blindog
Member
Joined: Apr 27, 2006
Posts: 12
Location: Portknockie / Scotland
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 Posted:
Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:08 pm |
 
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Hi All
SOS, SACN Scotland and the SFSA are running a combined campaign to encourage the Scottish executive to support proposals by Defra to introduce legislation at the Eu fisheries talks later this month. This will make it illegal to kill any Spurdog in all Eu waters larger than 85cm which equates to 5-6 pounds. This will be the first time a Maximum landing limit ( MLL ) has been introduced on any European fishery.
This will stop any targeted fisheries for the larger females which are needed for regeneration. Evidence shows it is possible for the commercials to target the species by sex and size, and returned fish do survive well.
Although not going far enough the conservation measures should be welcomed as they will help restore the stocks mid to long term. We see this as a stop gap until more restrictive measures can be adopted and are asking the exec. to consider Nursery areas for the Lochs Sunnart and Etive and surrounding waters. At the moment the exec is doing nothing for the spurdog or the tope.
The more countries that support the proposals the more chance it has of being passed.
For those living in Scotland
Please write a letter/email to your local MSP, asking him to urgently forward your points to Ross Finnie to remind him of the urgency of the situation as the talks start later this month. If you ask your local MSP to ask a minister a question, he is obliged to do so by law and let you know the answer.
To find your MSP click on the link below and enter your postal code
[here]
For those living outside Scotland
Email the fisheries minister Ross Finnie Ross.Finnie.msp©scottish.parliament.uk
In your letter include,
• Ask the exec to support Defra’s proposals for a MLL on Spurdog
• Many organisations including ICES and the FAO state spurdog are in danger of collapse and their should be a total ban on targeted fisheries
• Ask why Scotland isn’t doing more to protect Scotland’s native sharks, against all scientific advice. Spurdog is critically endangered on the IUCN red list.
• State you welcome Defra’s initiative on the MLL but it should be seen as a stop gap until more stringent measures can be implemented.
• To ensure an 85cm MLL is enforceable there should be a requirement to land Spurdog whole
• You would like to see the ICES recommended zero catch implemented or Nursery areas for Lochs Sunnart, Etive and surrounding areas.
• A Grimsby longliner is systematically raping the area with no benefit to the Scottish economy.
• The RSA fishery is worth in the region of £10 million pounds to the area
• State the importance to RSA Show how many times you fish for spurs - , How much you spend; include petrol, accomodation etc, How much of a loss it would mean to both visiting and Scottish anglers. and importantly always ask a question or two. Start questions with Would you agree that……………….? Will the exec……….? I would like to know, why isn’t the exec……….? The exec. has to reply to your questions.
• Why isn’t the exec going to support Defras proposals to conserve the tope in Scottish waters?
It is also vital that our MEP’s support Defra proposals.
The fisheries MEP’s
cstihler©cstihlermep.freeserve.co.uk;; nparishmep©bridgwest.demon.co.uk; struan.stevenson©europarl.europa.eu; ian.hudghton©europarl.europa.eu; elspeth.attwooll©europarl.europa.eu; jameshugh.allister©europarl.europa.eu
Copy and paste the list into your email address bar urging the MEP’s to support the Defra proposals for an 85cm Maximum landing limit and list your reasons. Explain you have included the letter you sent to the exec./MSP as you are concerned Scotland isn’t doing enough.
Struan Stevenson MEP has just has a major success when the Spanish tried to change the law so they could finn more sharks. Struan rallied round MEP's and stopped this and with his amendment should reduce Spain's catches. See [here]
Hopefully the Defra’s proposals will go through with or without the Scottish exec’s support but we need to show the exec we aren’t prepared to sit back and allow our seas to be raped. If we do nothing, so will they.
The SOS/SACN letter to the Scottish fisheries minister can be seen at
[here] |
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