RSA needs more and bigger fish to target

Why should they listen?

• 1 Million people went Recreational Sea Angling last year. (a lot of votes)
• We (RSA) spent £1 Billion doing it.
• RSA generates 19,000 UK jobs.
• RSA has growth potential, commercial fin fishing does not.
• RSA has low environmental impact.

Progress to date

• Acceptance by Government that RSA is important and should be listened to.
• Representation on all Government Consultative bodies (Marine Forum, Inshore Group, Coastal Conferences).
• Conservation Group has become the Marine arm of FACT (Unified UK Angling body).
• Creation of Coastal Management Group within DEFRA that includes RSA in its remit.
• Detailed and professional response to many Government consultation exercises stating RSA viewpoints and wishes.
• We have generated serious discussion on the role and future of Sea Fishery Committees (SFC).
• Appointment of RSA Reps to all English SFC’s
• 2 SFC’s have now approved proposals to protect Tope, more are evaluating.
• Strong support for BASS proposals to improve Bass stocks.
• Completed regional survey on species important to RSA.
• Helped raise awareness of RSA position in Trade and National press.
• Major supermarkets banning fish caught unsustainably.
• Commercial sector voicing concerns at “RSA influence”.
• “Fishing Summit” meetings with Fishery Minister.
• Invites to speak on RSA at major conferences.
• Regular briefings of opposition ministers.
• Support for many “local” battles on a wide range of issues.

Summary of progress to date

• We now have a a voice and a seat at the table.
• Government seems keen to support us.
• Increased voice on SFC’s, but a lot of educating to accomplish.
• Very limited “real” progress on meaningful decisions.
• Clear view of what we are trying to achieve.
• Lots of grass roots support.

Next Actions

• Work with DEFRA on a “Strategy for development RSA”
• Continue to raise awareness of RSA position and issues.
• Continue to educate all involved in decision making affecting RSA.
• Support Phase 2 of BASS plan.
• Push hard for our fishery management objectives.
• Push hard for a change on SFC management structure.
• Produce and promote codes of conduct.
• Continue EU level lobbying.

Fishery management objectives

• RSA Involvement in consultation and decision making.
• No individual sector able to control decision making.
• Management bodies tasked and able to take socio-economic decisions.
• Management plans for all important RSA species.
• Ban on all commercial fin fishing with nets within 1 mile of shore.
• MLS above maturity for all RSA target species.
• Controls on total gill net effort.

Risks/Rewards

The Government is considering legislation that would allow them to introduce licensing and bag limits if they thought it appropriate.
As a principle we will oppose these until adequate measures have been put in place to rebuild fish stocks. The risk is they will put them in place anyway.

Can we grow RSA Activity?

• Florida made Striped Bass primarily a recreational species in 1980.
• Angling expenditure grew from $83M to $560M in 14 years.
• Expenditure targeting striped Bass now estimated at £1B/Yr.
• Stocks increased from 5M to 13M growing angling trips from 2.5M/Yr to 35M/yr.

Conculsion

RSA is a growth sector waiting to be developed. To do so it needs more places to fish and more and bigger fish to target. In return it will monitor and safeguard the marine environment around our shores.