European Union Consultation – Including ban on use of projectiles .

[SurfnSpear]

ben, I suggest contacting them anyway. That way they will realise this is serious and quite a few people take issue. Key thing is obviously not to storm at them, just be polite and draw their attention to the EU consultation raised by Brussels.

cheers

[KWM]

Hi Marco, thats great of you to offer to do that. can you make it clear that this comes from the European Union and will directly affect the atlantic cost of Portugal.

If you look back along the thread you will see the link to the EU document which can then be accessed in any european language.

can you let us know of the reaction to this in portugal.

many thanks kev.

[MCerieiro]

Originally Posted by KWM

Hi Marco, thats great of you to offer to do that. can you make it clear that this comes from the European Union and will directly affect the atlantic cost of Portugal.

If you look back along the thread you will see the link to the EU document which can then be accessed in any european language.

can you let us know of the reaction to this in portugal.

many thanks kev.

Hi Kev,

I´ve already send all the information to the Portuguese Spearfishing association, as well as to the Administrators of the 2 major Portuguese forums, i will keep you guys update to the reactions and developments.

I also send the information to the administrator of Medfish, even being a Med forum, i believe this could be just the beginning and all spearfishers should stick together.

Cheers,
Marco

[hyeparis]

That is very worrying. In Russia, we have our president and a bunch of ministers try spearfishing and the president has even referred to it as one of the 'tourist attractions' that should be encouraged locally. So we have nothing like that in the pipeline. But I would be very sadenned to see the Med become a non-spearfishing zone.

[Mr. X]

Interesting to hear a progressive attitude coming from Russia while we struggle with an increasingly regressive and repressive environment in the UK. Good to see that Portugal is onboard. Anybody in France/Spain on thread yet?

BTW Scottish Countryside Alliance have requested the original document [it's attached to the first article in this thread].

[atomichaggis]

I'm done with politics. I suggest keeping your spearguns loaded when you leave the water and if approached by a bailif.... LOOSE! Also a riot in london would be great, its been a while.

[Padaxes]

Well I've rounded up a few signtaures for the petition and my friend at DEFRA said it sounds ridiculous and will ask around about it.

[Tong]

Can the admin on deeperblue send a email to all the members on the site asking them to sign it??

[Mr. X]

I mentioned the proposal to a couple of keen flyfishermen/colleagues today. They thought it was ridiculous. One said "That's a stupid law. You should just ignore it." They both questioned why the current government feels the need to control everything. I think we're all wondering that (as the country spirals out of control). They seem to be in self-destruct mode and keen to take the rest of the country with them.

[gloinx]

Sorry guys, I not native and dont know some of the words, but i dont think they are gonna go against all european industry based on spearfishing, european brands are leaders in the field, there is lot of fans in the Mediterranean, and in the worst of the cases i agree with what James T says .

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by gloinx

Sorry guys, I not native and dont know some of the words, but i dont think they are gonna go against all european industry based on spearfishing, european brands are leaders in the field, there is lot of fans in the Mediterranean, and in the worst of the cases i agree with what James T says .

Good point Gloinx. Their initial exclusion of the med. suggests that they know that would not get approved. They are trying to "divide and conquer". First the Atlantic, then the Med & Baltic. Fox Hunting was "the thin end of the wedge". If we allow this to continue other forms of hunting, shooting and fishing will be next. The NRA in the USA have already encountered this whittling away of rights and freedoms. They have also learnt how to deal with it: unite and give no quarter, no concessions. That's why I think the Countryside Alliance could be an important ally.

BTW Interesting idea about the TV chefs. Another colleague sent me a link to the River Cottage forum, apparently some malcontent called SurfNSpear has started a similar thread of discussion there (good on ya Surf). Check out the bow hunting thread there too if you have time. Hugh Fernley-Wittingstall has snorkelled on some of his TV shows, has he speared yet? I guess Gordon Ramsey might prefer to forget his escapade, although it sounds like good viewing (missed it twice - must check youtube). What about St. Jamie Olivier - he has that place on the beach in Newquay, Cornwall now? Or Marco Pierre White - the deer hunter. Antony Wirral-Thompson, no fan of this government. Mr. fish himself, Rick Stein (of Padistein, Cornwall)? Keith Floyd? Who is Sparticus?

[Mr. X]

First MEP response, Roger Knapman, UK Indepedence Party (good to see at least UKIP are on their toes). Looks very positive:

from: piersmerchant@X
Sent: 23 June 2008 10:59 AM
To: X
Subject: Re: Letter from your constituent X

Roger Knapman MEP has asked me to thank you for your email and to reply as he is currently travelling to Brussels.

He is most grateful to you for drawing this issue to his attention and certainly agrees with you. He will do what he can to help.

He feels this is typical of Brussels over-regulation and it is why he prefers to see such matters dealt with in our traditional way - by a democratic vote in the House of Commons after and open and wide public debate.
Best wishes

Piers Merchant
Assistant to Roger Knapman MEP

[Mr. X]

Next up Glyn Ford, European Parliamentary Labour Party, Socialist Group. A statement of fact and no commitment to cause or action but a timely response. Not too hopeful on this one but you never know.

From: Glyn Ford MEP [mailto:mep@glynford.com]
Sent: 24 June 2008 03:30 PM
To: xxx@xxx.xxx
Subject: FW: Letter from your constituent R


Dear X

Many thanks for your email regarding spear fishing and the concerns you have regarding Article 31 of Council Regulation 850/98.

I will certainly pass on your thoughts to Mr Ford who can raise this issue in relevant meetings.

Thanks you for taking the time to write and please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any other queries.

Yours truly
Stuart Emmerson (Political Officer to Glyn Ford MEP) European Parliamentary Labour Party Socialist*Group
*
Belle Vue Centre
6 Belle Vue Road
Cinderford
Gloucestershire
GL14 2AB
England
Tel:* +44*(0)1594 827193
Fax: +44 (0)1594 829953
*
The European Parliamentary Labour Party is an integral part of the Socialist Group in the European* Parliament. Labour's Euro Parliamentarians, are guided by the values of the labour movement and the British Labour Party and represent their voters so as to advance democracy, social justice, prosperity, peace and sustainable development in the UK, EU and throughout the world.

[Mr. X]

If you live outside the UK or EU, you might still be able to sign. The petition website makes special provision for these categories:

Expatriate
Armed Forces
Anguilla
Ascension Island
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Channel Islands
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Isle of Man
Montserrat
Pitcairn Island
St Helena
S. Georgia and the S. Sandwich Islands
Tristan da Cunha
Turks and Caicos Islands

[Mr. X]

Article 12

Destructive fishing practices

The catching, retention on board, transhipment, storage, landing, sale, display or offer for sale of marine organisms caught using methods incorporating the use of ... any kind of projectile shall be prohibited.

Isn't a cast fishing hook, ledger weight, fly, plug, pirk, spinner or lure a projectile as much as a catapulted spear on a line?

Dictionary.com:

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
pro·jec·tile Audio Help /prəˈdʒɛktɪl, -taɪl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[pruh-jek-til, -tahyl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. an object fired from a gun with an explosive propelling charge, such as a bullet, shell, rocket, or grenade.
2. a body projected or impelled forward, as through the air.
–adjective 3. impelling or driving forward, as a force.
4. caused by impulse, as motion.
5. capable of being impelled forward, as a missile.
6. Zoology. protrusile, as the jaws of a fish.


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[Origin: 1655–65; < NL, neut. of prōjectilis (adj.) projecting. See project, -ile]

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This pro·jec·tile Audio Help (prə-jěk'təl, -tīl') Pronunciation Key
n.
A fired, thrown, or otherwise propelled object, such as a bullet, having no capacity for self-propulsion.
A self-propelled missile, such as a rocket.

adj.
Capable of being impelled or hurled forward.
Driving forward; impelling: a projectile force.
Zoology Capable of being thrust outward; protrusile.


[New Latin proiectile, neuter of prōiectilis, that can be thrown, from Latin prōiectus, past participle of prōicere, to throw out; see project.]