St Mary's island - access - group trying to ban a activity

[Charlton]

That's the problem Alan, nothing will change the opinion of the blinkered. I've encountered it so many times in conservation it's ridiculous, and that is from both sides of the fence too.

dealt with quite a few of the blinkered at meetings with NE,
Rod just for you, about limpets and covers the same area. There had been an easterly blowing for a few days, got up one morning and the wind had dropped ideal for west bay, grabbed the rod and a bucket of mussel, as I strode over the rocks in my westgate studded waders there where a few marine biologists "well young ones with no common nouce" with their little metre squares counting what was in them, a young woman started screaming at me, as my studs made a noise on the rocks, you anglers you are kicking all the limpets off the rocks and crushing the winkles and crabs in you studded waders. I calmly put my rod and creel down, she looked petrified as I walked over, went to her square yard picked the biggest boulder up inside it and what was on the bottom of it, all the limpets, winkles and crabs that where sheltering from the rough sea, this is what we are up against.

 

[Uncle_Filthster]

dealt with quite a few of the blinkered at meetings with NE,
Rod just for you, about limpets and covers the same area. There had been an easterly blowing for a few days, got up one morning and the wind had dropped ideal for west bay, grabbed the rod and a bucket of mussel, as I strode over the rocks in my westgate studded waders there where a few marine biologists "well young ones with no common nouce" with their little metre squares counting what was in them, a young woman started screaming at me, as my studs made a noise on the rocks, you anglers you are kicking all the limpets off the rocks and crushing the winkles and crabs in you studded waders. I calmly put my rod and creel down, she looked petrified as I walked over, went to her square yard picked the biggest boulder up inside it and what was on the bottom of it, all the limpets, winkles and crabs that where sheltering from the rough sea, this is what we are up against.

Nature isn't daft but people are
Reminds me of doing marine biodiversity and zonation at uni. Most of the others were just recording what they could see on top of the rocks and moving the odd pebble. Our group was right in the thick of it heaving boulders, recording huge species lists compared to the handful of species most of the other groups recorded.

The lass I spoke to a couple of weeks ago was pleasant and perfectly fine once I'd spoken to her assuring her I knew what I was doing. If people start effing and blinding to them it will only get their backs up and they'll be onto their local councillor trying to get things stopped, even though it isn't actually legally possible.

I think the whole group has started because of what's been going on there. I saw some right idiots on the rocks in the evenings last year, several times, deliberately disturbing the seals, getting dogs to bark at them, stomping right up to them to try do a selfie, etc. The lass I spoke too said they even had people kicking the seal pups.

If they can see anglers are responsible and respect the resting pups they should be ok with us I reckon, that's not accounting for the plum section of sea angling though

 

[Charlton]

Nature isn't daft but people are
Reminds me of doing marine biodiversity and zonation at uni. Most of the others were just recording what they could see on top of the rocks and moving the odd pebble. Our group was right in the thick of it heaving boulders, recording huge species lists compared to the handful of species most of the other groups recorded.

The lass I spoke to a couple of weeks ago was pleasant and perfectly fine once I'd spoken to her assuring her I knew what I was doing. If people start effing and blinding to them it will only get their backs up and they'll be onto their local councillor trying to get things stopped, even though it isn't actually legally possible.

I think the whole group has started because of what's been going on there. I saw some right idiots on the rocks in the evenings last year, several times, deliberately disturbing the seals, getting dogs to bark at them, stomping right up to them to try do a selfie, etc. The lass I spoke too said they even had people kicking the seal pups.

If they can see anglers are responsible and respect the resting pups they should be ok with us I reckon, that's not accounting for the plum section of sea angling though

go along with that

 

[phill_itofish]

Nature isn't daft but people are
Reminds me of doing marine biodiversity and zonation at uni. Most of the others were just recording what they could see on top of the rocks and moving the odd pebble. Our group was right in the thick of it heaving boulders, recording huge species lists compared to the handful of species most of the other groups recorded.

The lass I spoke to a couple of weeks ago was pleasant and perfectly fine once I'd spoken to her assuring her I knew what I was doing. If people start effing and blinding to them it will only get their backs up and they'll be onto their local councillor trying to get things stopped, even though it isn't actually legally possible.

I think the whole group has started because of what's been going on there. I saw some right idiots on the rocks in the evenings last year, several times, deliberately disturbing the seals, getting dogs to bark at them, stomping right up to them to try do a selfie, etc. The lass I spoke too said they even had people kicking the seal pups.

If they can see anglers are responsible and respect the resting pups they should be ok with us I reckon, that's not accounting for the plum section of sea angling though

Couldn't agree more mate

 

[Kev1n]

The seal-watchers hearts are probably in the right place but some will be clueless, some will be sensible and a few will be the officious ones delegating responsibility to themselves. These are the ones which get heard so anglers need to make sure we counter them with courtesy and common sense so they have nothing to whinge about that could lead to more formal access control.

Alan’s story reminded me of a session digging lugworm a few years ago. Two young lasses walked over and introduced themselves as primary school teachers preparing some lesson plans about the sea-shore.

They curiously and foolishly asked what I was doing. Well, everyone needs a little fun now and again so with a straight face I took a break from digging and replied that I was planting potatoes.

The trench was long and straight for them so I knew where to find them. “Ah, yes” they nodded taking it all in – this was too easy. I added that the sand round here was good because it was quite muddy.

“Doesn’t the tide come in?” Yes I replied – it waters them twice a day to help the spuds grow.

By this time one of them was looking on like I was the village idiot whilst her mate was hooked easier than a summer mackeral.

I had to ‘fess up and show them the bucket of lug before they toddled off looking for other interesting things.

 

[kayos]

The seal-watchers hearts are probably in the right place but some will be clueless, some will be sensible and a few will be the officious ones delegating responsibility to themselves. These are the ones which get heard so anglers need to make sure we counter them with courtesy and common sense so they have nothing to whinge about that could lead to more formal access control.

Alan’s story reminded me of a session digging lugworm a few years ago. Two young lasses walked over and introduced themselves as primary school teachers preparing some lesson plans about the sea-shore.

They curiously and foolishly asked what I was doing. Well, everyone needs a little fun now and again so with a straight face I took a break from digging and replied that I was planting potatoes.

The trench was long and straight for them so I knew where to find them. “Ah, yes” they nodded taking it all in – this was too easy. I added that the sand round here was good because it was quite muddy.

“Doesn’t the tide come in?” Yes I replied – it waters them twice a day to help the spuds grow.

By this time one of them was looking on like I was the village idiot whilst her mate was hooked easier than a summer mackeral.

I had to ‘fess up and show them the bucket of lug before they toddled off looking for other interesting things.

Haha, love it Kevin!

 

[Charlton]

The seal-watchers hearts are probably in the right place but some will be clueless, some will be sensible and a few will be the officious ones delegating responsibility to themselves. These are the ones which get heard so anglers need to make sure we counter them with courtesy and common sense so they have nothing to whinge about that could lead to more formal access control.

Alan’s story reminded me of a session digging lugworm a few years ago. Two young lasses walked over and introduced themselves as primary school teachers preparing some lesson plans about the sea-shore.

They curiously and foolishly asked what I was doing. Well, everyone needs a little fun now and again so with a straight face I took a break from digging and replied that I was planting potatoes.

The trench was long and straight for them so I knew where to find them. “Ah, yes” they nodded taking it all in – this was too easy. I added that the sand round here was good because it was quite muddy.

“Doesn’t the tide come in?” Yes I replied – it waters them twice a day to help the spuds grow.

By this time one of them was looking on like I was the village idiot whilst her mate was hooked easier than a summer mackeral.

I had to ‘fess up and show them the bucket of lug before they toddled off looking for other interesting things.

nice one mate