From Peter Gosselin.
I WRITE in response to the curious letter from Jason Bonhomme (JEP, 22 June). Firstly I must state that I am writing as an individual, not as the representative of the Recreational Fishermen’s Association.
The linking of lobsters and ormers with bass merely muddies the waters. Commercial lobster catches are unlimited and ormer limits apply to everybody. In the real world all business has to exist competitively, so surely this is not too much to ask from a few commercial fishermen. There are many avenues they might explore, before blaming their plight on amateurs.
Anyone who sells fish is acting commercially, therefore is not the problem an internal one for their own association? The number of non-professional commercial anglers selling fish is miniscule, and if a problem, other much less drastic solutions are available.
For the last two decades recreational fishermen have been asking that the minimum landing size be brought to a level where bass are allowed to spawn at least once. The main opponents of these measures have been commercial fishermen.
Now that the culinary world is turning to bream, what do we say to Jamie Oliver next spring? ‘Sorry no fish. Last spring the commercial fishermen all agreed to move their static gear so that the French trawlers have unimpeded access to the spawning stock. Go and buy some squashed and bruised fish from them.’ Because this year that happened.
Finally, for years fishermen all over Europe have campaigned not to have to throw top quality over-quota fish dead back into the sea. This proposed legislation will for the first time, introduce that abomination, but only for recreational fishermen.
Nouages Neuvaine,
Chemin au Grèves,
Grouville.
