Opportunity to assist in a ban on commercial bass fishing in Northern Ireland A consultation process was launched on the introduction of a ban on all commercial fishing for bass in Northern Ireland waters and at the time I and others did write to the NI govt in support of same. In effect this would have extended the leglisation that currently exists in the Irish Republic throughout the island of Ireland. However, if you follow the link below to the BASS website it seems that the goal posts have now been moved and whilst some legslation will most likely be introduced in Northern Ireland it will
allow trawling and if the bass stocks recover
"restrictions on commercial exploitation could be reviewed". So it seems that the commercial lobby have corrupted the original intent of the proposal to ban all commercial fishing for bass in Northern Ireland waters. Indeed if any bass are allowed to be sold (caught via trawling or any other commercial method) it would make the enforcement of any ban almost impossible.
If you follow the link to the BASS website they have a template letter which you can send to the Minister, Committee Clerk and others. I have sent my own version of this letter (via e-mail) to the Minister and also to the Committee Clerk and it might be an idea if others would consider doing likewise.
If a complete ban is introduced in Northern Ireland it would represent a significant step in having a ban introduced in England, Scotland and Wales. You could also argue that it would make it more difficult to have the ban in the Irish Republic removed in the future.
Finally might it be worthwhile for the mods to create a sticky on this?
Thanks,
Walter
http://ukbass.com/2011/11/06/Bass-manag ... n-ireland/