Commenting upon yesterday’s statement by UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw, Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society (BASS) spokesman John Leballeur said: “At last this administration is beginning to show some sense when talking about recreational sea angling”.

At the recent ‘Angling Summit’ held in the Palace of Westminster, the minister had been told by BASS and other sea angling organisations "in the most forceful terms possible" that the current proposal for a sea angling licence was unacceptable to the UK’s recreational sea anglers (RSA). This was especially so in the light of his decision not to increase the bass minimum landing size (MLS).

The news was also welcomed by the Sea Anglers’ Conservation Network (SACN). Leon Roskilly of SACN said: “It is a relief to get the distraction of a sea angling licence off the agenda so that we can talk positively and with confidence about the delivery of benefits and a better future for recreational sea angling in the UK."

Richard Ferré, chairman of the National Federation of Sea Anglers (NFSA) added: “The NFSA and anglers throughout the country have worked hard to honestly represent to the Minister their view that a licence would have been unfair, financially unviable and detrimental to the sport.

“The minister and his civil servants are to be congratulated for listening to and analysing our arguments and now for taking this decision.”

Mr Ferré said he believed it would herald much needed improved relations between the government and the million-strong recreational sea angling industry which was worth nearly £600 million a year in England and Wales alone and supported 19,000 jobs.

*THE Shellfish Association of Great Britain today voiced dismay that the Minister has decided not to proceed with enabling powers in the Marine Bill to introduce a sea angling licence, but “will, none the less, continue with a package of other measures that aim to provide benefits for anglers, including a review of nursery areas for the protection of bass stocks and of inshore netting, and a pilot study on area-based restrictions to support sea angling.”

An association spokesman said:"Firstly, it strikes us as foolish that the Minister is not using the Marine Bill as an opportunity to future proof legislation for later introduction of the said licence – particularly as the Minister himself notes he will reconsider the arguments for introducing a recreational sea angling licence at some stage in the future in the light of progress on the aforementioned measures.

"Secondly, area-based restrictions to support a leisure activity are well and good, but where is the commitment from Government to provide security of tenure to the shellfish sector?"

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