Rod Tax
 

A rod licence for Sea fishing is just another means for Gordon Brown to get
his dirty hands on more of our hard earned money.
What about the Local tackle shops, they rely on the holiday angler, who will
have to pay £22 for two weeks fishing. These holidaymakers are the people
who will be targeted by the EA bailiffs as they enjoy their holiday, fishing
from the piers, harbours and beaches during the day.
Are these same bailiffs going to walk the beaches and secluded rock marks
during the night in the winter?
who will check the licence of the fisherman in his boat?

Are they really saying they will use the money to re-stock the ocean. for
the commercial fisherman to exploit. (will they have to buy a licence!)

Rod Tax
 

"Alex" wrote in message
...
A rod licence for Sea fishing is just another means for Gordon Brown to
get
his dirty hands on more of our hard earned money.
What about the Local tackle shops, they rely on the holiday angler, who
will
have to pay £22 for two weeks fishing. These holidaymakers are the people
who will be targeted by the EA bailiffs as they enjoy their holiday,
fishing
from the piers, harbours and beaches during the day.
Are these same bailiffs going to walk the beaches and secluded rock marks
during the night in the winter?
who will check the licence of the fisherman in his boat?

Are they really saying they will use the money to re-stock the ocean. for
the commercial fisherman to exploit. (will they have to buy a licence!)


Here is some further information re the licence issue.

Do you ever get a really good idea in the middle of the night? You wake up
and you think "God, that's genius". Perhaps you even write it down, so
afraid might you be of not remembering this Nobel prize-winning idea in the
morning. I've had many: they've all been revealed as surreal and hopeless
come dawn, but in the dead of night they seemed incredibly clever and "world
problem solving".

Well, I think this is exactly what must have happened to someone involved in
the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Review of
Marine Fisheries and Environmental Enforcement. Except this person took the
idea into daylight, and beyond. The idea is to charge sea-anglers to go
fishing, the same way as freshwater anglers are charged, via an annual or
daily licence. But, get this, in a fantastic bit of spin they veil it in
terms of it being a "package" for sea anglers - yes it will actually benefit
them! This reminds me of those signs you get saying things like "for your
convenience, this post office has been closed down and the nearest one is
200 miles away and opens for one hour every other Monday in the months of
January and July only". Hence we are told that the government are going to
pay "greater attention" to the needs of sea anglers and the best way to do
this is by charging them, so that they will be better represented by, say, a
new marine agency which will look out for their "interests".

One of the lovely things about fishing the sea is the lack of any prior
thought. You get up, you go fishing. That's it. No booking beats, no
thinking about licences. It's just how sea-fishing should be: wild,
unstructured and a little bit dangerous. Not a load of paperwork.

Imagine the inevitable effect on the little day boats that take people out
for a bit of impromptu mackerel fishing. Licences will put £8 a day, per
person on top of current prices: for a family of two that's another £16.

Anyone from the government would argue with me, and I'd love them to, that
it's just not that simple. The seas are overfished, they need inshore
management. Yes, but it's not the lone sea angler or owner of small boats -
the very people this licence is aimed at - that cause this problem. "A ha",
say the government, "but the proposed £3m a year these new licences would
raise (an estimated million people go sea-fishing and the licences would
cost £22 a year or £8 a day) could be used to police the seas and stop the
over-fishing. But it's hardly the job of the "one rod, one man" sea
fisherman to finance this.

The big trawlers, which cause the problem of stock decimation, catching
juvenile fish and destroying the sea-bed, won't be touched by this
fantastically stupid idea. Neither will £3m help police the seas. The Common
Fisheries Policy is the root of our overfishing problems and stemming from
that are the big trawlers, some of which just don't give a damn about how
irresponsibly they fish (the most common offenders are the Spanish, French
and Italians). If they're ever caught and fined at all they just pay up and
do it again.

The consultation letter - sent out to the fishing industry - actually says
that "it is not the purpose of the review to examine the merits of the
policies which need to be enforced, including the Common Fisheries Policy".
Why not? You can't actually have a review without discussing the reasons why
you need one.

The industry has until the end of September to respond. Let's hope someone
points out the obvious: that where sea wildlife is concerned, no amount of
revenue lets you buy more fish. It just doesn't work that way.

It's laughable that this is all happening on the eve of National Fishing
Week, which kicks off on 21 August (nationalfishingweek.co.uk). This
laudable event is to encourage young people, in particular, to take up
fishing. It's sponsored by the Environment Agency, which is part of...
Defra.

Rod Tax
 

"Alex" wrote in message
...
A rod licence for Sea fishing is just another means for Gordon Brown to
get
his dirty hands on more of our hard earned money.
What about the Local tackle shops, they rely on the holiday angler, who
will
have to pay £22 for two weeks fishing. These holidaymakers are the people
who will be targeted by the EA bailiffs as they enjoy their holiday,
fishing
from the piers, harbours and beaches during the day.
Are these same bailiffs going to walk the beaches and secluded rock marks
during the night in the winter?
who will check the licence of the fisherman in his boat?

Are they really saying they will use the money to re-stock the ocean. for
the commercial fisherman to exploit. (will they have to buy a licence!)


Here is some further information re the licence issue.

Do you ever get a really good idea in the middle of the night? You wake up
and you think "God, that's genius". Perhaps you even write it down, so
afraid might you be of not remembering this Nobel prize-winning idea in the
morning. I've had many: they've all been revealed as surreal and hopeless
come dawn, but in the dead of night they seemed incredibly clever and "world
problem solving".

Well, I think this is exactly what must have happened to someone involved in
the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Review of
Marine Fisheries and Environmental Enforcement. Except this person took the
idea into daylight, and beyond. The idea is to charge sea-anglers to go
fishing, the same way as freshwater anglers are charged, via an annual or
daily licence. But, get this, in a fantastic bit of spin they veil it in
terms of it being a "package" for sea anglers - yes it will actually benefit
them! This reminds me of those signs you get saying things like "for your
convenience, this post office has been closed down and the nearest one is
200 miles away and opens for one hour every other Monday in the months of
January and July only". Hence we are told that the government are going to
pay "greater attention" to the needs of sea anglers and the best way to do
this is by charging them, so that they will be better represented by, say, a
new marine agency which will look out for their "interests".

One of the lovely things about fishing the sea is the lack of any prior
thought. You get up, you go fishing. That's it. No booking beats, no
thinking about licences. It's just how sea-fishing should be: wild,
unstructured and a little bit dangerous. Not a load of paperwork.

Imagine the inevitable effect on the little day boats that take people out
for a bit of impromptu mackerel fishing. Licences will put £8 a day, per
person on top of current prices: for a family of two that's another £16.

Anyone from the government would argue with me, and I'd love them to, that
it's just not that simple. The seas are overfished, they need inshore
management. Yes, but it's not the lone sea angler or owner of small boats -
the very people this licence is aimed at - that cause this problem. "A ha",
say the government, "but the proposed £3m a year these new licences would
raise (an estimated million people go sea-fishing and the licences would
cost £22 a year or £8 a day) could be used to police the seas and stop the
over-fishing. But it's hardly the job of the "one rod, one man" sea
fisherman to finance this.

The big trawlers, which cause the problem of stock decimation, catching
juvenile fish and destroying the sea-bed, won't be touched by this
fantastically stupid idea. Neither will £3m help police the seas. The Common
Fisheries Policy is the root of our overfishing problems and stemming from
that are the big trawlers, some of which just don't give a damn about how
irresponsibly they fish (the most common offenders are the Spanish, French
and Italians). If they're ever caught and fined at all they just pay up and
do it again.

The consultation letter - sent out to the fishing industry - actually says
that "it is not the purpose of the review to examine the merits of the
policies which need to be enforced, including the Common Fisheries Policy".
Why not? You can't actually have a review without discussing the reasons why
you need one.

The industry has until the end of September to respond. Let's hope someone
points out the obvious: that where sea wildlife is concerned, no amount of
revenue lets you buy more fish. It just doesn't work that way.

It's laughable that this is all happening on the eve of National Fishing
Week, which kicks off on 21 August (nationalfishingweek.co.uk). This
laudable event is to encourage young people, in particular, to take up
fishing. It's sponsored by the Environment Agency, which is part of...
Defra.

Rod Tax
 

----- Original Message -----
From: "I"
Newsgroups: uk.rec.fishing.sea
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 9:03 AM
Subject: Rod Tax



"Alex" wrote in message
...
snip
It's laughable that this is all happening on the eve of National Fishing
Week, which kicks off on 21 August (nationalfishingweek.co.uk). This
laudable event is to encourage young people, in particular, to take up
fishing. It's sponsored by the Environment Agency, which is part of...
Defra.


Great link I was not aware of this until now, we do really need to encourage
young people to come out in the fresh air and enjoy themselves, because of
this we are organising another Summer Fish'n'Eat, hopefully Parents and
children will have a great day out
Thanks for the link

Pete
Remove the HOOK to reply via e-mail

Rod Tax
 

----- Original Message -----
From: "I"
Newsgroups: uk.rec.fishing.sea
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 9:03 AM
Subject: Rod Tax



"Alex" wrote in message
...
snip
It's laughable that this is all happening on the eve of National Fishing
Week, which kicks off on 21 August (nationalfishingweek.co.uk). This
laudable event is to encourage young people, in particular, to take up
fishing. It's sponsored by the Environment Agency, which is part of...
Defra.


Great link I was not aware of this until now, we do really need to encourage
young people to come out in the fresh air and enjoy themselves, because of
this we are organising another Summer Fish'n'Eat, hopefully Parents and
children will have a great day out
Thanks for the link

Pete
Remove the HOOK to reply via e-mail

Rod Tax
 

In Greece, even a Tourist needs a licence. I fish near Peroulades in Corfu
and had to purchase a licenec to go on my Friends Boat, and this meant a
whole day walking around Corfu Town trying to find the right Police office
that had the permits


"Pete" wrote in message
...
----- Original Message -----
From: "I"
Newsgroups: uk.rec.fishing.sea
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 9:03 AM
Subject: Rod Tax



"Alex" wrote in message
...
snip
It's laughable that this is all happening on the eve of National Fishing
Week, which kicks off on 21 August (nationalfishingweek.co.uk). This
laudable event is to encourage young people, in particular, to take up
fishing. It's sponsored by the Environment Agency, which is part of...
Defra.


Great link I was not aware of this until now, we do really need to
encourage
young people to come out in the fresh air and enjoy themselves, because of
this we are organising another Summer Fish'n'Eat, hopefully Parents and
children will have a great day out
Thanks for the link

Pete
Remove the HOOK to reply via e-mail

Rod Tax
 

In Greece, even a Tourist needs a licence. I fish near Peroulades in Corfu
and had to purchase a licenec to go on my Friends Boat, and this meant a
whole day walking around Corfu Town trying to find the right Police office
that had the permits


"Pete" wrote in message
...
----- Original Message -----
From: "I"
Newsgroups: uk.rec.fishing.sea
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 9:03 AM
Subject: Rod Tax



"Alex" wrote in message
...
snip
It's laughable that this is all happening on the eve of National Fishing
Week, which kicks off on 21 August (nationalfishingweek.co.uk). This
laudable event is to encourage young people, in particular, to take up
fishing. It's sponsored by the Environment Agency, which is part of...
Defra.


Great link I was not aware of this until now, we do really need to
encourage
young people to come out in the fresh air and enjoy themselves, because of
this we are organising another Summer Fish'n'Eat, hopefully Parents and
children will have a great day out
Thanks for the link

Pete
Remove the HOOK to reply via e-mail