The Specialist Anglers Alliance has sent its considered responseto the EU Common Fisheries Policy consultation document to MAFF inthe hope that it will form part of the UK Government response in theconsultation process.
The SAA is asking for consideration of the following key points aspart of any new Common Fisheries Policy.
· Recognise sport fishing as the major stakeholder in seafisheries
· Create an EU wide Fisheries Protection Fleet
· Introduce zonal controls on fishing methods
· Return the management of waters and fish stocks to nationalcoastal governments under the CFP
· Remove size limits in conjunction with an increase inminimum mesh sizes
· Ban all discards
· Prohibit the de-finning of sharks
· Research and develop environmentally and ecologicallyfriendly fishing
methods
· Ban industrial fishing
· Promote the proposed new European model on a world widebasis for the
encouragement and development of third world fisheries
· Explore controls on the high seas fishery
The SAA is concerned that without a voice, as stakeholders, withinthe CFP the Nation’s sea anglers can have no say in the future of oursea stocks. Even though the economic impact of sea angling in Europeis greater than the economic impact of commercial landings, up to nowcommercial interests have dominated the debate about the future ofthe seas surrounding our coasts. The SAA believes that sea anglersshould have, at least, equal representation when discussions are heldabout the exploitation of those sea fish stocks.
For further information contact:
Mike Heylin
Secretary SAA
01442 230935 (work)
01442 398022 (home)
01442 398044 (facsimile)
