Government repsonse to 'No Rod Licence Petition'

Occasional Joined: Aug 21, 2007 Posts: 106

Here

The response basically says "we're going to do it anyway and we'll pretend to listen to your views and then do what we want to anyway".

I'm almost in two minds about a licence but overall I think I'm against it. I can't see how the licence fee could cover the cost of enforcement let alone enforcement and any improvements.

Just another excuse to leech money and control what people do. Maybe if it did result in a one mile exclusion zone for nets and long-lines I might be interested but even then I figure that lots of species spawn offshore and so they'll just be decimated on the way to the spawning grounds which would rather defeat the object it seems.

Guest

Wattsy wrote:

Here

The response basically says "we're going to do it anyway and we'll pretend to listen to your views and then do what we want to anyway".

I'm almost in two minds about a licence but overall I think I'm against it. I can't see how the licence fee could cover the cost of enforcement let alone enforcement and any improvements.

Just another excuse to leech money and control what people do. Maybe if it did result in a one mile exclusion zone for nets and long-lines I might be interested but even then I figure that lots of species spawn offshore and so they'll just be decimated on the way to the spawning grounds which would rather defeat the object it seems.

Surely you didn't expect anything else? They never listen and they never will. Do what I do if you want to make a difference and dont vote. I dont even bother sending back my voters form, its a waste of my time just putting pen to paper with that one.

Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:43 pm

I disagree to some extent, Gordon Brown is putting out the message that he believes in consultation and that is what they are now saying they will do. An awful lot of folk are pointing to the cock-up that the Portugese government seems to have done and how much it has affected the Recreational Sea Fishing industry over there. I find it hard to believe that GB would want to alienate 2 m of us by pushing this through for no good reason. Let's not forget that he has already put the mockers on the gambling brigade because he thinks to many poor people waste their money on it whereas darling Tony was definitely pushing it.

Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:56 pm

They seem to forget that we have voted for them.

Governments just do what they think and will promise what they think will get them re-elected. It was evident recently where many where calling for a general election. Those in marginal seats were using every excuse not to have one, not cause its' good for the country but they might lose their jobs

Guest

eccles wrote:

I disagree to some extent, Gordon Brown is putting out the message that he believes in consultation and that is what they are now saying they will do. An awful lot of folk are pointing to the cock-up that the Portugese government seems to have done and how much it has affected the Recreational Sea Fishing industry over there. I find it hard to believe that GB would want to alienate 2 m of us by pushing this through for no good reason. Let's not forget that he has already put the mockers on the gambling brigade because he thinks to many poor people waste their money on it whereas darling Tony was definitely pushing it.

Thats so funny Eccles, consultation, my ar*e, So why then donsn't he agree to a referendum on the EU? GB will be the same as every other past PM, lies more lies and broken promises. All they are interested in is fleecing as much money from hard working folk as they can.

Guest

Wattsy wrote:

Here

The response basically says "we're going to do it anyway and we'll pretend to listen to your views and then do what we want to anyway".

I'm almost in two minds about a licence but overall I think I'm against it. I can't see how the licence fee could cover the cost of enforcement let alone enforcement and any improvements.

Just another excuse to leech money and control what people do. Maybe if it did result in a one mile exclusion zone for nets and long-lines I might be interested but even then I figure that lots of species spawn offshore and so they'll just be decimated on the way to the spawning grounds which would rather defeat the object it seems.

And you're surprised? suprise

Guest

It's easy to tell if a politician is lying.......

They've usually got their mouth open!! big grin

Occasional Joined: Jul 14, 2007 Posts: 153

Whats new, petitions are never taken seriously, and for some unknow reason we don't stand up for ourselves. Its another form of revenue, a stealth tax. If it was say some where else like France they would be taking to the streets. Maybe if 2 million anglers rods in hand decended on Parliment then maybe they would listen. But at the end of the day Some will pay and some won't. More money lost to an industry that gives so many pleasure, for a sport that costs so little. We should be promoting it more as a sport rather than a pastime, after all do footballers, runners, cyclists etc, pay a licence fee. Now there's an idea bicycle tax.

Guest

Southender wrote:

Whats new, petitions are never taken seriously, and for some unknow reason we don't stand up for ourselves. Its another form of revenue, a stealth tax. If it was say some where else like France they would be taking to the streets. Maybe if 2 million anglers rods in hand decended on Parliment then maybe they would listen. But at the end of the day Some will pay and some won't. More money lost to an industry that gives so many pleasure, for a sport that costs so little. We should be promoting it more as a sport rather than a pastime, after all do footballers, runners, cyclists etc, pay a licence fee. Now there's an idea bicycle tax.

You have a really good point, We should petition to licence swimmers that use the beach, Jet skiers, windsurfers, sunbathing and boating all should be licenced. The money then can be used to improve and clean the beaches that all these people will no doubt be campaigning its all anglers mess. We anglers have just as much right as all of the above do, to enjoy the beach so why should we be licenced??

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:07 pm

the missed point is that this is our birthright they are taxing. the law they are aboloshing is over 400 years old. i am a coarse fisherman as well. dont believe when they tell you we get a good deal for our licence fee. check out the a.c.a and look at the number of private prosecutions that they have brought this year, if the coarse licence is such good value then they would have no need to exist. i work all week and i pay tax, i also pay tax on my fishing tackle and bait when i pay to fish a pier, that money is taxed indirectly. when will it end, we are just money cows to the stiffs feathering thier own nests. i WONT pay for a sea licence i will have my day in court, but if two million anglers had a day in court the stiffs might just think there is something amiss. who gets the money? defra? they also susidise the legalized raping of the sea dont they? sorry to go all anarcist mispent youth

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:36 pm

eccles wrote:

Gordon Brown is putting out the message that he believes in consultation and that is what they are now saying they will do.

What would they learn from another 3 years of consultation that they don't already know from Net Benefits, Drew Report, CFP review, Inshore Fisheries review, Bass MLS consultation, Sea Change, Defra' s 20 year vision, Marine Bill, RSA Strategy consultation?

They back tracked on the increase on Bass MLS, but have offered us more nursery areas (when they can't even enforce the ones we have), conservation measures for Tope (That's 99% of shore anglers happy then - not!) and plans to force a licence upon us for no return. Yorkshire anglers have had a bag limit for Bass placed on them, with no similar restrictions for commercials!

If they introduce a licence, I'll pay what the commercials got charged for theirs!

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:20 pm

Just a comment: One would have hoped that 1/2 million or more might have signed the petition(s) instead only a few thousand have signed. The average politician with virtually no interest in our pastime will conclude that most of us don't really care that much!

Guest

And they'd be right!

Guest

stuartdv wrote:

And they'd be right!

....and things have been no different for the thirty years plus that I've fished. In all that time whatever big issue has come up sea anglers accross the country have ranted and raved......and the vast majority then can't find the energy to sign something as simple as a petition. Part of the problem has always been the splintered approach of the organisations that are involved in the sport and the lack of a well enough respected angler to take up a fight and rally the groups spread around the country.....sea angling in this country has no effective leadership.

Personally, I'm not against a licence in principle.....only the fact that they will use the money to bolster up other shortfalls in government finance. At the end of the day I love my fishing and can't imagine life without it after all these years.....even if the licence costs £100 (the figures circulating seem to suggest more like £25 a year) it will still be money well spent in my book if it means I can get to the beach without looking over my shoulder. Hell, it costs you more to tax a car and can anybody say its a pleasure to drive on the car parks we laughingly call roads?

Perhaps we should be a bit more pragmatic and look to the long term......they'll be a bit less likely to ban fishing at the demand of a minority (as with fox hunting) if it costs them valuable cash.

Guest

blakdog wrote:

stuartdv wrote:

And they'd be right!

....and things have been no different for the thirty years plus that I've fished. In all that time whatever big issue has come up sea anglers accross the country have ranted and raved......and the vast majority then can't find the energy to sign something as simple as a petition. Part of the problem has always been the splintered approach of the organisations that are involved in the sport and the lack of a well enough respected angler to take up a fight and rally the groups spread around the country.....sea angling in this country has no effective leadership.

Personally, I'm not against a licence in principle.....only the fact that they will use the money to bolster up other shortfalls in government finance. At the end of the day I love my fishing and can't imagine life without it after all these years.....even if the licence costs £100 (the figures circulating seem to suggest more like £25 a year) it will still be money well spent in my book if it means I can get to the beach without looking over my shoulder. Hell, it costs you more to tax a car and can anybody say its a pleasure to drive on the car parks we laughingly call roads?

Perhaps we should be a bit more pragmatic and look to the long term......they'll be a bit less likely to ban fishing at the demand of a minority (as with fox hunting) if it costs them valuable cash.

I dont think anyone blackdog would mind paying it if people were told what the money was going to be used for.
At present all we are told is the govenment are thinking of introducing a licence for sea anglers! whoopeee, so whats it going to be used for, why now? for years we have fished for free and now they want me to pay 25 sovs for what?
If its because it will stop the govenment from banning sea fishing then I will not pay it as its a form of blackmail.
If however they can tell me its will be put to good use, how I have no idea! but if they can and it makes sense people may warm to the idea.

Its just so vaigue at the moment that its hard to decide what is for the good or not.
Me I never signed the petition, Why because its a complete waste of time, they wont listen anyway.