor in fact is bait collection for local shops.

If this designation prevents large-scale commercial harvesting of bait etc. for export to other countries, then wouldn't it be good for local anglers and shops??[/quote]

Agree with you Jonathan, i don't see how this can't benefit us anglers....a ban on commercial harvesting within the harbour that you fish....isn't that the holy grail of all our conservation aspirations??? Even if parts of it were made out of bounds for angling the overall benefit would far outweigh the cons, me thinks :?

I still can't see how this effects angling.

As JD said earlier:

I talked to the parks service- Angling is not on the radar for this at all.
Nor in fact is bait collection for local shops.

If this designation prevents large-scale commercial harvesting of bait etc. for export to other countries, then wouldn't it be good for local anglers and shops??

So lets just for example say birds are nesting in sand dunes etc.....

How the hell are ya gonna get to ur fishing mark????? Helicopter???

Rosslare point and Raven prime examples.
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

So lets just for example say birds are nesting in sand dunes etc.....

How the hell are ya gonna get to ur fishing mark????? Helicopter???

Rosslare point and Raven prime examples.
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

Ask 'Eirlink, Crack-off....!! :lol:

I guess we'll just have an even longer walk up the beach than usual.....
To be met by some warden who wants to examine your bait? :roll:

As Brian stated, "Any sporting activity that is causing a significant disturbance to the wildlife is to be banned".
If this IS actually the case, I can see personal bait-digging being banned very easily. They'll probably take the approach that trenching through the muck in waders with a pitchfork and bucket is invading the natural habitat of the surrounding nesting birds etc. etc.

Next they'll be telling us the birds eat Lugworm...!
:roll:

The important thing is guys, if this IS implemented, there will be NO GOING BACK. Therefore it is important that anyone who is unhappy or unsure about their intentions (the Departments), to make sure and attend the meeting. A packed-out crowd speaks volumes, even if not everybody gets to air their view...

These people are responsibloe for the implementation of any directives.

National Parks & Wildlife Service
7 Ely Place
Dublin 2
IRELAND

tel: +353-1-8882000

(Edited, after JD decided to edit his!! :D )

Its a 'Public meeting', so it obviously means it hasn't been implemented yet (in fact I KNOW it hasn't...yet :? ).

A Public meeting might carry a bit more weight than a private meeting with a Club, as you will also have the big 'Clouts' there (Councilor Do-gooder & his pals).

Bet 'Whacker' will tell 'em.... :lol:

Dont go mentioning names now SM....or youll get ur post edited .....like i did a min ago ffs..

Tis no wonder u gave up comin on here... :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

that last post was ME...

logged in under my OLD name...
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

LOL @Crackers... :lol:

What names?
Sure thats why Councilors have nicknames.... half of 'em don't want to be identified at the best of times!!

Seriously though, I know a lot of them are already aware of the potential dangers such a ban could have on the tourisim industry in Wexford. Not just for fishing, but the beaches too.

I guess we'll just have to turn up at the meeting and find out for ourselves... (Pints are on YOU :lol: )

Pints will be IN me...

But seriously you are right.....WHACKER IS the man for it....

He'll let rip and fair play too.

What about that bloody road the council were proposing building through maudlintown????

Where did the protected birds and wildlife figure then????

They didn't.. only for Whacker.

Bloody turncoats...and do gooders. :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Security man]

...lets not stray too far off topic here. :wink:

But on the same subject (which IS actually related), that road was refused by An Bord Pleanala on the basis of the damage it would do.
(But only after the Mussel men threatened the Dept. of Marine with a Law suit for several Million in damages).

What WAS approved, and a lot of SAI members who fish Wexford may not be aware of, is a huge Multi-Million euro development just up past the Talbot Hotel (where the meeting is incidentally) - the old Smiths/Wexford Electronics Site. A huge section of sea is now to be reclaimed also, for a Hotel, Bowling Alley, Cinema, etc. etc.
Now tell me THAT construction is not going to have a huge impact on Wexford harbour!

My last catch in Wexford harbour was a Tesco's trolly.... :evil:

Last edited by Security man on Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

.....using a 3/0 hook with Rag.

What WAS approved, and a lot of SAI members who fish Wexford may not be aware of, is a huge Multi-Million euro development just up past the Talbot Hotel (where the meeting is incidentally) - where the WATER is now. All that sea is now to be reclaimed, for a Hotel, Bowling Alley, Cinema, etc. etc.
Now tell me THAT construction is not going to have a huge impact on Wexford harbour!

I am aware of this- but with the way the property market is I'm not sure it will be built any time soon.Did anyone from the Borough Council have objections?

I talked to the local warden- he said anglers have been fishing in the harbour without disturbance of birds etc, so they are not on the radar.

Who has called the public meeting??

As far as I'm aware, it was the Wildlife Service who called the meeting, but don't quote me on that.

The development was plagued with objections for years - and they suddenly 'disappeared' overnight. There were reports in the local Newspaper from heated Council Meetings that took place afterwards, where people were being accused of receiving 'donations' etc. etc., need I say more.
Word on the ground is that this development is scheduled to start VERY soon, as it took so long to get the Planning, it cost even more money. (Dunnes are believed to be the anchor tenant).

I agree that angling in Wexford harbour has no impact on the wildlife. The majority of angling is done either along the marina or the strand. But digging bait could be a different story. I think this is where most of the concerns are, rather than the 'Angling' element - especially if it is to extend as far South as Brian mentioned...