Another chance at fishery protection?
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 8:54 am
Leon, busy as always on the conservation front and never one to miss an opportunity to highlight how recreational sea anglers can get a foot in the political door, recently mailed me some information. The gist of it I've copied below. On foot of the document referenced below, he wrote to Joe, Borg Directorate-General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.
Please see Jo Borg's speech 'Perspectives of a European Maritime Policy' at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/new ... h75_en.htm
Having written to Joe Borg, the reply seems to indicate that we have an opportunity to influence the contents of the Green Paper that is being developed, to recognise the value and need for development of the Recreational Angling Sector within Europe.
Previously, EU fisheries have maintained that their remit has been solely the development of Commercial Fisheries as laid out in the EU treaty and, whilst they have been prepared to discuss matters of marine conservation and stock management, they have been reluctant to acknowledge the recreational angling sector as a stakeholder.
We now appear to be being offered a chink through which we can slip, in talking about what we would like to see within the Green Paper, and we should make the most that we can of the opportunity.
Leon's advice is that we should all respond, as organisations and as individuals, both directly to the commission and through our MEPs.
If you are tired of getting increasingly small numbers of increasingly small fish, furious at boats fishing practically on the beach etc, it's time to write to your MEP outlining your concern, stating what you think might be a solution to the problems you outline. Something as simple as a 3 or 5 mile no net area would be a start.....
Please see Jo Borg's speech 'Perspectives of a European Maritime Policy' at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/new ... h75_en.htm
Having written to Joe Borg, the reply seems to indicate that we have an opportunity to influence the contents of the Green Paper that is being developed, to recognise the value and need for development of the Recreational Angling Sector within Europe.
Previously, EU fisheries have maintained that their remit has been solely the development of Commercial Fisheries as laid out in the EU treaty and, whilst they have been prepared to discuss matters of marine conservation and stock management, they have been reluctant to acknowledge the recreational angling sector as a stakeholder.
We now appear to be being offered a chink through which we can slip, in talking about what we would like to see within the Green Paper, and we should make the most that we can of the opportunity.
Leon's advice is that we should all respond, as organisations and as individuals, both directly to the commission and through our MEPs.
If you are tired of getting increasingly small numbers of increasingly small fish, furious at boats fishing practically on the beach etc, it's time to write to your MEP outlining your concern, stating what you think might be a solution to the problems you outline. Something as simple as a 3 or 5 mile no net area would be a start.....