Nice to meet you last night Ryan. Always good to put names to faces. As you say it was great to see a show of support from so many, with the reps from DEFRA stating that this was the biggest turnout they'd had, I estimated around 100.
Also well done to the lads from South of the Tyne who at such short notice had made the journey up and considering they were representing in some cases 600 club members, DEFRA will get an even bigger shock if they do take the offer up to visit them.
Treeboa, the majority of the points raised, tended to focus on the licence and why it was deemed by anglers as unfair and just another tax.
A very valid point was raised by an Amble fisherman who had surveyed all the clubs catches in the NE and stated that only around 6,000lb of fish had been weighed in over the season which equated to less than a single trawl.
I asked how they could make promises of more and bigger fish when we were part of the EU and tied into the CFP's qouta system which is the main cause of the lack of fish. It would mean coming out of Europe if they were going to follow through on their promise.
Other questions from anglers were did they realise how many people would leave the sport and what that would do for HM revenue.
Why had the consultation been so badly promoted with very few Sea Anglers being aware of it as well as tackle shops and other businesses it would affect.
Why couldn't no trawl zones be introduced to 12 miles out as had been done between Flamborugh head and Spurn point which is beginning to reap more fish for anglers.
The reps from DEFRA were also asked if they'd ever picked up a rod and spent some time on a North East beach when it's blowing a hooley to which they replied 'no', to which they were asked, how can you know anything about fishing then?
They seemed to have very few valid replies to all the questions asked and I think they were probably surprised at how informed many questions were.
Also interesting to hear the SFC lads say how they are constrained by budget and structure, only working from 8.30am till 4.30pm. Bit like having a part time police station and only being able to report crimes during office hours.
Lets hope everyone left last night, spoke to as many of their mates as possible, told them to go to DEFRA's website and reply to the consultation
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"And I looked, and behold'a pale horse; and his name that sat on him was death, and hell followed with hi, and power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword and with hunger, and with the beasts of the earth"
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