Today I recieved a rather disturbing email from Nigel Proctor who heads up the Yalasa conservation group (www.yalasa.co.uk) I attend. The email outlines THe North eastern sea fisheries committe proposed bye law to introduce the requirement for people collecting peeler crabs from the shore to have a licence to do so. Even worse for sea anglers is that the new licence will only allow you to collect 10 crabs each day, that could be a total of 5 green shore crabs and 5 velvets. THis is the email which outlines the bye law which could come into effect early in 2007.
Dear all,
just got the articles through this am from the NESFC wrt the above byelaw.
The byelaw is the permit to fish for Lobster, crab, velvet crab and whelk and applies to all of the NESFC district (River Tyne to Donna Nook (Humber Estuary)). The proposal will amend the present byelaw by prohibiting the collection and retention of the above species unless the collector holds an annual permit issued by the NESFC.
For those not actively involved in the commercial sector (hobby or unlicensed fishermen), a new limited annual shellfish permit will be issued, this permit and the restrictions applied will be strictly per vessel irrespective of the number of persons on board. The allowances will remain the same i.e., 2 lobsters or 10 crab (of any of the species specified in total, not per species) and 30 whelk per day per vessel. The byelaw also goes on to state that these restrictions will apply to anyone not using a vessel (collection from the shore), which is a change from the old regulation.
However, the biggest change is the introduction of the green shore crab into the species list, therefore, according to the byelaw, to collect green shore crab for use as bait within the district, you will have to have an annual permit and cannot collect more than 10 shore crabs per day. This is a significant change, and one that obviously restricts angling activity, from a personal point of view I buy mine along with others from outwith the area, however, I know other members and many anglers collect their own (including velvets etc.) and they will/could be open to prosecution.
I've spoken to the dCFO this am over this issue and at the present they are keen to proceed with the byelaw (to get in by January 1st 2007), it appears that there are no conservation drivers to protect shore crab, although he did state that there had been a noticeable decline at and around Flamboro Head, I pointed out that it was probable that velvets were as much responsible for this. It looks like they just wish to lump all crabs together to simplify the legislation, although he did mention that one fisherman was landing a couple of boxes of shore crab each week to send to Portugal (this I know goes on in other areas), however, I don't think it likely that there is any financial benefit from sending a couple of boxes of shore crab all the way to Portugal.
The proposal goes before the committee on 25th July, and I need to gauge the feeling of the sector, any additional thoughts would help, we also need to put this out to a wider audience, any takers (Glenn)?
Cheers for now, and I look forward with anticipation to comments!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nigel
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Nigel Proctor BSc. (hons) MIBiol, CIBiol
Marine Projects Manager
« Last Edit: Today at 12:41pm by whitbyseaanglers »
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