Fines for illegal fish movements will increase to up to £50,000, close seasons will be set for eel, smelt and lamprey fisheries, while so called fish-thieves will see the maximum penalty for removing fish from Britain's rivers increased from £100 to £5,000.
The PAC was today passed a copy of the Environment Agency's take on the Marine and Coastal Access Bill currently before Parliament.
Entitled Reforming fisheries law for the 21st Century, the document spells out for the first time how the EA plans to "modernise fisheries regulation in England and Wales", and address recommendations made in the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries review.
"There will soon be major changes to the rules governing freshwater and migratory fisheries," the document says.
"These changes will help to conserve fish stocks, allowing people to continue to enjoy and make a living from fishing.
"Legislation to make these changes will go through Parliament over the next year or two.
"At the Environment Agency, we are working with Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government to ensure new regulations will meet current and future challenges.
"And to make the regulations as effective as possible, we will also work closely with other organisations, including angling governing bodies and conservation agencies."
At present, the EA is responsible for regulating salmon, trout, coarse and eel fisheries.
"This leaves fisheries for other migratory species unregulated, including rare and threatened species," the report adds.
"The Marine Bill will extend our regulatory responsibilities to river and sea lamprey, and smelt."
The bill will give the EA powers to make and enforce byelaws to meet European targets for protecting all three species. It is also seeking to regulate fishing for twaite and allis shad, which it says are also threatened.
New licence and authorisation schemes for smelt and lamprey will come into force in January 2010. Both species are a staple of the frozen deadbait trade.
New measure to protect the eel, whose population is believed to have declined by up to 70 per cent in recent decades, are included. The EA intends to regulate fishing, improve habitats and relocate elvers into "suitable upstream areas".
A faster mechanism for setting byelaws is included in the Marine Bill, along with powers to set close seasons for smelt, eel and lamprey.
The maximum penalty for byelaw breaches will be increased from £2,500 to £50,000.
"The marine Bill will reform how we regulate fish removal," the EA document says. "As well as giving us greater byelaw-making powers to control fish removal, the bill will change the Theft Act by removing the disticntion between day and night fishing, and increasing the maximum penalty for fish theft from £100 to £5,000.
A new scheme governing fish introductions and removals is also proposed. This is likely to impact on pike culls, by requiring nyone wishing to remove fish to obtain a long-term poermit lasting for between three and 10 years.
"Thanks to these measures, it will be much more difficult to move fish illegally without being detected, as only authorised suppliers will be allowed to move fish, and only to or from waters which have a long-term permit," the EA adds.
"The maximum penalty for illegal fish movements will also increase from £2,500 to £50,000, creating a much greater deterrent to breaking the law."
Anyone who wishes to comment on the proposals can e-mail paul.lidgett@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Showing posts with label Parliament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parliament. Show all posts
Monday, February 02, 2009
Thursday, January 25, 2007
MPs debate canoe access bid
Canoeists are trying to hitch a ride on the back of the Government's health agenda to obtain increased access to Britain's rivers.
The Public Access to Inland Waters Bill 2007, presented on behalf of the Rivers Access Campaign by Brighton MP Des Turner, has its second reading on February 23.
Paul Owen, chief executive of the the british Canoe Union said: “Opening up rivers would help the BCU achieve its sporting and recreational aims. Greater access would also enable us to assist in reaching the Government’s aims for outdoor educational, participation in physical activity and the health agenda.”
Anglers have reservations about allowing canoeists increased access to rivers - especially as many appear to expect to access the same waters as Rod Licence holding anglers for free.
Click here for more.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Question mark for pikers over minister's pledge
Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw is pledging to improve fisheries by bringing in parts of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries review using so-called Secondary Legislation.
But while there are suddenly some eye-catching headlines about issues like cracking down on fish theft, there's a big question mark over other areas of the review which weren't exactly sympathetic as far as pike fishing's concerned, such as the powers to impose livebait bans in so-called sensitive areas.
Secondary legislation gives the minister powers to impose new controls on an activity where the benefits can be shown to outweigh the added burden to those taking part. That means laws can be amended and tweaked with little in the way of consultation.
It's a worrying time for pike anglers everywhere, we'll bring you more when we have it.
Story here.
But while there are suddenly some eye-catching headlines about issues like cracking down on fish theft, there's a big question mark over other areas of the review which weren't exactly sympathetic as far as pike fishing's concerned, such as the powers to impose livebait bans in so-called sensitive areas.
Secondary legislation gives the minister powers to impose new controls on an activity where the benefits can be shown to outweigh the added burden to those taking part. That means laws can be amended and tweaked with little in the way of consultation.
It's a worrying time for pike anglers everywhere, we'll bring you more when we have it.
Story here.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Scottish livebait ban set to become reality
A livebaiting ban in Scotland came another step closer to becoming a reality as the Scottish Parliament agreed in principle the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill.
Debating the bill last week, MSPs discussed tough new measures to eradicate the salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris in the event of an outbreak in Scotland.
They include the powers to poison river catchments if the disease, which is currently present in Scandinavian countries, is detected.
But Green MSP Eleanor Scott turned the debate to the ethics of livebaiting and the blanket ban which was now included in the fabric of the bill, instead of an earlier proposal to create the power for bait bans in areas where translocation of baits could put rare species at risk.
Ms Scott said: "There are two problems with using live fish as bait. First, if they escape the potential exists for them to establish themselves in areas where they do not belong—which, it has been argued, has already happened—with consequent effects on the ecosystem.
"The second problem is fish welfare. Some angling groups have suggested using as bait fish that were caught in the same waters on the same day. That would solve one problem, but it would not solve the fish welfare problem. Fish are sentient beings. That is acknowledged by the aquaculture industry, which has taken steps over the years progressively to safeguard fish welfare. I do not believe that any live vertebrates should be used as bait and I endorse the committee's request that the Executive lodges an amendment to prohibit the practice."
In her closing speech deputy environment minister Rhona Brankin, who endorsed the livebait ban, said: "I thank the members who have spoken in today's debate. The vast majority have been thoughtful and constructive and have brought a degree of consensus to our deliberations. I am glad that there has been widespread support for the broad sweep of our proposals from across the chamber. I believe that that reflects our stakeholders' views about the bill.
"Eleanor Scott talked about using live fish as bait. The Executive will lodge a stage 2 amendment to introduce explicit provision in the bill that will prohibit the use of live vertebrates as bait. That is in response to the committee's recommendations and stakeholders' wishes."
The bill was agreed in principle at the end of the debate, meaning it now looks certain to go to become law.
Debating the bill last week, MSPs discussed tough new measures to eradicate the salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris in the event of an outbreak in Scotland.
They include the powers to poison river catchments if the disease, which is currently present in Scandinavian countries, is detected.
But Green MSP Eleanor Scott turned the debate to the ethics of livebaiting and the blanket ban which was now included in the fabric of the bill, instead of an earlier proposal to create the power for bait bans in areas where translocation of baits could put rare species at risk.
Ms Scott said: "There are two problems with using live fish as bait. First, if they escape the potential exists for them to establish themselves in areas where they do not belong—which, it has been argued, has already happened—with consequent effects on the ecosystem.
"The second problem is fish welfare. Some angling groups have suggested using as bait fish that were caught in the same waters on the same day. That would solve one problem, but it would not solve the fish welfare problem. Fish are sentient beings. That is acknowledged by the aquaculture industry, which has taken steps over the years progressively to safeguard fish welfare. I do not believe that any live vertebrates should be used as bait and I endorse the committee's request that the Executive lodges an amendment to prohibit the practice."
In her closing speech deputy environment minister Rhona Brankin, who endorsed the livebait ban, said: "I thank the members who have spoken in today's debate. The vast majority have been thoughtful and constructive and have brought a degree of consensus to our deliberations. I am glad that there has been widespread support for the broad sweep of our proposals from across the chamber. I believe that that reflects our stakeholders' views about the bill.
"Eleanor Scott talked about using live fish as bait. The Executive will lodge a stage 2 amendment to introduce explicit provision in the bill that will prohibit the use of live vertebrates as bait. That is in response to the committee's recommendations and stakeholders' wishes."
The bill was agreed in principle at the end of the debate, meaning it now looks certain to go to become law.
To read the whole debate click here. NB the fisheries bill is some way down the day's business.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Fish thieves will face tougher fines, pledge
Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw has pledged the government will tackle the problem of fish being taken wholesale for the pot by migrant workers.
Responding to a Parliamentary Question from Reading West MP and keen angler Martin Salter, he also said the findings of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review , which has been in the political long grass for some time, would be enacted via "secondary legislation".
While Mr Salter heralds this and the annual fisheries debate, which took place on Thursday, as a step forward, the status of proposals to give the EA powers to ban livebaiting in sensitive areas remain unclear.
Click here for a report of the exchange between Mr Bradshaw and Mr Salter.
While most of Thursday's fisheries debate concerned sea fisheries and the sustainability of fish stocks, Mr Salter made a lengthy speech about recreational freshwater fishing.
If you click here and scroll down the debate to 4.45pm you can read it without having to wade through all the other largely irrelevant stuff.
Responding to a Parliamentary Question from Reading West MP and keen angler Martin Salter, he also said the findings of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review , which has been in the political long grass for some time, would be enacted via "secondary legislation".
While Mr Salter heralds this and the annual fisheries debate, which took place on Thursday, as a step forward, the status of proposals to give the EA powers to ban livebaiting in sensitive areas remain unclear.
Click here for a report of the exchange between Mr Bradshaw and Mr Salter.
While most of Thursday's fisheries debate concerned sea fisheries and the sustainability of fish stocks, Mr Salter made a lengthy speech about recreational freshwater fishing.
If you click here and scroll down the debate to 4.45pm you can read it without having to wade through all the other largely irrelevant stuff.
Scottish pike fishing in crisis
Pike fishing in Scotland is in crisis this weekend, with a blanket ban on livebaiting now looking certain and the management of a potential record-breaking water threatening a pike cull to deter poachers.
An eleventh-hour amendment to the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill, soon to be debated by MPs, prohibits the use of all live vertebrates.
Throughout its consultation stage, the bill proposed the less extreme measure of creating the power to ban livebaiting in areas where translocation could be argued to pose a risk to rare species or sensitive ecosystems.
But the tougher power has been strongly endorsed by Scotland's deputy environment minister Rhona Brankin.
Responding to the latest draft of the bill on behalf of the ruling Scottish Executive, she said: "I thank the Committee for their recommendation that the Executive brings forward an amendment at Stage 2 to prohibit the use of live vertebrates as bait. I can confirm that we shall do so."
How realistic - or for that matter enforceable - such a ban might be will remain to be seen in a country where many of the waters pike anglers fish are vast and remote.
During the consultation period before the wording of the bill was changed, the Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland, Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling and Pike Anglers Club for Great Britain all argued that a similar approach to that currently in force in England would suffice.
In its submission, the PAAS said: "We totally oppose such a ban. It would be both superfluous and disproportionate to the risks it purports to address.
"It is claimed by some that discarded or escaped live baits have been responsible for the introduction of certain species to a number of waters in Scotland.
"There is no hard evidence for this, but even if it is true it could only account for a tiny fraction of the spread of locally non-native species and the dilution of genetic identity among established species in Scotland."
The Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling said: "There is no necessary connection or causal link between the use of live fish as bait and the movement of fish between waters. These are two entirely separate issues.
"The appropriate way to prevent inappropriate introductions and transfers is by legislation directly regulating fish movements.
"No additional Regulation is required. If the Executive believes it is essential to strengthen this by regulating the use of live fish as bait, the appropriate step would be to bring in provisions analogous to those in Denmark which directly restrict the use of livebaits to fish caught on the same day from the same water where they are being used.
"Whilst probably still superfluous, this is workable and would reinforce the message the Executive seeks to convey without alienating the angling community it aims to regulate."
The Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain came out strongly in support of the PAAS and SFCA.
In it's submission, the PAC said: "We believe any bans should be the province of individual fishery owners and controlling clubs, in consultation with interested and informed bodies such as the Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling, the Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland and ourselves."
Addressing the wider livebaiting issue, it added: "We reject the claim that anglers translocating livebaits have been responsible for the wholesale introduction of species such as roach to waters where they were not previously indiginous.
"We believe that the appropriate way to prevent inappropriate introductions and transfers is by legislation directly regulating fish movements, such as exists in England under Section 30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act."
As the PAC and PAAS decide whether it is worth mounting some kind of last ditch lobbying effort, it emerged that the management at Gartmorn Dam are considering culling their potentially record-breaking stock of pike.
Broadcaster Keith Arthur broke the story on his show on Talksport this morning.
It is understood management at the 168-acre Clackmannanshire trout water have told Angling Times they will bring out the gill nets if pike anglers don't stop poaching the water, which is closed to all anglers between October and March 31.
The lake has produced fish to over 40lbs in recent seasons, and a string of 30lbs-plus specimens.
Ironically, pike anglers are allowed to fish the water via privileged access days organised by the Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland.
But there have been confrontations on the banks in recent months involving pike anglers poaching the water and officials claim fences have been damaged and ropes set out in the water to prevent trout being stolen have been cut.
An eleventh-hour amendment to the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill, soon to be debated by MPs, prohibits the use of all live vertebrates.
Throughout its consultation stage, the bill proposed the less extreme measure of creating the power to ban livebaiting in areas where translocation could be argued to pose a risk to rare species or sensitive ecosystems.
But the tougher power has been strongly endorsed by Scotland's deputy environment minister Rhona Brankin.
Responding to the latest draft of the bill on behalf of the ruling Scottish Executive, she said: "I thank the Committee for their recommendation that the Executive brings forward an amendment at Stage 2 to prohibit the use of live vertebrates as bait. I can confirm that we shall do so."
How realistic - or for that matter enforceable - such a ban might be will remain to be seen in a country where many of the waters pike anglers fish are vast and remote.
During the consultation period before the wording of the bill was changed, the Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland, Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling and Pike Anglers Club for Great Britain all argued that a similar approach to that currently in force in England would suffice.
In its submission, the PAAS said: "We totally oppose such a ban. It would be both superfluous and disproportionate to the risks it purports to address.
"It is claimed by some that discarded or escaped live baits have been responsible for the introduction of certain species to a number of waters in Scotland.
"There is no hard evidence for this, but even if it is true it could only account for a tiny fraction of the spread of locally non-native species and the dilution of genetic identity among established species in Scotland."
The Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling said: "There is no necessary connection or causal link between the use of live fish as bait and the movement of fish between waters. These are two entirely separate issues.
"The appropriate way to prevent inappropriate introductions and transfers is by legislation directly regulating fish movements.
"No additional Regulation is required. If the Executive believes it is essential to strengthen this by regulating the use of live fish as bait, the appropriate step would be to bring in provisions analogous to those in Denmark which directly restrict the use of livebaits to fish caught on the same day from the same water where they are being used.
"Whilst probably still superfluous, this is workable and would reinforce the message the Executive seeks to convey without alienating the angling community it aims to regulate."
The Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain came out strongly in support of the PAAS and SFCA.
In it's submission, the PAC said: "We believe any bans should be the province of individual fishery owners and controlling clubs, in consultation with interested and informed bodies such as the Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling, the Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland and ourselves."
Addressing the wider livebaiting issue, it added: "We reject the claim that anglers translocating livebaits have been responsible for the wholesale introduction of species such as roach to waters where they were not previously indiginous.
"We believe that the appropriate way to prevent inappropriate introductions and transfers is by legislation directly regulating fish movements, such as exists in England under Section 30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act."
As the PAC and PAAS decide whether it is worth mounting some kind of last ditch lobbying effort, it emerged that the management at Gartmorn Dam are considering culling their potentially record-breaking stock of pike.
Broadcaster Keith Arthur broke the story on his show on Talksport this morning.
It is understood management at the 168-acre Clackmannanshire trout water have told Angling Times they will bring out the gill nets if pike anglers don't stop poaching the water, which is closed to all anglers between October and March 31.
The lake has produced fish to over 40lbs in recent seasons, and a string of 30lbs-plus specimens.
Ironically, pike anglers are allowed to fish the water via privileged access days organised by the Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland.
But there have been confrontations on the banks in recent months involving pike anglers poaching the water and officials claim fences have been damaged and ropes set out in the water to prevent trout being stolen have been cut.
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