New Min Bass Siz News

[The Image ™]

DEFRA's current consultation on the proposal to increase the minimum landings size for bass from 36 cm to 45cm which ends on the 8th of February 2006 can be accessed at:-
ukbass.com/bassmanagementplan/howyoucanhelp.html

Not surprisingly it's opposed by most commercial fishermen and sea
fisheries committees who wish to retain the current mls. It is therefore very
important that many sea anglers respond to it favourably if the Minister is
to approve the increase."

[kastonfly]

There are various options available for consideration. However, BASS/SACN/NFSA are urging sea anglers to support Option 2, which is an immediate increase of the bass MLS to 45cms. Should this bring the expected benefits, then there will a stronger case for a higher increase in MLS at a later date when bass benefiting from this increase reach the higher sizes.
There is concern that a vote now for Option 5 (a staged increase in the MLS for bass to 55 cm), will benefit those supporting Option 1 (do nothing) by splitting the vote between Options 2 and 5.
It is also recommend that you support an increase in corresponding mesh sizes to 110cm as this will allow the greatest numbers of bass below 45cm to slip through.

Kevin

[The Image ™]

You would expect the powers that be to add the totals of options 1 and 5 together when summing up how many want the laws tightening but I suppose that would be too obvious!