Amateur anglers are to be included in tougher controls on EU fishing agreed recently as part of continuing efforts to revive dwindling stocks. A deal in Luxembourg means closer monitoring of licensed fishing boats, stiff penalties on the industry and national authorities for breaching strict annual catch quotas, and the first-ever inclusion of casual fishermen in the Common Fisheries Policy net. However boat anglers will not have to report every fish to the authorities – unless the fish is subject to an EU stock recovery programme, such as cod in the North Sea. So Kevin's 33lb cod caught in 2008 off Hampshire (pictured) would not have to be reported!
Sweden’s agriculture minister, Eskil Erlandsson, stated: “Recreational fishermen are not being excluded. There is provision for dealing with them, but we have, as a result of these negotiations, limited the impact of the requirement to report fishing activity to recovery stocks. This in effect applies to cod in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and Blue Fin Tuna in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic, and any stock subject to recovery plans in future would be affected as well.” But he insisted: “If, as a result of an assessment, the impact of recreational fishing on the stock is small and insignificant, the obligation to report catches will not apply.”
Earlier plans included counting anglers’ catches against national fishing catch quotas for the industry, and Mr Erlandsson left the prospect open for the future, saying: “For the time being at least, we will not be counting the catches of recreational fishing against quotas, but there will be increased monitoring of the recreational fishery and it may well be that member states would introduce measures to curtail or control recreational fishing activities if they have a significant impact on recovery stocks”.
Mornings are cooler, days are shorter and the Southampton Boat Show is upon us again. You can mark the seasons with it. From 11th to 20th September you can visit the best boat show of the year (in my opinion). Take a waterproof if the weather looks dodgy, most of it is outdoors.
Clipper 09 - 10 Round The World Yacht Race: Departure of Yachts From Portsmouth 31 August 2009
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen's Harbour Master Portsmouth that the ten Clipper Yachts participating in the Clipper “Round the World” (RTW) Yacht Race will depart from Portsmouth on Monday 31 August 2009 en-route to the Humber where the race will start on 13th September 2009. To mark the occasion, the Clipper Yachts will be escorted out of Portsmouth Harbour by a supporting Flotilla of yachts and other boats led by the 60 foot Clipper Yacht “SERICA”.
2. In order to provide a timely and safe departure of the Clipper Yachts and the escorting Flotilla, the following plan and closed harbour routine will be in force:1330-1400 Clipper Race Yachts depart from Royal Clarence Marina.1415-1430 Supporting Flotilla Boats form up on the south side of the entrance to Fareham Creek upstream from Shell Pier, co-ordinated by “SERICA” (call sign “Clipper Flotilla”). “SERICA” will co-ordinate all movements with “QHM” on VHF Ch 11; Flotilla Boats will be utilising VHF Ch 69 for all private traffic.1425-1530 Portsmouth Main Channel closed to inbound vessels. 1430-1440 Clipper Race Yachts form up on the north side of the entrance to Fareham Creek, N/NW from No 3 Buoy.1447 Clipper Race Yachts commence Formation Departure down Portsmouth Harbour1450 Supporting Flotilla departs holding position and follows in wake of Clipper Race Yachts, led by “SERICA”. 1500 Clipper Race Yachts pass through Harbour Entrance, followed by supporting Flotilla.
3. Once through the main entrance, the Clipper Race Yachts and Flotilla will pass close to the Southsea shore line. After passing Southsea Castle (approximately 1530) the Clipper Race Yachts will proceed independently to the Humber whilst the supporting flotilla will disperse and act independently.
4. All mariners are to keep a good lookout and remain well clear of the Clipper Yachts and their support craft during their transit and exit of the harbour.
5. Cancel this Local Notice To Mariners Tue 1st Sep 2009 (8 days)
One of the many great things about fishing is that because you are usually away from everyday goings-on, you often see things you would otherwise miss. That can be nature - kingfishers fishing and porpoises playing are two of my favourites - or out-of-the-ordinary events with a human connection. Today while I was fishing about 8 miles off-shore I was used as a marker by a very fierce looking Navy helicopter on some test or other, which was entertaining while it lasted.
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Seafish, the organisation responsible for much of the safety training for commercial fishermen, has launched an initiative to help prevent an emergency on board turning into a disaster. Apparently most fishing boat losses are as a result of swamping. Seafish have developed a "Damage Control Kit" which is simply a box containing useful stuff that could help prevent a boat that is filling with water from actually sinking. The official list is obviously for bigger craft than most of ours - it contains a tarpaulin, saw, axe, etc. but it did make me think the idea would be useful on a smaller scale for the average angling boat. I have known two people who have very nearly had boats sink under them just because water was going through a broken hatch in the splash-well: simple enough to fix if only you had the necessary!
