Save our Sharks

[Charlton]

Hi All

You may have already heard on the grapevine that SOS has finally got the chance to help make the tope a recreational only species. Please look at the new SOS front page for details. [here]

It is important we get as many anglers, charter skippers, hoteliers, tackle dealers etc... in order to respond to the consultation. To accomplish this we need some help. If you can spare a few hours in helping compile emailing lists, emailing dealers, talking to tackle dealers etc… or you have any ideas to maximise this opportunity then please email ianburrett©save-our-sharks.org

A downloadable poster and handouts are available on the site and it is imperative we get these displayed in angling clubs, angling hotels, Charter boats, tackle dealers etc.

Please note that the Welsh Assembly government is holding a separate consultation, the address for responses can be found on the Welsh poster. Option 2 still applies.

If this consultation is successful i.e. Option 2, is adopted, then Defra have indicated that they will approach the EU commission to try and get a European ban on commercial fishing for tope, so there is still much to be done.

Once the consultation is over SOS will be asking Defra to stop the commercial exploitation of other sharks.

The consultation should create plenty of traffic for the SOS site and we are keen to see this continue. If you have had a good tope or sharking trip then please let us all know about it, by posting a report on the SOS forum.

Ian Burrett
Save our sharks

Hi All

This is just a brief note to keep everybody up to date regarding the tope consultation.
Have you responded yet? Please let us know. So far we know of just 5 from the SOS site. The biggest test we face is angler apathy. If every one assumes, plenty of others will write then option 1 of the consultation will come into effect and there will be no tope in 3-5 years.

We also need to get as many MP’s on board as possible, please would you write to him/her or better still organise a meeting asking him to support option 2 Please let us know when you write so we can compile a list of friendly MP’s

SOS have dedicated their front page to a campaign Details at [here]

What’s going on?

1, SOS has paid for the trade magazine “guns and tackle� to deliver a poster to 4000 tackle outlets and an editorial explaining why it is important to respond. Posters are also available from the SOS site

2, Editorial in Septembers Boat fishing monthly
Sea Angler and Total Sea fishing and SAN have promised a feature in October’s issues.

3, The UK shark tagging is sending an SOS letter out to all tagging skippers

4, The SFSA, SACN, the National Mullet Club will send out SOS letters/emails to all their members. The Britsh Conger Club and BASS will display it on their website

5, The NFSA are asking for support in their journal.

6, We had a good article in the Independent which was marred slightly by journalist error.

7, We are compiling lists of all tackle shops, Charter Skippers, Clubs etc in England, Scotland and Wales and all will be emailed

8, We intend to reach as many MP’s as possible as well as get the support of the All party fishing group

9. The forums AN and WSF are producing a steady flow of responses. Please post the consultation on any forums you use.

If you think we have forgotten anyone or have ideas how we can reach more folk, please let me know.

Cheers
Ian Burrett
[here]


[Edited on 29/8/2006 by Charlton]