'EU quotas no threat to recreational anglers'
The EU tonight rubbished reports it intends reeling in recreational fishing by imposing quotas on all sea anglers in a bid to protect endangered species.
Fishermen feared the proposal, cast late last year, would mark the end of the line for the popular hobby.
But the European Commission’s office insisted the plan was closing a loop-hole and was aimed only at pleasure boat fishermen in the open sea and not those in row boats or on shore.
The Central Fisheries Board, however, refused to take the bait and demanded more detail from the EU.
Ciaran Byrne, chief executive, said: “We have to look at it in the context of what we’re trying to do in terms of getting our own people as well as international tourists to fish.
“We need to understand exactly what it is that they are proposing because there are an awful lot of smoke and daggers, and I haven’t seen any documents exactly specifying what the EU is proposing.”
Sea angling is a major part of Ireland’s tourist industry and is valued at around €60m a year.
Martin Territt, European Commission Representation in Ireland director, said: “The Commission has no intention of subjecting anglers in rowing boats and on beaches to quotas and log books – this is just a load of old cod.
“There is a proposal to protect fish under threat of extinction from all fishing in open sea. Only fish threatened by collapsing stocks are covered – and only fishing taking place out at sea.
“This proposal closes a loop-hole which allowed recreational fishermen to take fish which were off-limits to commercial fishermen.”
Mr Territt said the recreational sector is having a significant impact on the populations of endangered species, such as blue-fin and cod, and can no longer be let off the hook.
In Italy 20% of the blue-fin tuna quota and in Germany 50% of the national cod quota is taken by pleasure anglers.
“We believe it’s not realistic to let these fish stocks just disappear while commercial fishermen are subject to tight controls,” Mr Territt said.
The proposal, tabled last November, is aimed at anglers on board vessels in open sea who are taking threatened species such as blue-fin tuna and cod.
