The government is saying that a sea rod licence will benefit all sea anglers by giving them a greater political voice and they quote America amongst others as an example of how effective a licence can be.
In the first state to introduce a licence (California) this is far from the truth. James A. Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, said he has been working with anglers in California, the first state to institute a saltwater fishing licence. 'The licence is now up to US$60 in California, and they're getting practically nothing from it," he said. "In fact, they have so little political clout that the environmentalists have pushed through the Marine Life Protection Act, which will actually take away some of their best fishing spots. They're losing ground every day out there," he continued.
"Even California fish and wildlife officials admit they've lost 200,000 anglers. They're not buying the licenses anymore. The state's population is booming and the number of saltwater anglers is falling every year," he added. "The license buyers are just not getting anything for their money."
In 2003 Floridas population increased by 6.5% since 2000 yet saltwater annual licence sales went down by approximately one third in the same period.
The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) is an organization set up in America to protect the interests of sea anglers, the organization is needed because the federal government, state legislatures and even the courts impose unreasonable restrictions on recreational fishing. The RFA and it's affiliates are being forced into introducing "Freedom to Fish" bills in California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
Sea anglers in Portugal have been forced to buy a licence to fish since January 2007, wiping out as much as 60% off tackle sales.
Recreational sea anglers contribute a very small percentage towards the decline in fish stocks each year, in fact It could be said that without recreational sea angling, fish stock declines would be greater solely because of the environmental work and lobbying that is already carried out within the recreational sea angling industry.
The main contributors to the decline in fish stocks and the damage to the marine environment are poor fisheries policies, dredging and mineral extraction.
There is approximately 2,700 miles of coastline around England and Wales as well as tens of thousands of square miles of ocean, all of which will need to be policed to enforce a rod licence scheme.
The licence is to help with the protection and improvement of shore access and parking, but these will also be used by millions of day trippers and holiday makers.
The licence is to help with the provision of more small boat launching facilities, but these will also be used by pleasure boat owners.
The licence is to help with the creation of artificial inshore and offshore reefs, but these will also be used by divers.
The recreational sea angling industry already contributes an estimated £1.3 billion to the UK economy annually.
The governments track record
Defra was established in 2001 and since then both they and the government have produced at least one significant document relating to fisheries each year including their Five Year Strategy, Safeguarding Our Seas, Net Benefits and Seas of Change and yet there has been no improvement to fish stocks or our marine environment, in fact fish stocks have continued to decline and our marine environment is slowly being destroyed by mineral extraction, aggregate dredging and bottom trawling.
Defra have managed to acquire a budget deficit of £200 million through careless budgeting because the department had made budgeting commitments based on irresponsible assumptions about the attitude of HM Treasury. As a result of that carelessness they have had to cut the Environment Agencies budget by £28 million for the 2006-07 year.
The government has wasted billions of pounds setting up numerous new agencies, bodies and organisations and yet they want you to trust them to set up a new body namely the MMO (marine management organisation) acting as an expert and delivery agent to all relevant UK departments which will deal with a range of functions including marine planning, licensing and enforcement. This organisation is expected to take 20 + years to achieve the marine plans outlined in the marine bill .
Would you trust the government with your money?
