BUREAUCRATS in Brussels are looking to impose limits on line fishermen who fish for fun from private pleasure boats, canoes, or even the edge of a pier, according to the National Federation of Sea Anglers (NFSA).

Under the proposed scheme, thousands of ocean-going cruisers, yachts, private motor boats and even canoes would have to become registered fishing vessels if, even once a year, someone puts a line over the side of the vessel to catch their supper.

And it would not stop there. It is claimed that Brussels wants the fish they catch to be counted as part of the quota that British commercial fishermen can land.

Under the proposals even anglers on beaches and piers would have to reveal the fish they catch.

Recreational fishing is the most popular sport in the country. Yet critics of the possible future rules say people following their leisure pursuit risk being told to pack up their rods if Brussels believes they might be depleting fish stocks.

The NFSA classes recreational fishing as catching fish from the sea with rod, line and hook for personal use. They do not sell it, those who do are classed by the NFSA as commercial fishermen.

Richard Ferré, director for sea angling of the newly-formed Angling Trust, and chairman of the Buckfastleigh-based National Federation of Sea Anglers (NFSA) said: "It would be a monstrous and inevitably chaotic intrusion of policing into the sport of a million men, women and children who contribute £1 billion a year to UK economy and support 18,000 jobs in England and Wales alone."

In a report requested by Defra, Mr Ferré said anglers were "suspicious and resistant" to the idea because it had suddenly appeared from the EU and generated "serious contentious issues". And he denied an EU claim that anglers were "widely consulted".

One concern of the proposal is how such a scheme can be enforced. While fishermen on trawlers are closely monitored at the docks where their catch is landed, people who fish for pleasure do so from rocky outcrops, the ends of piers or from the side of a canoe.

Paul Trebilcock, chief executive of the Cornish inshore fishermen said: "There will be a lot of people who will give up fishing rather than go through the hassle. But I think even more will simply not bother to register their catch."

Recreational fishing generates a significant income for the region. An average bank holiday weekend will generate up to £150 million, of which approximately 2 per cent comes from leisure fishing, according to Tim Jones, chief executive of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council.

He said: "This is another example of the barmy Brussels bureaucrats putting in more layers of restriction and creating even more of a nanny state."

South West MEP Neil Parish has said he wants these proposals "stopped now" before they become law. He said: "I will talk to Defra about this and I suggest that anglers contact me. This is yet another case of Brussels going too far. It is ridiculous because these anglers are not the ones catching too much fish."

Defra is asking for responses on the issue to be sent to them by Monday to thereviewofthecontrolregulation@defra. gsi.gov.uk