The issue of bass conservation is a long-standing one. Conservationists and anglers have for the past 15 years been issuing dire warnings about the parlous state of bass stocks in UK and European waters.
The species has been under threat for a long time, with the distinct possibility that it would go the way of cod and other species which have been overfished such that not enough individual fish reach maturity and spawn. The only logical outcome in such circumstances is that eventually, when things get really dire, harsh measures are needed: a complete ban on fishing – whether commercial or recreational – would result.
But now there is a little light on the horizon. Politicians are waking up to the fact that recreational angling is of huge value to the economy. And sea angling specifically is worth much more, in terms of VAT and so on, than is commercial fishing. Some UK politicians are now thinking along the lines of bass fishing being restricted to rod-and-line, a recreational-only species.
Sensible, but long overdue.
The Angling Trust has of course for some time been active in this essentially conservationist campaign. Members were recently invited to make a brief submission to the relevant EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella (Karmenu.Vella@ec.europa.eu).
Here is the text of a letter, closely based on the one written by Mark Lloyd recently, which I e-mailed to the Commissioner:
Commissioner Karmenu Vella
European Commission
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200
1049 Brussels
Belgium
Friday 09 January 2015
Dear Commissioner,
To explain briefly my credentials: I am a long-standing activist and campaigner on behalf of the UK Angling Trust, a lifelong angler, and someone who takes a passionate interest in fishing and conservation matters.
I am aware that the UK government has called on the EU Commission to implement emergency measures in order to prevent a collapse in bass stocks, following the ICES advice in June 2014 and the failure of the recent Fisheries Council meeting to reach any agreement on any bass conservation measures whatsoever. I have no doubt, given the extremely depleted state of bass stocks, that emergency measures are now essential.
I urge you, most strongly, to use the emergency measures open to the Commission, through Article 12 of the CFP regulation (1380/2013), to close Area VIIe, to all targeted trawling for bass from 1st January 2015 until 1st May, 2015 in order to reduce fishing pressure on this year’s spawning aggregations. It is essential that this measure is enforced with respect to vessels of all member states if it is to provide meaningful protection for the remaining bass stocks as well as to prevent opposition to the measures on the grounds of individual member state fleets being disadvantaged.
Furthermore, ahead of the implementation of minimum conservation reference sizes, I urge you to increase a minimum legal size above the 42cm breeding size, in order that any new adult entrants to the stocks do at least get a chance to breed and replace themselves before they can be legitimately harvested. I personally would also like to see a complete phasing-out of destructive pair trawling for bass and a move to creating a sustainable line caught only fishery.
I look forward to a positive response to the request from our government for long overdue emergency measures to protect bass stocks for both the recreational and inshore commercial sectors across the European Union.
Yours Sincerely
Rod Sturdy
I gather that the EU Commission will be issuing a statement on the subject of bass stocks very soon. But it is not too late for you to send a similar message. Perhaps you would care to go into the Angling Trust website to find out more about this and other current campaigns.
And you should strongly consider supporting the work of the Angling Trust by joining as an individual member and or donating to enable the trust to continue its good work, work which it does on your behalf.
And please do not fall into the trap of thinking that because you do not fish for a given species, the issue does not concern you. There are many threats to a lot of species, and by defending one, whether we have a personal involvement with it or not, is the way to angling unity. And the way to making the next fight easier to organise.
When it comes to dealing with politicians and bureaucrats, the name of the game is to keep on at them without flagging. Politicians are always slow to support causes which they do not associate with more votes.
So help keep up the pressure. Join, support the campaigns, and do it now.
