Email to a friend
Print versionThe Strategy is Coming
“How realistic is the chance of a Golden Mile?” asked the guy selling me a score of lug.
“That depends upon how much you want it, and what you are prepared to do to make it happen”, was my rather glib reply.
Well, shortly we will all have the opportunity of telling the Government how much we want it, what it will mean for the UK Recreational Sea Fisheries, and how it might improve the ecology of our close inshore sea fisheries.
Almost certainly DEFRA will launch the long expected consultation on a strategy for the Development of Recreational Sea Angling by the end of this year (most probably in November) and the Golden Mile is likely to be one of the hotly contested issues that may, or may not make it into the final strategy document which will form Government policy.
For DEFRA will not be consulting just with Recreational Sea Anglers, but with all other ‘interested parties’, with anyone who has a view being able to respond.
So, if you want it, it’s important that you let them know by responding yourself because others who definitely don’t want it will be sure to do so.
But the strategy will cover more than just the Golden Mile.
Although the four main objectives of the strategy are likely to be:
•To provide more and bigger fish within a healthy and sustainable ecosystem and environment
•To capitalise on the economic potential of the sport to optimise the economic and social return to coastal economies and society and identify ways to re-invest expenditure to provide further benefits
•To maintain and increase participation in RSA on a sustainable basis, (promoting best environmental practice) across all groups in society to provide socio – economic benefits
•To increase awareness and understanding of RSA, both within and outside the sector, through improved communication, education and increased participation in fisheries management
There will be things that might be welcomed by some anglers, things that will be strongly opposed by others, and things that should be in there that have been completely forgotten.
But whatever the final contents of the strategy that is eventually approved by the Minister, it will almost certainly be the document that guides DEFRA policy towards the Recreational Sea Angling sector, and the development of the UK Recreational Sea Fisheries, for a long time to come.
So, it’s important that everyone responds to the strategy, because it won’t simply go away.
And there will be plenty of interests that might not agree with what you want to see included in the future running of RSA and our Recreational Sea Fisheries, and they are certain to put their oar in.
But the thing to remember is that this won’t simply be a case of voting for the options that you want, or maybe don’t want.
More important is to explain why you believe that a particular course of action is worth pursuing, or should be dropped or changed, and to produce some real hard evidence to back up what you say.
Once launched, the consultation will run for 12 weeks, which may seem plenty of time but will pass far too quickly, so it’s important that you get your club, society and representative organizations to gear up now.
Who is going to be responsible for consulting with members and compiling and agreeing a common response?
Who is going to deal with the many questions, and find out the information needed to submit a response that is going to be taken notice of?
These things need to be decided now, because you can bet that others are getting organized to put forward their views which we as sea anglers might not particularly like.
Once the consultation has ended, and DEFRA have considered all the responses, a final document will be put before the minister who will make the ultimate decision about what is included, what is dropped, and what the priorities are to be.
Once those decisions have been taken, the course for the development, management and regulation of Recreational Sea Angling will largely have been decided for years ahead, and a chance to affect fundamental government policy with relation to Recreational Sea Angling will have passed.
That’s why it is so important to make your own voice heard now.
With the consultation on the development of Recreation Sea Angling imminent, Leon discusses how we need to get organized.
del.icio.us
Digg
Technorati
 Fishing Rods Fishing Reels Rod Rests Fishing Hooks Rig Components Accessories DVice & Leads |
Plugs, Lures Lines & Leaders Shore Fishing Rigs Feathers & Lure Rigs Luggage Clothing & Hats Deals |
BERKLEY FRENZIED POPPER £3.91 Each TIDEWATER LURE RIGS 83p Each 7" WSF Jelly Worms Get ready for the new Plugging Season, Buy 3 get one of them for free, Blue Pilchard Divers WSF NOW STOCKS SAKUMA HOOKS
SALTWATER FLIES FROM FULLING MILL FROM £1.25 BACK IN STOCK PENN CAPTIVA CV2 REELS BACK IN STOCK SALT / CAPTIVA SPINNING COMBO DEAL BACK IN STOCK ABU CARDINAL 304FD PRICE: £37.18 |
