According to a post by Dave Barham the EC proposal for bass quotas next year is no bass fishing by commercials and RSAs (inc C&R, apparently) for the first half of 2016 then a one fish limit for RSAs in the second half.
Update: Having had time to skim read a bit of the proposals, it reads to me that these restrictions relate to areas outside of the 12 mile limit.
Hopefully, someone with more time than me can clarify?
The proposal is attached.
<a href="/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=5089" data-fileid="5089" rel="">com-2015-559_en (2).pdf
The way I read it was a total ban for commercial and recreational for the first part of next year then recreational allowed one fish??
Will be interesting if it proceeds further
Yep, that's the way the Q&A from the EC looked but the actual proposals are more area specific.
but they 'Proposals' ...at this stage.
Thought you might be watching this post Alun.
To save reading the entire proposal.
This from the Question and answers area on the Euopean Commission website.
7) What about sea bass?
Sea bass is a special case: real management measures for sea bass were only put in place in January 2015 and catch limits were only put in place in June 2015. The Commission is therefore building on the measures taken in 2015 to halt the dramatic decline in this important stock. Today's proposal includes a complete fishing ban for commercial vessels and recreational anglers in the first half of 2016. For the second half of 2016, the Commission is proposing a monthly one tonne catch limit for vessels targeting sea bass, and a one fish bag limit for recreational anglers. It is also proposing to maintain the closure for commercial fishing around Ireland.
I'm going to have to up my game, If I'm going to catch one per trip, instead of one per year. <img src="/emoticons/default_laugh.png" alt=":lol:" data-emoticon="" /> <img src="/emoticons/default_laugh.png" alt=":lol:" data-emoticon="" /> <img src="/emoticons/default_laugh.png" alt=":lol:" data-emoticon="" />
I'm lucky to get one every five flipping years !
As long as this get's policed I'm happy enough but if people still give the Bass a hammering I may have some " choice words ".
Jim
As some of you know I spend most of my time fishing for bass and I welcome these proposals, just means for me that the bream will get more attention until 1st July <img src="/emoticons/default_smile.png" alt=":)" data-emoticon="" srcset="/emoticons/smile@2x.png 2x" width="20" height="20" />
But only if the proposal is ratified Chris.
That's true. There's the usual euro bunfight in December, I believe, to sort out their priorities.
This is all to be discussed by the politicians, so the way I see it if huge numbers of anglers make their views known then we really won't be ignored. Will huge numbers of anglers respond to the politicians? It's the only way things are ever going to change.
I believe its a bit harsh on anglers especially the 1 fish limit, whatever your view its time to speak up, you can bet the commercials will be hard at work getting their restrictions watered down
PJ
The Isle of Man looks to have some good ideas extending to a 12 mile limit. Everyone has to survive but surely this is the common sense way of protecting stocks and keeping a reasonably level playing field for recreational and commercials?
I am not a specialist Bass fisherman but I don't see any reason why there is not a "Closed season" for RSA's & commercials catching Bass.
I think 6 months may be too long but coarse anglers have a 3 month break on ALL species so why not similar period for Bass?
I can understand that some people will suggest that this is the start of a total ban on sea fishing, there is also the fact that many people have invested in their boats let alone charter boat skippers, tackle shop owners, manufactures and suppliers would be affected and I suspect a number of redundancy's would happen.
It is a complex issue and I don't think there is a simple answer