My own response
My own response
Below is my own email that I have sent to Nicola Clarke at
[email protected]
It's not overly complicated (although it took me longer than the 10 minutes Dave mentioned) but you do need to have a a general read of the Consultation paper in order to answer the questions
...
Dear Ms Clarke
Please see my comments below as per the consultation questions.
Question 1 (Section 1, Page 4)
•What are your overall views on the Strategy?
•Does it miss anything?
•Which part would you change and how?
On the face of it appears to address the fundamental concerns among Recreational Sea Anglers. These Anglers want larger fish stocks, better infrastructure with which their sport can be managed and a voice within local and national Government that will respond to issues raised. If indeed this paper goes further then I would suggest that the generalised nature of the strategy goes into greater depth as to what is going to be accomplished and how. The average Angler does not want to read political generalisations; but does want to see black and white answers.
Question 2 (Section 1, Page 4)
•How often do you go angling?
•Where do you mostly go angling? Do you go on angling holidays?
•What sort of angling – shore, own boat or charter vessels?
I go Angling as often as I can, in some cases once or twice a week during the winter months and during the summer I will often go once a week. I do most of my angling from North Shields on the River Tyne up to Northumberland. I also fish whenever I go to the south coast (Bournemouth area) and South Wales. At present I am mainly a shore Angler but I have and will in the future fish from a private boat or charter vessel.
Question 3 (Section 2, Page 5)
•Why do you go sea angling?
•What are the key reasons for your participation in the sport?
•What is the biggest issue for you affecting your angling?
I fish for recreational pleasure and more than often will eat what I catch. I participate because it gets me out of the house and I enjoy it. The biggest issue affecting my angling at present is the proposed sea angling licence and what benefits it will have to me as a potential stakeholder.
Question 4 (Section 2, Page 5)
•Do you agree with the aim and objectives of the Strategy? Which objective do you think is most important?
In principle the aims are sound; but as mentioned earlier any future strategies need to go into greater depth and transparency – not just sound like political rhetoric. The key aim would be “To capitalise on the economic potential of the sport to optimise the economic and social return to coastal economies and society and identify ways to re-invest expenditure to provide further benefits”…but seeing is believing.
Question 5 (Section 3, Page 7)
•How do you think angling needs can be reflected in fisheries management decisions and policy?
•What do you think is the best way to achieve this?
By removing the bias that there appears to be towards the commercial fleet. This can be achieved by appointing regional/national representatives from the Angling community to put forward notions and views.
Question 6 (Section 4, Page 8)
•Which species do you value most?
•What action would you like to see taken to improve these stocks?
I value ALL species of fish. Improving measures would include: Banning fishing practices (commercially) that damage underwater ecosystems. The banning of high grading fish by the commercials. By finding a better way of dealing with by-catch. By the introduction of a golden mile (at the very least) and better policing of the coastline with regard to illegal netters.
Question 7 (Section 5, Page 12)
•If a sea angling licence were introduced and the revenue spent to provide benefits for sea anglers, would you be willing to pay and how much?
I would be willing to pay – the cost is immaterial – but only if I could see the revenue being invested appropriately, and NOT disappear into “the system”
Question 8 (Section 5, Page 12)
•Would you support a bag limit for certain species where there is a conservation need and there are controls on commercial exploitation of the same species?
Yes
Question 9 (Section 7, Page 15)
•What would you spend money on to improve your enjoyment of sea angling?
Better local/national infrastructure with regards to fisheries management – but only if there was an equal voice for Anglers. Improvement of venues and adequate policing of said venues.
Question 10 (Section 9, Page 18)
•What new sources of information are you aware of that are available to build an evidence base? E.g. data on catches, social studies, angling business turnovers, numbers of people going on charter vessels year on year etc
I have limited knowledge as to where these details can be found. I would say that that there therefore needs to be greater transparency with these figures and that they are made easily available to those who seek the information.
I wish to be regarded a stakeholder in this issue and I trust the above is adequate in response to your questions.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards
(Name & address supplied)
Please feel free to dissect my own comments should you feel the urge
