As sport fisherman, when the fish were spawning we caught them, trying to catch that monster for the record books. Ling, pollack, coalfish we did not care, as long as it was big. Any excess was landed on the fish market. The memories are all to vivid…I can recall some 20 years ago, myself and three friends landing 400 stone of pollack daily from a wreck just a few miles off Start Point, on the south coast of the UK. This we did for a week and the majority of the fish were full of roe. What damage we must have inflicted on the species.

Technology to has played a large part in the decimation of the fishing industry, together with politicians who have given our resources to the other members of the EEC since our joining in 1973. They in turn have raped our waters after depleting their own resources through over fishing and catching undersized species. You can still see these species in the markets of France & Spain today, if you care to look. Spain being the perfect example of a mismanaged fleet in the waters, which once were our seas. Even today they are using small meshed nets to catch young Hake stocks in the Bay of Biscay and are responsible for depleting those stocks, whilst British vessels are forced to cut their catches and use large meshed nets.

 THE DECLINE OF THE BRITISH FISHING INDUSTRY

So where are we today? The answer is in complete and total disarray and with no working CONSERVATION policy in place. The finger must be pointed at the politicians, for it is them who make the laws by which we have to abide. The T.A.C (Total Allowable Catch) is determined by the scientists from collected data and is recommended to the politicians. But this is where the scheme or system goes absolutely crazy by coming up with a conservation method they call “Quota Management of the Species”.

Quotas are supposed to be the system of CONSERVATION. But even a school child can see the system is totally flawed. Perhaps that is an understatement, as it does nothing for CONSERVATION. For one, it does not stop the fishing effort; it only controls what you can land on the market. In 1998, John Gummer, former UK Fisheries Minister, described the process of fisheries management as doing nothing for conservation, "if you are a Fisheries Minister you sit around a table arguing about fishermen, not about fish. You are there to represent fishermen, you are there to ensure that if there are ten fish left you get your share and, if possible, a bit more. The arguments are not about conservation". And therein lies the problem - political expediency.

So today we have a real crisis with a savage cut in quotas, which all of us could see coming, but none of us raised a hand to do or say anything, me included. It’s only been in the last few years or so that anglers have started petitioning against the French and now the Scots with regard to Bass catches. But what are the anglers doing about conservation themselves. From where I stand, I see nothing and very few suggestions either. This is where I believe the P.B.A (Professional Boatman’s Association) in conjunction with N.F.C.S (National Federation of Charter Skippers) could take a lead and suggest to the government a CONSERVATION package for sport fishing, before all is lost.

My belief is that we have to be proactive and make a start with D.E.F.R.A and the government, by suggestions. It’s unlikely we will get our way in all matters but we can use other countries proven methods as examples. We then need to tackle the matter of Quotas with the government and D.E.F.R.A as there has to be a better way of managing fish stocks. Quotas as I have already said will never achieve that goal. I have always had my own ideas but that would make this article much longer.

Having lived on the other side of the pond in Florida for over 6 years I have seen how it manages the fishing resources. Maybe it does not suffer from the same commercial fishing effort, but the results would be the same if not controlled. Even here, where they appear to have measures under control they are not satisfied with the effort in CONSERVATION and there are constant arguments between the Sports fisherman and the commercial interests.  However the systems that are in place are working, which cannot be said for the UK. In the year of 2002 huge shoals of Mullet and Red Drum were seen everywhere. And in some cases are reported greater than that seen every before. Even Swordfish have returned to the Gulf after a long absence.

The UK Sportfishing Industry I am told is larger than the UK Commercial Fishing Industry so therefore it is in the interests of the government to offer this industry some sort of protection from the ravages that are taking place in that commercial sector. After all they are collecting large revenues in V.A.T and there is also a large employment sector in this field from where they collect taxes from the employer and employees.

It is my proposal that sea anglers and angling sportfishing charter boats should put their own house in order before pointing their finger at others. So where do we start? How about bag limits? These measures are used in freshwater sport fishing where the stock can be managed easily so why not in salt-water sport fishing? Already I can feel people smarting from the suggestion. Before you jump to defend your position why not examine the Florida/USA experience.

I should mention what I am about to suggest with regard to Sea Sportfishing will be totally unpalatable for some, primarily because there is a conflict of interests. Some angling vessels are also registered fishing vessels, so here we have the first problem. But we need to start with a clean sheet.

 PROPOSALS

1. No angling sport fishing vessels should be registered fishing vessels. That is the case in all other countries I have examined, otherwise there will be a conflict of interests. 

2. It will be illegal for any angling sport-fishing vessel to sell fish, punishable by law. (We all know it goes on and it undermines the commercial fisherman and his getting a fair price for his fish.)

3. It should be illegal for any angler to sell fish punishable by law. This may be the case already, but what happens to all those Bass that those greedy anglers catch. I know, “they are returned to the sea”.
I wish that was the case, but most end up on the restaurant table depriving the real commercial fisherman of his market and also a fair price. How does that occur? They are sold through the back door!

You only have to look around the websites of sport fishing vessels in the UK to realize they cannot possibly eat all the fish they catch. The photos are the evidence, a boat full of dead Bass. Or even a boat full of Pollack, the difference is the same but perhaps not the monetary value. So in reality, we are over fishing and therefore my next suggestion is that there should be a BAG LIMITS.

4. DAILY BAG LIMITS for all species under pressure in the UK. The Captain/Skipper of any sportfishing sea-angling vessel will be restricted to the same BAG LIMITS as ANGLERS. (In Florida we have limits for 71 species, which are under pressure, and it does not stop people going fishing.  Some fish require the angler to have special daily TAG or permit. If this were introduced for BASS, the selling via the back door would stop overnight. In the USA a Tarpon TAG costs $50 daily if you want to land one). The penalties for failure to comply with the regulations here in the USA are harsh, but they seem to work. Usually the vessel is confiscated after one or two warnings! It is then auctioned by the Government and the proceeds go to the Government.

5. SIZE LIMITS for all fish landed. All fish must be LANDED MUST BE WHOLE CONDITION, no filleting or gutting at sea! To save any confusion all fish length limits should be measured as OVERALL LENGTH.

Released fish: The argument may be that fish released won’t survive, this argument is not well found and a large percentage survives provided they are not mishandled on capture. (In Florida we have these regulations.)

6. Everyone should pay a small charge to fish in the sea, whether it is from the land or a boat. Say 10 UK pounds per annum. From sea angling sportfishing vessels the charge we be say 250 UK pounds per annum. This money collected, minus a small amount say 1.5% for administration, should be put back into the sport in the form of building artificial reefs, fish breeding, policing etc.

The Policing when set up  could be used by the  M.C.A (Marine & Coastguard Agency) for the checking of charter sportfishing vessels documentation, those who are trying to operate vessels illegally for sportfishing, and for random checking of catches. We have this here in Florida and the system works well. The policing also inspects watercraft to ensure they are carrying the minimum safety equipment recommended, such as flares and lifejackets, radio etc. and are not carrying an excess of passengers. Also that the operator of the vessel is not over the legal limit for alcohol.

EXEMPTIONS FROM CHARGES: would be minors less than 16 years of age and pensioners. (In the USA you have to pay to fish in the sea whether it be from the shore or your own private boat. Charter boats are also regulated with an annual charge in Florida its $400 for 6 persons. Foreign Nationals have to pay to fish in the sea as well.)

7. A SPORT FISHING TAX should be levied on all angling products manufactured in the UK or imported. Say 5%. This tax should be levied at the point of manufacture. The money collected from the manufacturers would go back into angling, both fresh and seawater. (In Florida and the whole of the USA we have the Dingle-Johnson tax with a national 10% charge on all fishing products at the point of manufacture or importation. All taxes collected are re-distributed nationally for the benefit of angling.)

8.The TOTAL BANNING of ALL GILL NETTING, within the 12-mile or 6-mile limit. (In Florida all gill netting is banned in state waters.)

9.The exclusion of all sea angling sportfishing vessels from commercial fishing regulations. (It should be remembered in Florida we have a total ban, which extends all year around on some sea species that under severe pressure due to over harvesting i.e. Jewfish.  The same restrictions should also apply to sea angling sportfishing vessels in the UK for designated species. Species like COD & BASS could be controlled under the DAILY BAG LIMIT giving sport fishing an exemption.)

10. CLOSED SEASONS for certain species. i.e. Pollack, Ling etc. (This would be the winter breeding months for these species. In Florida as an example we have closed seasons for certain species such as Snook from Dec 15th until Jan 31st and the months of June, July & August.)

11. No commercial fishing within 3 or 6 miles of the shore. Exemptions Crab, Lobster and Handline Mackerel Fishing.