Proposed Conservation Area for North Coast

Having grown up in that area and fished most of the coast within the red box i can't say i'm at all surprised by the suggestion of making it a conservation area.
Fishing has declined dramatically along there and from the few reports i see on the forum i wouldn't even be bothered fishing the area for that quality of fish

But Conservation Zones don't have to mean the end of shore fishing, having lived in Australia for that last few years I've become accustomed to Conservation zones. Lots of the zones here have a ban on fishing from a boat but allow shore angling in allocated areas within the zones. They should have had proper management of the fisheries years ago instead of worrying what the euro bureaucrats wanted.
They've got organisations down here that strongly represent the recreational angler and always in discussions with fisheries, government etc with changes to fishing regulations. Size and bag limits on everything, close seasons on certain species and you always find a fishery officer checking. Oh and i've gotta pay a licence for boat fishing to

The locals reckon the fishing isn't like it used to be down here, but i've never got a 50lb + fish from the shore in Ireland North or South but have had my fair few here

I am very concerned about these SAC/NTZs spreading to Republic. But what realistic basis of objection against them can anglers have that will be heeded? Inshore waters are currently a free facility to us, we are not established stakeholders via a licensing system, and as with most things in this world, no pay, no say. I'm sure any "we-dont-like-it" protests will seen in much the same light as people without a TV licence complaining about the programmes.

Money always talks loudest, and one thing we could stress that might sway official minds is the effect on tourism income. So I ask again: is there much angling tourism up there?

Our club fishes up that way a lot. This equates to 10 anglers travelling, eating, drinking, sleeping over and the cost of chartering a boat. And not forgetting calling into the local tackle shop as well. Do the maths thats a lot of money 2 or 3 times a year. We are a boat and shore club and a lot of our members fish the north coast from the shore and fish the IFSA comps as well. And this is just from 1 club

has anyone thought to contact all the skippers who earn a living around that stretch of coast yet?? all the recreational charters up that way have been well established for years and have a thriving buisness not just in the summer months, but throught the winter too. sean mackay (lady linda) richard connor (causeway lass) hamish currie (predator) but to name just a few. i know richard and hamish have web sites and i'm surprised they have'nt had a mention yet. surely these boys would mabey be able to shed some light on the matter as steakholders in the areas affected.
and every night at the end of the news on utv they keep asking for people to get in contact with them on thier website about important stories they may have missed.
mabey be worth dropping them a line about the matter.

Hi there, newly registered so just showing my support to this post as ive done on other forums (just found it from a link on another forum).

James