 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
We at ‘Bristol Channel
Angling’ have a policy to promote matters which seek to maintain and conserve
our
fish stocks, coastline, and natural bird habitats. It is these that we share to
enjoy our sport.
The Environment Agency - They have a 24 hour helpline.
Any pollution, netting or coastal problem you think needs investigation, please
phone 0800-807-060, or
0800-807-060 (all calls are recorded and confidential), OR 08708-506-506 Mon-Fri
0800-1800.
RSPCA – There is a 24hour helpline for birds or animals in distress, either
through netting,
long-lining, pollution or natural occurrence. Website address
www.rspca.org.uk
If you find any, please phone 0300-1234-999 (all calls are confidential).
Some thought provoking matters which we ask that you take a few moments to reflect upon and consider……….
1 - RUBBISH. Take ALL your litter
home with you (line, packaging etc). Did you know that a shopping carrier
bag will still be around in 200 years time, or that a newspaper takes about 3
years to completely degrade?
2 - KILLING FISH. Do you
really need to kill all the fish you catch? How many times have you put a fish
in
your bag, taken it home, then in all the excitement forgotten to clean it up for
the pan (or freezer), then bin
it a day or two later? Be honest now ……… YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
3 - COMPETITIONS. We encourage all
organisers to use a catch and release system to adjudge winners. THE
DAYS OF HEAVIEST BAG OF DEAD FISH COMPETITIONS SHOULD BE DISTANT
MEMORIES. Sadly however, we
still hear of such competitions. A charter boat skipper at Minehead only told me
the other day (May 2003),
that a south coast club insisted on killing every sizable ray caught in a club
competition. That club, and any
who have a similar policy, should hang their heads in shame.
Many clubs now use a ‘points per
fish/species’ system where stewards or adjacent anglers certify the catch.
Some do not even weigh fish (minimising unnecessary handling etc), save those
who retain a heaviest/best
specimen prize. Even then the fish is immediately released after weighing on the
beach/boat. Some boat
competitions are even decided on the LENGTH of fish!
4 - RETAINING FISH. We have heard
of instances where charter boat skippers have wanted to keep a fish that
the angler has caught and wanted to put back. If you want your fish to go back
alive – say so with vigour! Ask
yourself, what is going to happen to your fish later? Is the skipper/boat
licensed to sell fish caught? That would
be commercial fishing, subject to quota’s, records, inspections, etc etc.
If you want your fish to go back –
put it back! You have always got the angling press, and web sites like
‘bristolchannelangling’, to voice your concerns about the ethics and morals of a
charter boat skipper. Of
course, the ultimate sanction would be that you do not book trips with that
skipper again.
MOST skippers think like us, but
as always in life, there are a few who don’t care about much save pennies in
their pockets. The future of fishing (sport and commercial) depends on what we
do now! YOU can make that
small difference. Collectively, the millions of sea anglers around the country,
can make a small, but very
significant, difference.
We accept that commercial trawling
and netting is the major cause of fish stock decline, but every little bit of
responsible sport angling helps. We encourage all anglers and skippers to adopt
a similar viewpoint.
5 - RUBBISH… AGAIN! These pictures were
taken recently at a popular North Somerset mark………
The amount of rubbish left by some
anglers is remarkable. Plastic bait bags, beer cans, spent line, hooks,
sandwich boxes, broken flasks, empty spools etc, are all regular features,
especially of the more popular marks.
There are some in society who want
to stop angling altogether – they've got their way on the deer and fox
hunting front – we are next on their list.
We are sure that the vast
majority of sea anglers do care about the environment, but as the evidence
proves,
there is a significant minority that do not. The amount of rubbish left is
giving easy ammunition to those who
oppose angling. They will use examples of careless discarding of rubbish as
evidence that sea anglers are
environmentally unfriendly hooligans. Why give them the chance to accuse? Why
potentially cause the unnecessary
suffering of a sea bird or animal?
Bag it and bin it! ………It’s not difficult
No
navigation links to left of this page?
Click here to open a homepage in frames