David Mitchell reviews Angling Trust Sea Angling campaigns in 2020 Part 1 Fisheries Act and Bass

[@mistymorning]

Well done in achieving representation of recreational fishing . My dream vision would be. Four no take marine reserves England, Wales, northern Ireland and Scotland no recreational or commercial fishing, not big 5 square miles in size New Zealand and Australia have them and the fish life is amazing. A line only bluefin tuna fishery but heavily promoted for catch and release . Aaverage size bass 3_4 lb average size code 6lb. Where all fisherman can have access to healthy populations of fish . Commercial fishermen can catch their quota in less time at sea traveling shorter distances so less overheads but getting a just return for their catch and recreational fisherman can catch a couple of decent fish for the table and have great sport consistantly. This goes for shellfish as well. Am I dreaming probably, but is it achievable definitely with good management.

[@barryluxton319]

are you hiding behind an AKA, what is your real name, not Tim by any chance? Why no take zones? The u k has quite a few protected areas, yet the major issue is over exploited fish stocks. Bass and cod in the channel for the last 5 years. A decent turbot and plaice fishery appeared five years ago, top end of the channel, as soon as it did nets were set and the plaice descended down to a size where they are transparent. Weren't sea anglers mate. The issue is too many commercials chasing the stocks. The problem being is the 20m e u boats are allowed in as close as 6 mile to continue taking the stock. In direct competition with the u k's under tens, the sea anglers and the charter boat industry. What you need mate is decent representation first and foremost, the trust are not that organisation as they have one paid up sea angling rep and they keep sea anglers at arms length. There is no direct interaction with sea anglers concerns, otherwise they would be lobbying the government to do something about the depleted stocks and the continued exploitation of these stocks by third countries, disparaging those in the u k who should be first in the queue. Why catch and release tuna mate? What about the common eel and the tope catch and release, that the trust subscribe to and promote. You ever caught them bleeding from the gills, having to send them back with the firm knowledge that they are going to die? You o k with that? The trust even advised cutting the line close to the eels mouth and then send it back, with the hook still in it, back into the food chain. That's o k with you, as long as no one hear's about it perhaps?

[@barryluxton319]

you speak of working hard for two years to get sea anglers recognised within the new fisheries bill. How many sea anglers did you contact to gain their mandate for this? Will you sort out the disparity between the sea anglers and the e u commercial trawlers who are allowed within 12 mile off our coast, to continue taking the bass breeding stock while sea anglers are not allowed to take any what so ever. The other disparity is that there has been very little cod showing at all in the channel, while the french quota on the cod is 84% following the now extended transition period the french will give up 1% of this cod quota, will you be lobbying the government on these two very important issues. Funding is not really the issue, it's over exploitation by the e u and it's allowed to continue, what are you doing about it on behalf of the anglers? Yes we note the trust have been negotiating with the e u regarding the bass, what has gone wrong, can you highlight the issue and do something about it? Does the trust need real anglers who want to see real tangible benefits for sea anglers as your management certainly appear to be rather thin on the ground with one paid up sea angling rep.