Split from: Cause for concern? (Commercial Bass Fishery)

[JimH]

or maybe its this http://www.probassfisher.com/2012/07/a- ... hands.html

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Last edited by JimH on Fri Jul 27, 2012 5:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Hi guys.

Jim H has uploaded an extremely important post here.
He then asked a legitimate question in order to clarify someone's position, and rightfully so.
It appears as though he's now being accused of an attack.

Well can I say two things please.

First let me say as someone who knows Jim H he's not the kind of person to attack someone on a whim. Jim is a very friendly, knowledgeable man who cares about and supports the bass fishery which brings me to my second point.

The reason for Jim's post was to highlight this new challenge we all face from the FIF and Marine Institute in relation to our bass fishery.

Wrong perceptions and over sensitivity has caused a major digression so can we all please get back to the point in hand i.e. what are we going to do as a group of anglers about the latest demands to reopen the commercial bass fishery?

Yours respectfully & hopefully,
John D.

I don't see how the Marine Institute are backing this opening of the fishery. All work carried out from the Inshore division has shown time and time again that stocks are nowhere near levels that would be acceptable for commercial exploitation - just even look at the advice given in this years Stock Book.

If you were to take everything that you read in these fishermen papers (Marine News, Inshore Ireland, etc...) for granted, you'd be up the walls with worry. Just 2 months ago they wanted to re-open slamon netting and eel neeting in the Waterford Estuary but it will never happen (not at least for the foreseeable future anyway).

The top dogs of the IFO (Irish Fishermans Organisation) have to be seen to be beating the drum for their members or they will be out on their ear. I suppose we should also be thankful that our current Minister in charge of Fisheries, Simon Coveney, appears to have his head screwed on relatively well and isn't subject to make rash decisions (especially when Europe is looking to go down the road of "sustainable" fisheries). The last fella, Sean Connick, wanted to open bass, salmon and eel net fisheries after talking to some fishermen in Slade, Co. Wexford, who also apparently claimed that cod were so plentiful that they were "leaping out of the water"!

As it stands, the Marine Institute has the final say on whether the fishery can be opened. And, for the foreseeable futre, that IS NOT going to happen.

Generally, it is Jim Hendrick and John Quinlan of Irish Bass that highlight these issues. As John D suggests, we should row in with ideas and help if possible.
I've already sent Simon Coveney letters previously but I'll send him another referencing this particular article. Sustained, ongoing pressure is what is needed to counter the commercial lobby.

A few other suggestions.
- Jim has put a link with Simon Coveneys details here http://www.probassfisher.com/2012/07/a-fight-on-our-hands.html . Can the moderators put a sticky at the top of this section (Angling News) with the full contact details for Simon Coveney and any other body relevant to bass protection? It should make for an easy reference when a call like this is made to contact them.

- The foreign angling press write quite a few articles specifically about bass fishing in Ireland and generally promoting Ireland as a tourist destination for bass anglers. I think it would be worthwhile having a contact with the editor in each magazine and get sent a pdf copy of said articles to file away and flick on to Simon Coveney etc (at relevant times) as a practical representation of how important bass is as a tourist attraction. I'm sure these guys would be happy to do so and its an easy thing for them to carry out.

- The current challenges regarding bass numbers should also be highlighted so an impression isn't allowed form that our coast is alive with fish. A practical example is the recent bass festival in Waterford. I understand that 250 bass were landed for 121 anglers. Relative to the event being over 2 days on good tides with 4+ tide sets this seems like a very poor return to me. Info like this should be stored and passed to SC etc at relevant times.

- Spearos - I don't know any spearos but I suspect they are a group similar enough to recreational anglers, some good eggs, some bad eggs. A dialogue between bass anglers and spearos can only be a good thing, to understand each others point of view, educate each side etc. We both have a bigger common enemy on the shoreline which is the illegal bass industry and the more eyes on this and a common approach to reporting it the better.

Some of the above may be happening already. Good ideas/bad ideas, I don't know but thats what I have at the moment.

Lastly, as I write this I'm thinking that people would automatically think it falls to a group such as Irish Bass to take on these and other suggestions. I don't know, but if they are to take it on they will need practical help. Ideas aren't worth tuppence unless acted upon.

John, if this stuff (any decent suggestions through this thread) is worth importing into the Irish Bass workload, let us know how we can be of practical help, if you guys meet intermittently to action stuff etc.

Cheers
Colm

Colm I sent an e-mail to Minister Coveney yesterday as I have done to his predecessors in the past. I also put something up on another forum to inform its members. It is definitely worthwhile for individual anglers to send an e-mail to the Minister. At the very least it will do no harm. Also even if this latest attempt by the commercial lobby to have the bass legislation repealed is not a serious threat (as somedose states above) it will let the Minister know that we support the legislation and his decision to keep it in place. I believe that individual correspondence is far more powerful than simply signing a group petition.

Walter