The EU has been looking for recreational data from recreational sea angling for some time. Ireland has basically ignored the requests until now.
It would be interesting to hear your views whatever they may be on the following:
IFI’s website states:
Do you want to help to protect the future of sea angling?
We want to hear from you!
Sea angling is an important recreational activity in Ireland, however very little is known about:
• Where we fish
• When we fish
• How much we catch & release
• The socio-economic benefits of sea angling
With your help, the Irish Marine Recreational Angling Survey (IMREC) is planning to address these questions.
Irish Marine Recreational Angling Survey
This survey has been developed:
• To promote sea angling as an important recreational activity
• To better document and characterise sea angling in Ireland
• To collect robust sea angling data to contribute to EU reporting requirements
• To provide information to improve management and conservation of the sea angling resource
• To provide information to contribute to a shared national responsibility to manage stocks properly for everyone
• To provide all stakeholders, and particularly anglers, with factual information about different species
Throughout Ireland in 2020 surveyors will be visiting angling venues to meet anglers (shore, charter and private boat) to collect catch information face-to-face.
If you encounter a surveyor please give a few minutes of your time to contribute towards a better understanding of the sea angling resource in Ireland.
The Charter Skippers Association posted this item on their website:
https://www.irishcharterskippersassocia ... icsa-news#
Quota on recreational fish catches?
Chairman of the I.C.S.A. Donal Kennedy attended a meeting in Athlone on the 23rd January 2020 as a member of the Marine Recreational Angling Survey of Ireland Steering Group along with Luke Aston, I.C.S.A. Shannon region representative. The meeting was very interesting and was chaired by Willie Roche, IFI, who are tasked with others to carry out a survey on the catches of recreational fishing in Ireland.
A time frame this survey is to be implemented has not been not fixed yet but when the group put a plan in place it will move with pace. This survey comes on the back of a directive from the EU regulations EC 199/2008 which compels the Irish Government to carry out same. The survey is being funded by the E.U. and Donal Kennedy was delighted to be at the meeting, representing the I.C.S.A. and be part of the steering group along with Luke Aston.
Following this meeting it brought back the time where the I.C.S.A. fought to make sure that the E.U. back in 2008 were not going to introduce a quota on recreational fish catches. The I.C.S.A. were successful in having the E.U. state that they were not going to introduce a quota and were basically leaving it up to the Irish Government to deal with the issue.
The concern now is, that it has reared its head again under this directive which compels the Irish Government to carry out the survey and following their findings, issue quotas etc or not, should the survey show that recreational fishing is impacting on fish stocks.
We need to be part of this survey so that we can record and have recorded the fish charter skippers catch or release for the season. Doing so will show that what we catch is very small and by no way have impacts on fish stocks compared to the commercial fleet.
Also by taking part in the survey we will be able to show what we catch or release and not allow the E.U. dictate what they think we catch or what impact we have on fish stocks. Whereby the E.U. could put a figure on our recreational fishing catches (which would not be a true reading) and maybe state then, that a quota should have to be introduced. Where would the quota come from? From the commercial sector which in turn would cause issues.
It is important that we get as many charter skippers signed up to the I.C.S.A., take part in the survey so that we have an input on our future.