cunn/29 juno 2006

I see you mention protect their livliehood, where exactly do the netters sell their bass/salmon etc too, surely if this is assertained the restauraunts etc. could be warned with the threat of fines/closure periods not to buy from unlisceneced vendors. I'm nearly sure there's EU regulations that meat/fish for public sale or consumption must come from a reputable source, much like the regulation a few years ago in which fish shops & butchers can only sell meat products in processed forms, ie. no half pigs hanging in the butchers etc.

Selling bass that have not been imported is illegal under the Bass (Restriction on Sale) Order 2005.

Vandalising fishing nets, whether they are legally deployed or other wise is not the way forward.

However, if week in, week out, those concerned were writing to their local papers, politicians, calling the Gardai, the CFB, the Dept of the Marine, something would eventually be done about the problem.

Vandalising fishing nets, whether they are legally deployed or other wise is not the way forward.

However, if week in, week out, those concerned were writing to their local papers, politicians, calling the Gardai, the CFB, the Dept of the Marine, something would eventually be done about the problem.

I agree. The problem is so severe that the solution has to come from the top down. Nets are cheap. Loosing one is probably just annoying.

By the way, in what circumstances can nets legally be deployed inshore?

Call the CFB or your nearest local office. Just last week we reported a salmon netter at the top of Inch who shot four nets out when legally he is only allowed one I believe. The fisheries officers arrived on the beach that day took the details of the boat which was also operating without a license and payed a "house call" to that man that evening. I was told the outcome was boat confiscated - nets burned.

Our fisheries boards do have limited resources and can do with all the help they can get, if we don't report illigal activity then we can't sit here and complain about it. Every angler should do their bit on this front. The system mighn't work all the time but it does work - only if we help them out.

I've reported a number of illegal gill nets to the SWFB over the past few months and have always found them to be extremely helpful and diligent. The fisheries officers will even return a call to get precise directions to a net on some occasions when they're down that neck of the woods.

Liam

It's also illegal for restaurants to have salmon or sea trout that aren't tagged in their posession I gather......

But I can't stress enough that the only way forward is sustained reporting to anyone who will listen every time you see illegal fishing etc. It's the only way.

As part of my duty to the IBPAG (Irish Bass Protection and Awareness Group) I have already been writing to countless politicians. These letters may have resulted in the re-signing of the Bass bye laws. Now I am turning my attention to writing letters to fish mongers, fish wholesalers, restaurants and hotels. I will be urging them all not to purchase any bass offered to them. I will also be letting the restaurants and hotels know that by encouraging the poaching of bass by purchasing illegally caught bass they are actually shooting themselves in the foot. Why? ... because less bass means less sea angling tourists. Less sea angling tourists means less revenue for these places.

Why doesn't everyone else pick up a pen and paper to. Even if you write to just one restaurant asking them not to partake in the purchase of illegal bass.

Regards,
John D.

Here is a letter, that I sent to the "Minister for the Marine", on the 8-12-05. I am still waiting for a reply ????????

Hi

It is well known in fishing circles, (rod & line), that the stocks of Sea Bass, are being plundered around the Irish coast. This is a tragedy, because Ireland is squandering the chance of becoming the Bass fishing capitol of Europe.
One of the best areas is around Dungarvan, Co Waterford, and at the same time, poaching is rampant, with the outcome, that the stocks will not survive. (Bass are extremely slow growing). Most rod and line anglers, now return most of the fish they catch, (about 80%), to assist in conservation. Every bass caught in a net is dead, and the money is part of the "black economy", which means the government doesn't get a cent.
This situation happened with the striped Bass in the USA, a number of years ago, but the fisheries protection people stamped it out for good. Now sportsfishing is a multi million dollar industry, and every year, B&B's,hotels, and guest houses can not cope with the demand along the eastern seaboard, i.e Cape Cod, Boston, Marthas Vinyard etc.
I used to go down to West Cork to fish for Bass, and had many happy times there, but like Dungarvan the poachers have ruined it.

Consider this, one of my Bass trips works out like this:-

Travel from Co Armagh, and fill car with petrol 70 euros
Book into B&B 30 euros per night
Food and drink 40 euros per day
Bait 5 euros per day

All Bass caught, returned alive !

This is good honest money being put into the local economy. Anglers from England, Scotland, and Wales, are now being very vocal on not returning, because of diminishing catches. What a waste.

If these poachers were caught, prosecuted, and the message sent out, that the poaching days are over, Ireland would be a better place. These nets also catch large numbers of Dolphins and Porpoises, something that has helped getting them stopped off the south coast of England.

I would love to see Irelands Bass fishing return to the glory days of the past. This is tomorrows heritage that is being raped and plundered from the sea.

Very angry, working class angler!!

you could also add that many anglers from other countries will pay fortunes to come and catch bass.

i was over for 2 weeks last year and intend to return again this august but if the catch reports dwindle i may not bother and head for west wales instead.

as for C posting his catch results it has its good points. for me i can see what is possible and can make the long journey with a little confidence.

i think the illegal netters will do their stuff whether there is a catch posted or not.

Guys, I'm off to Ardmore in 13 days time (not counting!) so I hope I haven't paid all that money only to find all the Bass have been plundered!!

Seriously, you need to protect your stocks and do everything in your power to stop these arses from plundering your stocks or else you'll end up with a Bass stock like ours in Sussex, crap.

But be warned it ain't just netters who you have to watch as even the dingy 'anglers' (in Sussex) get it on when the Bass are 'in' and then go back to port loaded with 30 or 40, 2.5 lb schoolies and illegally sell them on to the local Chinese etc. Its rife in Newhaven :evil:

Neil

That's a very good letter Bass Fisher.

Although you didn't get a reply keep writing those letters and send them to more than one politician. Send it to all politicians asking if they can have any influence in 1) making fishing for bass (commercially) illegal for good and 2) making a greater effort to police the issues surrounding illegal netting of bass.

Keep up the good work!

John D.