Row despite 'hobby anglers' pledge
FEARS remain that a Brussels crackdown on fishing quotas will damage the Westcountry's coastal economy, despite assurances "hobby anglers" will be excluded.
Sea anglers in the region were angered by moves to include amateurs within tight restrictions designed to protect endangered species such as cod, haddock, herring and the porbeagle shark.
Concerned that even once-a-year anglers would have to declare their catches, commentators claimed the move would hurt Devon and Cornwall's fishing hot spots, from tackle shops to B&Bs.
But in a letter to South West European Parliament MP Graham Watson, European Commissioner for maritime affairs and fisheries Joe Borg stressed that amateurs would be excluded from the so-called article 47.
Mr Borg said it was not the Commission's intention to "submit all recreational fishermen to quotas as is the case for commercial fishermen".
He wrote: "The hobby angler who catches a few kilos of fish every time he goes out fishing and uses it exclusively for his private consumption will not be covered by the control regulation, even if he catches fish like cod."
Shore anglers, including those wading in the sea, fishing from a pier or in a canoe, would be exempt, he added.
Lib-Dem MEP Graham Watson welcomed the clarification. He said: "Tory and UKIP MEPs have been keen to whip up all-too-typical anti-EU headlines that the EU wants to ban sea angling.
"We Liberal Democrat MEPs have sought reassurances and tightening of the legislation so that it can't be misinterpreted. I have received a letter from the commissioner stating that the rules are not for 'the hobby angler who catches a few kilos of fish'."
But Neil Parish, Tory MEP in the South West, said he did not "share his confidence" as many recreational anglers would still be included in quotas. Commentators said charter boats would still have to be registered.
In the letter, Mr Borg said: "It (Article 47) would only cover recreational fishermen who fish from a vessel in the open sea and who catch fish... that are threatened by extinction." He also conceded the definition of a recreational fisherman had yet to be decided, which raised further concerns about how the policy would be enforced. Mr Parish said: "What Borg has said is that he will take off some of the anglers but there will be others who it will apply to. I personally want to keep up the pressure.
"I'm always worried about Defra's interpretation. The combination of the Commission and Defra does not fill me with confidence. We have gained ground but I don't think we have a victory."
Under the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, commercial fishermen have to adhere to strict quotas in an effort to conserve diminishing stocks.
British politicians described the Commission's proposal – where recreational fishermen register boats and what they catch would be deducted from the amount a country is allowed to land – as "draconian", "ludicrous" and "a farce".
The European Commission insists the plan is aimed at preventing professional fishermen who breach catch quotas from claiming to be amateurs.
Angling clubs said Mr Borg's letter was good news for the holiday fisherman.
But Dave Harrison, owner of the Dartmouth charter boat Gemini, did not believe it would be possible to enforce quota catches on pleasure boats. He said: "It could drastically reduce our income, and it's possible it could force some people out of business."
The European Fisheries Committee will vote on the plan in April.
2 Comments
by John Brooks, Redruth
Tuesday, February 24 2009, 10:01PM
“If, as according to Joe Borg, sea anglers have nothing to fear from EU Regulation Article 47, why does give examples of bag limits in Europe. His press release states: "To give you an example in Northern France an angler can only catch 10 kg of cod during each fishing trip; if he catches more he is fined under national law. In Belgium an angler is limited to 15 kg of cod per fishing trip. "
He also states: "It is only right that the recreational fishing industry contribute to the efforts undertaken by professional fishermen to bring these fish back to healthy levels."
I believe that recreational sea anglers still need to be concerned about the lack of clarity in the original document and the lack of support from Defra. RSAs should continue to lobby both Defra and the Minister until the proposed legislation is clarified.”
by Gawain Towler, Brussels/Dorset
Tuesday, February 24 2009, 9:28AM
“Mr Watson, the Lib/Dem MEP, quotes from a letter received from the Fisheries Commissioner. It appears that his letter is a reworking of a speech given by Mr Borg to the Fisheries Committee, which can be found here,
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/press_corner/speeches/archives/speeches_2009/speech09_03_en.htm
What Mr Watson fails to note is that immediately after saying this,
"The most famous words contained in our proposal must be the words "recreational fishing". In some Member States our proposals in this regard have been misinterpreted alarming citizens that the Commission wants to start controlling millions of hobby anglers and impose quota restrictions on them. This would obviously be a crazy thing to do, and it is therefore not at all our intention to implement such a ludicrous system. Let me make clear once and for all that the hobby angler who catches a few kilos of fish every time he goes out fishing and uses it for his private consumption, will not be covered by the control regulation, even if he catches fish like cod which is under a recovery plan."
Mr Borg said this,
"There are however facts and figures in abundance that show that certain forms of so called recreational fishing have a dangerously considerable impact on certain vulnerable fish stock. We cannot just keep restricting severely professional fishing on those stocks but give the recreational fishermen a free ride. They have to contribute as well to the conservation effort. It is with this balance in mind that the Commission will approach the issue in the context of negotiations".
Words, words, words. The problem is that though he has told Mr Watson that some will be excluded from the legislation the legislation is drawn up in a way that does not exclude anyone.
From reading his statement it is apparent that he says one thing, and then in his next breath he says completely the opposite.
With the EU's track record, do you trust them? No? I thought not.
Over the years European Legislation, in the shape of the Common Fisheries Policy has devastated South Western commercial fisheries, now it is apparent they want to destroy recreational fisheries.
Mr Watson cannot have it both ways, either he supports them, or he supports the people of the South West, not both.
Gawain Towler
Prospective MEP Candidate for the South Western Counties,
UKIP”