To present a draft response to the Defra Recreational Sea Angling (RSA) Strategy for England.

1.1 This consultation paper was published by Defra on 6 December 2007 with a deadline for responses of 31 March 2008. The consultation is important to the Committee and potentially controversial because some of the proposals could, if implemented, have an impact on other commercial fisheries.

1.2 The main aim of the RSA strategy is to enhance the RSA experience. It then has a number of objectives such as to provide more and bigger fish for angling; to maintain and increase participation in RSA and to realise the economic potential of the sport. The strategy suggests greater controls on trawling and gill netting close to the shore. It encourages Sea Fisheries Committees to develop the sport of sea-angling within their Districts and it states that there should be better access to angling sites, more boat launching facilities, artificial reefs to attract sport fish and areas of the sea reserved for angling or where only limited commercial fishing is allowed.

1.3 The context for this strategy is a four year campaign by the angling sector to raise the profile of RSA at Government level and generate policies designed to promote and protect angling. Both Defra and WAG have now confirmed that there will be no increase in the MLS for Bass at this time and it now appears that Defra are consulting on other types of measures to protect Bass and develop the angling sector. It is possible that licensing of sea angling and bag limits will be introduced as measures in the Marine Bill and the angling sector have stated that licensing will only be accepted if the scheme brings tangible benefits for the sport.

1.4 Fishing Associations in the District expressed concern that the consultation was not widely circulated to all sections of the industry. Officers reported this concern to Defra who subsequently organised a series of meetings round England including one at Blackpool on March 3. Officers will report on this meeting at the Committee on 14 March.

1.5 A fisheries science partnership research project has been proposed, the main aim of which is to examine the potential benefits of designating areas for Bass sea angling where other forms of fishing would be prohibited. An outline of this project is attached at Annex B.