14 January 2010
Fishing bill consultation over but anglers can still air views
THE consultation period for the controversial Fisheries Bill has now closed, but the government still wants to hear people's opinions. Janice Skinner, legal representative from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, said: 'We would still be prepared to listen to the views of leisure anglers.'Concerns have been raised that measures for licensing sea fishing are draconian, but Ms Skinner said: 'The problem with the bill was that it may have been released without sufficient explanation and now the issue of marine fishing licences has ballooned out of all proportion.'Even after the bill is passed into law, unhappy fishermen still retain the right to lobby their local politicians.'Highlighting the wider implications, Ms Skinner said: 'This act is an enabling power, so that, if necessary, we can introduce restrictions on certain species in the future.'Like it or not, we are tied to the EU and Article 47 of a proposed regulation by the European Union will expect all EU Member States to ascertain the effects of recreational angling on fish stocks in order to inform the Common Fisheries Policy.'We are setting out plans for what we might need to do in 10 years' time out of necessity.Fisheries Minister Phil Gawne said: 'My department has no intention whatsoever of charging anglers for the right to fish from the shore.'However, I feel it is important that the department is able to regulate activities which may place in jeopardy certain stocks of fish or shellfish, or even cetaceans (marine mammals like whales and dolphins). For example, no right-minded angler would wish to see miles of tangle nets shot across Manx beaches by people wishing to catch a fish for the pot.'Rather than introduce by-laws to regulate an activity such as this, a power to issue licenses, with attached conditions, is a much simpler way of allowing certain methods of recreational fishing to take place alongside commercial activity on a regulated basis, without damaging impacts or by-catch.'A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry added: 'The administration of licenses will likely follow the model developed for hobby potting – permits, which are free of charge, will be issued on demand by filling out a DAFF form. Once approved by the department, the licence, along with relevant rules and regulations, will be posted back to the applicant.'Currently, we have no intention of asking for licences for many species, but there are some commercially viable inter-tidal shellfish which need immediate regulation.'We don't want to see the same situation which occurred to cockle-gatherers in Morecambe Bay.'Department officials are due to meet representatives of the Anglers Forum to further discuss any issues surrounding the bill.Leisure anglers wishing to express their opinion can still do so by writing to: Fisheries Division, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Rose House, 51 - 59 Circular Road, Douglas IM1 1AZ or email
fisheries@gov.im The current legislation is 30 years old. We see this as a way of covering ourselves.'