The European Union Commission's proposal for fishing opportunities in 2015 includes, for the first time, a measure specifically aimed at recreational fishers – a bag limit of only one bass, per day. The limit will apply to anglers and other recreational fishers such as those using nets and pots and to spearfishing.
The European Anglers Alliance (EAA), the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) and the International Forum For Sustainable Underwater Activities (IFSUA) suspect this proposed bag limit could be beyond the competence of the Commission. It is unacceptable to recreational angling, spearfishing and the businesses which these activities support for a number of reasons.
EAA, EFTTA and IFSUA will be lobbying the European Commission and Member States for this misguided proposal not to be adopted at the Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels on 15-16 December.
This case is of immense importance to recreational fishing as it will set a precedent for whether or not the EU can take action that will do disproportionate harm to the recreational sector, while failing to manage the commercial fishing sector properly. Over recent years EAA and EFTTA have lobbied strongly for a proper and fair inclusion of recreational fishing in the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) but were denied such an inclusion. That denial should preclude the EU from having competence over the recreational fishing sector.
Read more in the full paper:
Contacts:
EAA:
David Mitchell, tel. +44 7946263131; Email david.mitchell(at)anglingtrust.net
Jan Kappel, tel. +32 498 84 05 23; Email
jan.kappel(at)eaa-europe.eu
EFTTA:
Jean Claude Bel, tel. +33 608 062 264; Email: jcbel.eftta(at)orange.fr
IFSUA:
Oscar Sagué, tel. +34 620 840 695; Email : ifsua(at)ifsua.net
A bag limit "one bass, per day, per person" is proposed for the recreational sector. It concerns recreational anglers in the blue and orange area. Limitation of commercial catches concerns only the orange area, and it only concerns some trawlers within a certain period of time. "This won't bring much, if any, reduction in bass fishing mortality from the commercial sector," said EAA, EFTTA and IFSUA.
