URGENT - new EA consultancy on the removal from fisheries of fish caught on rod and line.
Th EA has lauched a new consultancy document covering the removal of course fish, caught by rod and line, from our fisheries. Also included within this is the subject of non-native species. Wels catfish are named within this document. What is very interesting is that the EA are finally admitting the zander often perform a valuble role within a fishery! Compare that to the histeria of the 70's.
I would urge you all to complete this consultancy as this will be the best way to protect the Wels catfish in this country. If enough positive feedback is given then the EA's attitude to wels may change, as it clearly has with zander, and therefore make the legal stocking of these fish far easier. The link for the questionairre is:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/consultations/108764.aspx
God i'm getting good at this computer thingy!! lol
If it helps anyone here are my answers to the important bits:
2a. Do you agree that coarse fish (including grayling) caught by rod and line from unenclosed waters (mainly rivers, streams, drains) must be returned?
Yes
2b. Please explain your answer.
i believe in the conservation of native, and non native, non- invasive species already present in our waterways.
2c. Do you support possible exceptions to this?
Yes
2d. Please explain your answer. If you support exceptions, please list species/numbers/sizes and give your reasons.
i think it is acceptable for the limited use of coarse fish as a bait eg roach livebait for pike, catfish and zander. These fish must obviously, in accordance with existing legislation, be caught and used on the same water and not removed or transferred.
3a. Do you agree that non-native fish caught by rod and line from unenclosed waters must not be returned?
No
3b. Please explain your answer
This depends very much on the species of fish, mainy fish such as wels catfish, zander, rainbow trout and carp, all of which are non native species, have not proved detrimental to ecosystems. Carp have established themselves to such an extent, and without harm to the bio-diversity, that they are seen by many to be a native species. This cannot be said of species such as the topmouth gudgeon for example.
3c. Do you support possible exceptions to this?
See above - depends on the species and its effect on bio-diversity and the overall effect on the ecosystem. Zander and wels catfish for example both often perform the invaluble role of primary predator within a fishery, which helps prevent overpopulation and removes weak and sick fish, thereby keeping the fishery healthy.
I hope this may be help and i urge you all to complete the questionaire.
Regards,
Dave
I will have mine filled out this weekend mate.
Cheers mate, i know its a bit long winded and a pain in the arse, but as the EA is looking to change the current legislation, this is an opportunity to protect and safeguard a species that we love fishing for. Sorry to preach! lol.
Submitted mine, was on the same lines as you dave but I did ask them to clarify 'non-native' species. how can a Wels, born and bred in a uk river or stillwater be classed as a non native fish. I think this is a bit racist, lol. joking aside, if cats have been in the water for twenty years plus and have settled into the eco-system for that water, how can the newly bred kittens be considered non native? I think its obvious to us now that cats have been in our river systems now for long enough does anyone still consider the zander a non native species? Its time the EA got up to date with the rest of the world am afraid.
The whole consultation exercise has been a bit of a wash out really - hopefully during the last week or so a flurry of interested anglers have responded !!
The whole issue appears to be linked to the taking of fish for human consumption - there already exist bag limits and private fisheries have zero tolerance to fish removal on the whole, but the issue has really been bought about by a minority - education and effective enforcement are what is required rather than a blanket ban on the removal of all fish.
What we don't want to end up with is a case where an angler on the bankside who's deep hooked an eel or had a few roach die in his keep net ends up being treated like a criminal - because you can bet your life that the environment agency won't be changing their enforcement practices and increasing patrols but once the legislation passes they'll be very quick to give you a criminal record while checking your rod licence.
The eel issue is interesting as well - angling has a very very limited impact upon eel populations - I generally do return the majority that I catch as I do really like the species, however it is a very good bait and maybe the 3 or 4 that I use each year should be available. The EA and DEFRA, and EU should address the HUGE demand for eels for the table in Holland, Denmark, Spain and Japan and China in order to redress the balance. Anglers are and easy target and a captive audience while having only a minor impact (and yes I know that there's an argument that says that any little helps) but ultimately we're not going to save eel stocks just by stopping a few anglers removing the odd one or two from the river or estuary - a ban on sale would be much more effective and a bag limit for anglers would be much more suitable.
carl
I blame all the guys fishing the humber estuary!! 
Seriously carl, i completely agree with you in that commercial netting for eels needs to stop. I have fished the river Guden in Denmark and have seen eels traps every few yards stretching off into the distance before. The reason i brought this to everybodies attention on the forum is that i didnt want cats to be endangered through our appathy, and legislation slipped in through the back door making it illegal to return cats to the water.
I agree Dave, and even within the EA there is strong support for leaving cats alone on the whole nowadays as some of the more forward thinking individuals recognise that they've been around in the UK for a long time - certainly a lot longer than these blooming F1 carp have been around for.
I've made it quite clear in my response that cats, zander, bitterling, etc should all be returned ...
carl
Did you see the piece in the Angling Times this week ? more than 80 % of anglers want a total ban on fish being taken from rivers - only 16% were in favour of removal for livebait and deadbaits - there goes our natural baits for winter piking (and summer catting, zander fishing and eel fishing)!!!!!!!
Mind you only 800 anglers responded - apparently the EA were chuffed to bits with the response - now out of a supposed 4million anglers in the UK its not the best sample is it ???
The trouble is that predator fishing is a minority part of the sport and so fairly under represented - apply that to a sample of 800 and there's no chance that our voices will be heard - the trouble is that these regulations will impact upon predator anglers far more than the average angler - the problem is that there is no weighting whatsoever - for instance the 'Pike club' has only 1 'vote' out of 800 - even though it may represent a membership of hundreds ....
Anyway I suppose its all a bit too late now as the closing date for responses was monday - we'll just sit back and wait and see what the EA decided to do.
Look on the bright side, If no fish can be taken from the river, then the cats and zeds will have to stay there!
This Topic Is Locked To Guest Posts
It's been a while since this topic was active, if you'd like to get it going again, please post as a registered member
