Bass Minimum Landing Size (MLS) - 36cm/37cm/40cm/42cm/45cm - Images

[Mr. X]

It has been brought to our notice that some members have posted images recently of relatively small bass. To my knowledge none have been below the UK's rather low legal MLS, however, other forum members have complained that they find this distasteful and reprehensible, and believe it to be unsustainable.


A Friendly Reminder:
Legal minimum landing size (mls) for Bass in England & Wales is currently 36cm (37.5cm in Cornwall).
Most anglers & spearos would like that raised to 40cm or more (indeed the previous govt. planned to raise it to 40cm last year but withdrew the change at the last minute). So, in the interests of conservation, sustainability and setting a good example (not to mention your self esteem and a quiet life), please do not post images on DeeperBlue.com of small Bass (as a rough guide, I would suggest that means <45cm).

 

[devondave]

Good idea.
Just to clarify, it's 37.5m in Cornwall and Sussex has a 45cm code just for spearos.

Dave.

 

[Mr. X]

Interesting article giving the Cornish commercial fisherman's perspective:
Cornish World Magazine - The Magazine of Cornwall - Does the Cornish Fishing industry have a future?
I like the sound of their style of fishing (small boats, willing and able to catch a variety of species, depending on which species are under pressure) more than most that I have come across in recent year (million+ pound factory ships, pair trawlers, foreign boats on EU subsidized fuel, etc.).

I wondered what the commercial fisherman's main objections were to the proposed rise in MLS from 36 to 40cm, and later 45cm. Here's what one guy had to say:

Anglers pose a growing challenge to Cornwall’s commercial fishermen, with Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw increasing the minimum landing size for bass to 40 cm from April.

Paul protests: “It was a pre-election promise to appease anglers – 1 million of them. But if French boats are still landing bass at 36 cm – can anyone tell me the logic of that?”

I like the perspective of this fisheries officer:

Eddy Derriman, who works on the Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee, has a key role in managing Cornish fish stocks within the 6-mile limit. His team do 700 boardings a year, enforcing net sizes and minimum landing sizes.

A former fisherman, who went to sea at 15, he emphasises: “I’m not here for the commercial fisherman, or the angler, or the seal or bird that eats the fish – I’m here for the fish.”