Slide 1:

REGULATION OF ANGLING METHODS (1)

Prevent the use of certain items of fishing tackle

Why?

• Inconsistent with good practice in fish welfare and conservation

What?

• gaffs
• knotted mesh nets
• pike gags
• tailers

How?

• Ban their sale and /or use as auxiliaries to taking salmon and freshwater fish by rod and line

Slide 2:

REGULATION OF ANGLING METHODS (2)

Update permissible methods of fishing by rod and line

Why?

• Current definition "single rod, held in the hand" makes certain legitimate methods technically unlawful:
• Harling / trolling with rods in rests;
• Use of multiple rods and rod rests in coarse angling

How?

Redefine 'rod and line' to:

• allow use of appropriate techniques, providing proper control exercised
• restrict fishing for salmonids to a maximum of one rod per angler except when harling or trolling from a moving boat
• restrict fishing for other freshwater species to two rods per angler / permit (maximum of four rods overall)

Slide 3:

REGULATION OF FISHING TIMES (1)

Annual and weekly close times

Why?

• Maintain / improve sustainability of fisheries by:
• Minimising disturbance during spawning activities (annual close times)
• Allowing periods of undisturbed passage to spawning grounds through the year (weekly close times)

How?

• Enabling powers in legislation to allow local management bodies to
• Make annual / weekly close times
• Designate refuge areas

Slide 4:

REGULATION OF FISHING TIMES (2)

Annual and weekly close times

Salmon and sea trout

• Retain current Sunday close time for rods
• Retain current weekend close time for nets
• Retain current annual close season provisions, including flexibility to adjust at local level

Brown trout

• No weekly close times
• Retain current annual close season ( 7th Oct - 14th Mar inclusive)

Arctic Charr

• No weekly close time
• Introduce annual close season for same period as brown trout ( 7th Oct - 14th Mar inclusive)

Slide 5:

REGULATION OF FISHING TIMES (3)

Annual and weekly close times

Rainbow trout

• No weekly close time
• No annual close season

Grayling

• No weekly close time
• No general close season, but provision for localised restrictions and refuge areas for spawning

Coarse fish

• No weekly close time
• No general close season, but provision for localised restrictions and refuge areas for spawning

Slide 6:

QUESTIONS

Do you agree with the actions proposed:

• To ban the sale or use of certain items of fishing tackle?
• To update the definition of "rod and line"?
• To regulate annual close seasons and weekly close days?