Anxieties about the impact on Scottish recreational sea anglers of EC proposed Fisheries Control Regulations rumble on.

Though the EC regulations were supposedly aimed at the commercial catching sector, British MEPs, the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network (SSACN) and other organisations believe they were badly thought out to the point where they were unworkable. In particular, it was felt that Article 47 within them could have resulted in every pleasure vessel which ever went fishing having to be registered and report its catches.

This would impose a level of bureaucratic interference into sea angling that would have a disastrous impact on the tourism sector and cause substantial job losses in the businesses serving the sea angling sector – and without providing any meaningful benefits to fish stocks.

The level of concern voiced was such that Joe Borg, the EU Fisheries Commissioner, issued a press statement claiming the proposed legislation had been misinterpreted. As For Argyll reported, he said: ‘Let me make clear once and for all that the hobby angler who catches a few kilos of fish every time he goes out fishing and uses it for his private consumption, will not be covered by the control regulation…

‘The European Union would be crazy if it tried to control millions of hobby anglers and would not implement such a ludicrous system in its plans to update controls on the commercial fishing industry’.

SSACN could only agree with such a statement, yet Mr Borg went on to say that the rules would concern recreational anglers on board vessels in the open sea who take fish which are under multi-annual plans – as this includes hake, cod, plaice and sole.

There is clearly confusion in the envisaging of the practicalities of implementing the proposed regulations with fairness and consistency of intent.

According to Ian Burrett, Vice Chairman of SSACN, ‘Whilst we welcome this apparent change of heart, we must remain on guard until the proposals match Mr. Borg’s statement’.

Regarding Mr Borg’s assertion that recreational sea angers have a serious affect on fish mortality, Mr Burrett continued: ‘SSACN have asked the Commission to present such data (to back up Mr Borg’s assertion), as we are certain that this is not the case in Scottish waters. We are equally confident that the fish taken home by all recreational anglers will in no way approach the 2 million tons of fish discarded annually under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

‘The Scottish Marine Directorate has told SSACN that Article 47 from the control regulations must be taken at face value until such times there is an official amendment to the article’.

The Scottish Government seems to see the picture in the same light as the SSACN. A Governemnt spokesman told the SSACN: ‘We have made it clear that we believe that the Common Fisheries Policy will never provide the ideal means of managing Scottish fisheries – and the last thing we need is further complications. We should be trying to loosen the CFP’s grip on our fisheries, not expand it.

‘The current proposal as it stands will have a significant effect on those recreational fisheries which make a substantial contribution to our local economies.

‘While the overall aim is to ensure activities contributing towards mortality are accounted for, we do not feel this bureaucratic and cumbersome approach is the right way to go about it.

‘We will be working closely with the Commission and angling representatives as the review of control regulation proceeds to ensure our views are reflected, and that only justifiable and proportionate measures are adopted’.

Recreational sea angling is an important leisure and tourism activity contriobutig to Argyll’s economy. Until some clarity emerges from this confusion and until this sector is protected from legislation that shoud never legitimately attempt to embrace it, eyes cannot be taken off the ball.