CONSERVATION is destroying the validity of the British record fish list as captors opt to release specimens heavier than the existing standards.

The latest example is a spurdog caught off the Dorset coast. Weighed soon after being brought aboard the boat at 21lb 12oz it was immediately returned. If the stated weight was accurate it would have improved on the existing record set off Porthleven, in 1977.

In recent years at least ten of the present listed records could have been beaten had captors of larger specimens not opted for release. Weights obtained at sea are rarely accurate due to a number of factors and it is for this reason the British Record Fish Committee will only accept a claim for a fish weighed on land, on attested scales and before witnesses.

The European Federation of Sea Anglers' keeper of European records takes an identical stance, as does the International Game Fish Association which has responsibility for world record claims. Despite being pressured for change both stay firm in their belief that a record weight must be beyond doubt.

The British Conger Club will only allow its major trophies to be awarded for fish weighed on dry land, but has vigorously promoted 'catch and release', the success of this being fully shown in the dramatic decline in the number of gold, silver and bronze medals now being awarded compared to the figures of earlier decades.

Between its formation in 1962 and the late 1980s almost every fish believed to be over 55lb, the minimum medal weight, was brought ashore but in its last five annual championships less than 30 eels from more than 1,500 caught have appeared at the scales.

It is conservation at the very highest level. To allow a fish that has not been correctly weighed on dry land to be acclaimed a British record, replacing one for which a rigorous procedure was conducted, cannot be justified.

The solution is for organisations involved to set up a separate list for fish weighed at sea (WAS), so allowing anglers who make a special catch to uphold their conservation principles and at the same time giving the fish recognised significance.

Currently the Record Fish Committee is in a state of limbo and a statement on its perceived future is still awaited from the Angling Trust, under whose umbrella it apparently now rests.

If it does not wish to have the responsibility it must say so and find a worthy successor who will safeguard not only a century of past and present records but those yet to come.

Last weekend's violent weather kept boat fishing at a virtual standstill but Paignton SAA's Peter Passmore slipped out of Dartmouth aboard his own boat and in a short spell ahead of the 'blow' took a fine pollack of 20lb 15oz.

Carp have fed well at Paignton's Town Parks and sizeable fish have been taken at most of the fancied pegs. Stuart Johnson had a beautiful conditioned common of 19lb 2oz take his kipper boilie in the margin at peg 14, the catch being made as he was packing up.

Mark Bearne had fish of 14lb 3oz and 12lb 8oz, both going for halibut pellet tipped off with corn at the fishery's first peg. Junior Dan Woodward, up from Newton Abbot, had a great session at peg nine where his micro-corn and elite boilies fished tight to the island produced commons of 17lb 2oz 16lb 1oz and 14lb 4oz and a mirror of 15lb 6oz.

The mirror, always a prized species, was also found at Peg ten by Mark Vaughan who had one of 15lb 1oz while another of 14lb 2oz fell to Barry Taylor at Peg one.

Local cabbie Guy Bennett steered for the fishery and in quite awful weather fished a Town Parks Excel boilie in mid-water for a 12 lb 8oz common.

The fishery's match lake continues to give good bags of bream, skimmers and large silvers, notably for rods fishing off the dam wall. The water has warmed up to around 12 degrees and this is inducing the lake's carp to be more active.

The published dates for the forthcoming Carp Match on the Match Lake have been changed.

The contest will now begin at 5pm on Saturday May 16 for a 24-hour duration. To enter call 01803 523133.