Bryan Baron 2
Well-known member
Recieved this email thought some of you could help.
Hi folks,
I have received information that Norman Baker MP Lib Dem ag/ Fish Shadow is
after a few votes at sea angling's expense. Letters to Norman Baker mp at the
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA reminding him that their are two sides to
the bass mls issue would be greatly appreciated .
Norman Baker's comments seem extroardinary- see below. Does he not know
that a bass of 40 cm is 60% more valuable than a bass of 36 cm at market! Is
he not aware of the substantial economic contribution many coastal
communities derive from sea angling for the species; that sea angling is
estimated to be worth over ? 500 million per annum in England & Wales and potentially
up to 1.3 billion per annum and that there are well over a million sea
anglers in England & Wales according to recent research commissioned by Defra.
Is Norman Baker not aware that a bass at 36 cm weighs less than 500grm in
weight and if female has never spawned and is only roughly 650 grms at 40 cm.
Is he not aware that bass can reach up to 10 kilos in weight and that fishing
effort on bass is uincreasing year on year, the net effect being that 2 kilo
bass are now scarce .
Norman Baker MP appears strongly supportive of a healthy marine
environment it is odd that he fails to appreciate the need for a late maturing
species to benefit from a first spawning oppoprtunity.
If Norman Baker MP was a female bass hoping to spawn once between 42-45 cm
(confirmed by cefas scientists) , doubtless he would see things
differently.
Of course, if Norman Baker's fishermen used hook & line only for bass as
many now do in other parts of the country, they would get a higher price for
their bass involving no discards.
MP CALLS FOR FISH DECISION RE-THINK
NEWHAVEN and Seaford's MP has condemned the decision by Fisheries Minister
Ben Bradshaw to raise the minimum landing size of bass to 40cm.
Norman Baker said the decision, made on Thursday last week, would have an
adverse impact on the viability of the fishing industry locally, and lead to
large amounts of bass being tossed back into the sea.
Newhaven fishermen have told the MP that the decision will have serious
consequences for them. However, their French counterparts will be handed a massive
advantage as they are still permitted to catch and land fish over 35cm.
To add insult to injury these smaller fish can then be exported to the
British market. The problem is compounded by the exemption from the ruling of fish
farmers producing bass, thus providing further opportunity for British
fishermen to be undercut.
In addition, the ruling could lead to a large number of bass, which do not
meet the minimum landing requirements, simply being discarded.
Mr Baker said: 'This decision defies any logic and will have the consequence
of losing hundreds of pounds a week income for Newhaven fishermen.
'I understand that the mesh used by the fishermen in my constituency
effectively prevents fish under 36cm being caught. However those between 36cm and 40cm
will in future have to be discarded. I understand that this will represent
some 75 per cent of the local catch of bass.
'I have considerable sympathy for the points local fishermen have made to me,
as it does appear that this ruling puts them at a severe disadvantage to
their French counterparts."
---------------------------------------------
Hi folks,
I have received information that Norman Baker MP Lib Dem ag/ Fish Shadow is
after a few votes at sea angling's expense. Letters to Norman Baker mp at the
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA reminding him that their are two sides to
the bass mls issue would be greatly appreciated .
Norman Baker's comments seem extroardinary- see below. Does he not know
that a bass of 40 cm is 60% more valuable than a bass of 36 cm at market! Is
he not aware of the substantial economic contribution many coastal
communities derive from sea angling for the species; that sea angling is
estimated to be worth over ? 500 million per annum in England & Wales and potentially
up to 1.3 billion per annum and that there are well over a million sea
anglers in England & Wales according to recent research commissioned by Defra.
Is Norman Baker not aware that a bass at 36 cm weighs less than 500grm in
weight and if female has never spawned and is only roughly 650 grms at 40 cm.
Is he not aware that bass can reach up to 10 kilos in weight and that fishing
effort on bass is uincreasing year on year, the net effect being that 2 kilo
bass are now scarce .
Norman Baker MP appears strongly supportive of a healthy marine
environment it is odd that he fails to appreciate the need for a late maturing
species to benefit from a first spawning oppoprtunity.
If Norman Baker MP was a female bass hoping to spawn once between 42-45 cm
(confirmed by cefas scientists) , doubtless he would see things
differently.
Of course, if Norman Baker's fishermen used hook & line only for bass as
many now do in other parts of the country, they would get a higher price for
their bass involving no discards.
MP CALLS FOR FISH DECISION RE-THINK
NEWHAVEN and Seaford's MP has condemned the decision by Fisheries Minister
Ben Bradshaw to raise the minimum landing size of bass to 40cm.
Norman Baker said the decision, made on Thursday last week, would have an
adverse impact on the viability of the fishing industry locally, and lead to
large amounts of bass being tossed back into the sea.
Newhaven fishermen have told the MP that the decision will have serious
consequences for them. However, their French counterparts will be handed a massive
advantage as they are still permitted to catch and land fish over 35cm.
To add insult to injury these smaller fish can then be exported to the
British market. The problem is compounded by the exemption from the ruling of fish
farmers producing bass, thus providing further opportunity for British
fishermen to be undercut.
In addition, the ruling could lead to a large number of bass, which do not
meet the minimum landing requirements, simply being discarded.
Mr Baker said: 'This decision defies any logic and will have the consequence
of losing hundreds of pounds a week income for Newhaven fishermen.
'I understand that the mesh used by the fishermen in my constituency
effectively prevents fish under 36cm being caught. However those between 36cm and 40cm
will in future have to be discarded. I understand that this will represent
some 75 per cent of the local catch of bass.
'I have considerable sympathy for the points local fishermen have made to me,
as it does appear that this ruling puts them at a severe disadvantage to
their French counterparts."
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