Marine Conservation Zones

[Gaz D]

Spoke to Dave on friday about this and it sounded good

Dave who? Thomasson? Glad you could get hold of him, because nobody else seems able to! :vangry

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[Gaz D]

Hi dave, i will speak to dave T and see if he needs anymore information (i understand the information gathering process is going on now)...Thanks another Dave!

Do you have to be called 'Dave' to join in with this?

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[kkdavids]

Sorry Dave's only! only joking Gaz!

Bit more info:
www.finding-sanctuary.org is the main site detailing what its all about....
The BSA has submitted maps showing where we fish as a group, which im sure will cover all of our areas..but to be in the safe side please visit Finding Sanctuary Interactive Map and follow the interactive map and fill in where you fish...cheers Dave

 

[Gaz D]

Sorry Dave's only! only joking Gaz!

Bit more info:
www.finding-sanctuary.org is the main site detailing what its all about....
The BSA has submitted maps showing where we fish as a group, which im sure will cover all of our areas..but to be in the safe side please visit Finding Sanctuary Interactive Map and follow the interactive map and fill in where you fish...cheers Dave

Dave,

Will other spearos be able to see my secret spots if I fill in that map?

And, more importantly, will I be able to see yours? rofl


Apart from that, though, surely these things need to be further off-shore, where damaging trawlers operate, rather than along the shoreline, where all they will serve to do is impinge upon people's harmless recreational activities - if this is what they have actually got planned then, to my mind, they have clearly got their equations back to front.

I can't think of too many spots along the Dorset/Devon/Cornwall coast that aren't enjoyed recreationally by either anglers or spearfishermen, or both!

I'm getting annoyed now! :vangry

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[kkdavids]

Your safe only the finding sanctuary people will see what you submit...My secret spots aren't secret!! everybody knows them!

I understand the aim of this is to find no fishing areas which affects the fewest amount of people! (not the right way to go about it in my opinion, but we still need to jump the hoops)

Dave,

Will other spearos be able to see my secret spots if I fill in that map?

And, more importantly, will I be able to see yours? rofl


Apart from that, though, surely these things need to be further off-shore, where damaging trawlers operate, rather than along the shoreline, where all they will serve to do is impinge upon people's harmless recreational activities - if this is what they have actually got planned then, to my mind, they have clearly got their equations back to front.

I can't think of too many spots along the Dorset/Devon/Cornwall coast that aren't enjoyed recreationally by either anglers or spearfishermen, or both!

I'm getting annoyed now! :vangry

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[glowworm]

Chaps we all need to get behind the BSA on this one.

You can join on the following link as either a competitve or non-competitive member.

British Spearfishing Association Home

A single voice is always much clearer.

The BSA just isn't about competitions that is just one facit of the club.

If you are a non-competitive spearo then just reading about the rule changes to the comps made by them makes pleasent reading.

There are already many members of the BSA on here who have a wealth of knowledge and experience i'm sure they would be willing to share if asked.

 

[kkdavids]

100% agree with what glowworm mentions above....Im not going to come on here and preach to you to join, its your choice.....Happy to answer any questions you have, apart from the gps mark of my best Bass hole!

 

[podge]

As some of you already know I’m not a great lover of spearo comps as I don’t see the point in taking more than you can reasonably eat in more than a couple of weeks, but with some of the changes that have been made to the competition rules and now with the “one voice” thing in mind I do think its probably a good time to join up, so I’m going to, even if all I get from it is a few more invites to a few more top notch BBQ’s.:friday

 

[Gaz D]

As some of you already know I’m not a great lover of spearo comps as I don’t see the point in taking more than you can reasonably eat in more than a couple of weeks, but with some of the changes that have been made to the competition rules and now with the “one voice” thing in mind I do think its probably a good time to join up, so I’m going to, even if all I get from it is a few more invites to a few more top notch BBQ’s.:friday

You also get insurance cover mate (which means that you can shoot at jet-skiers with impunity - although I could be wrong on that last point)!

 

[kkdavids]

' he drove into my spear officer'!

 

[Lazuli]

I hate to break it to you but on the Finding Sanctuary "Feedback" page one of their officials appears to have revealed the punchline...

From: Feedback » Get Involved » Finding Sanctuary

"Natural England is currently consulting on proposed Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in the south-west – these are specific sites to be designated under European legislation. There is an official consultation on their website identifying site boundaries. It is important to note that for SACs site selection boundaries must be based completely on scientific evidence (i.e.socio-economic factors cannot be taken into consideration)."

So, if socio-economic factors cannot be taken into consideration, and SAC boundaries must be determined completely on scientific evidence, what is the point of the public consultations and intelligence gathering which yields socio-economic data, statistics, indicators, and stakeholder information?

Spearfishing and other recreational activities, as well as commercial activities, are socio-economic by virtue of the way we are defined as "stakeholders".

I cannot see how our information, opinion or data counts for anything in the face of scientific evidence and opinion. THIS is what concerns me about this process. The (arbitrary) interpretation of scientific evidence will, it appears, be the last word.

 

[glowworm]

Lazuli i have been sent the minutes from the Dorset MCZ meetings and all parties involved have expressed different fears.

This process is to insure future stocks of fish and from what i am being told (having not attended any meetings yet) is that they are more concerned with habitat and breeding ground conservation.

Banning of any form of recreational fishing along an entire coast line is not the aim.

SACs will be areas where for instance dift netting or pair trawling will be banned but long lining will be allowed.

There are always sensationalist headlines but two sides to every story.

I think it's time to stop panicing and listen to the people who have been involved.

I will try to get Dave to post a small update as i know he is very busy at the moment.

If we want to help future stocks of fish which i'm sure we all do......stop and think before you take a shot at that 8lb breeding female bass.....

 

[Spear0Joe]

lol ill remember that one glowworm "stop and think before you take a shot at that 8lb breeding female bass."

 

[Old Man Dave]

"stop and think before you take a shot at that 8lb breeding female bass". It's actually a good point.

I was told off once by a MAFF scientist when I told him I was spearing roe laden bass at Easter time from spot "X". Seems pathetic compared to the 100 tons taken some years from our local (Guernsey) bass breeding spot.

However the arguement "well if I don't do it then someone else will catch them anyway" no longer holds water with me. Not easy to be virtuous though. Felt guilty last year when I took a big sole in December and of course it was stuffed full of roe.

Even out of the breeding season there's a lot to be said for mainly taking small/medium fish. That's fish that have bred at least once but are not yet the large superbreeders. Many American size limits only allow this by having a minimum and a maximum size.

I'm going to endeavour to at least be a little more ethical in the future.

Dave.

 

[Spear0Joe]

All im saying dave is that there are so many variables when diving, its not like bass swim round with a little tag saying im exactly X weight and im THIS gender, its impossible to tell, well unless your a bass expert that is.

 

[kkdavids]

Dave T is putting together an article for the crystal clear which is due out in a few weeks which i think will calm a few peoples nerves! with what i hear coming out of this so far we should be pretty much ok/untouched, so no need to panic!

 

[podge]

Dave T is putting together an article for the crystal clear which is due out in a few weeks which i think will calm a few peoples nerves! with what i hear coming out of this so far we should be pretty much ok/untouched, so no need to panic!

Thanks for the update but please remember that not all spearo’s on here will get to see a copy of Crystal Clear so yes if Dave T could just stick a small post up of what’s what I think it would be very well received.

 

[kkdavids]

no problem, will be arranged

 

[Gaz D]

Lazuli i have been sent the minutes from the Dorset MCZ meetings and all parties involved have expressed different fears.

This process is to insure future stocks of fish and from what i am being told (having not attended any meetings yet) is that they are more concerned with habitat and breeding ground conservation.

Banning of any form of recreational fishing along an entire coast line is not the aim.

SACs will be areas where for instance dift netting or pair trawling will be banned but long lining will be allowed.

There are always sensationalist headlines but two sides to every story.

I think it's time to stop panicing and listen to the people who have been involved.

I will try to get Dave to post a small update as i know he is very busy at the moment.

If we want to help future stocks of fish which i'm sure we all do......stop and think before you take a shot at that 8lb breeding female bass.....

Now THAT actually sounds very encouraging!

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[glowworm]

"stop and think before you take a shot at that 8lb breeding female bass". It's actually a good point.

I was told off once by a MAFF scientist when I told him I was spearing roe laden bass at Easter time from spot "X". Seems pathetic compared to the 100 tons taken some years from our local (Guernsey) bass breeding spot.

However the arguement "well if I don't do it then someone else will catch them anyway" no longer holds water with me. Not easy to be virtuous though. Felt guilty last year when I took a big sole in December and of course it was stuffed full of roe.

Even out of the breeding season there's a lot to be said for mainly taking small/medium fish. That's fish that have bred at least once but are not yet the large superbreeders. Many American size limits only allow this by having a minimum and a maximum size.

I'm going to endeavour to at least be a little more ethical in the future.

Dave.

Most bass over 5lb will be female and of breeding age.

Dave is quite right and i will try to take several small fish this year rather than waiting for the big ones. I will try to be more ethical this year and part of the plan is to take new species and see how they taste.

Have a look here for more bass information.

Bass Anglers' Sportfishing Society: sea bass and fishery: inshore rules

We do need to look at our own habits before complaining about others.

Someone once told me that "everytime you point a finger there are 3 pointing back"

No one is going to get berated for taking a large fish but we need to think smart