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Loch Ryan SAA lead the way

At their recent AGM, Loch Ryan Sea Angling Association (LSAA) took the opportunity to review their match fishing rules. In a move which will help reduce the number of fish retained, the format of roving matches was changed so that an angler can only weigh in one fish of any particular species; all pegged matches [...]

The great mackerel grab

Europe’s mackerel fishery is to lose its valuable Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation at the end of this month. Following so soon after the nephrops fishery withdrew it really calls into question the effectiveness of politicians and fisheries management. The MSC took the decision after the European Union (EU), Norway, Iceland and Faroe granted themselves [...]

Irish angling economic study

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has appointed Tourism Development International (TDI) to undertake a Socio-Economic Survey of Recreational Angling in Ireland to establish the volume and value of domestic and tourism related recreational angling in Ireland. Anglers from all sectors of the sport be invited to participate in Irelands most comprehensive angling survey undertaken in decades. [...]

Argyll and the Isles coast and countryside trust

Argyll  and  Bute  Council  have  formed  a  partnership  steering  group  with  Scottish Natural Heritage,  Forestry Commission  Scotland, ABSEN,  and  Argyll  &  Bute  Local Services Initiative to look at the possibility of establishing a new independent trust.  The proposed aim of the Trust would be to: ‘work together to sustainably maintain, enhance and promote the coast [...]

Nephrops fishery withdraws from accreditation

The North Sea nephrops fishery has been withdrawn from seeking MSC certification. Originally put forward in 2007, it has taken so long to get through the process that the assessment criteria have changed. Provisional results indicated the Fladen grounds would pass the assessment, but none of the other areas of the North Sea would and [...]

Marine Strategy Framework Directive Consultation Event

Defra, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government are planning to launch a joint consultation on the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) on 27 March 2012.  You will be able to find the consultation documents on the Defra web site http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/open/ Defra will be hosting a stakeholder event [...]

Argyll & Bute – Coastal Development Strategy

Argyll and Bute Council are preparing a Coastal Development Strategy as part of their new Local Development Plan.  One of the key sectors that will be considered in the Strategy is coastal tourism & recreation and therefore the Council is seeking information and views to ensure a relevant, effective and up to date strategy is [...]

£750,000 for IFGs

The Scottish Government is to support the delivery of a new strategy for the inshore fleet. It says that spending £750,000 in support over the next three years the revised strategy will deliver: Continued support for the IFGs, focused on the priorities identified in the management plans; Work to improve the science and data needed [...]

Challenges need political will

Bertie Armstrong, CEO of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) is to tell Richard Lochhead at the ‘Fishing, Aquaculture and Seafood Expo – from Sea to Plate’ event in Glasgow about the acute set of challenges currently facing the industry. Mr Armstrong will be meeting the Scots Fisheries Secretary to underline the fact that the Scottish [...]

Discard detractors back down

France, Spain, Malta and a number of small EU states planned to derail the proposed discard ban by presenting an alternative declaration to carry on throwing dead fish overboard and allowing high grading. After an internet campaign organised by a television chef  Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, more than 130,000 Twitter and Facebook messages were sent to ministers [...]