Bass Anglers’ Sportfishing Society

Fighting for Bass and Bass Anglers’ since 1973

Isle of Man changes to sea bass laws.

Proposed changes to Isle of Man legislation  regarding sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Public Consultation.

Changes to sea bass laws would contribute to economy and conservation.

The public is being consulted over plans to further limit the size and/or number of sea bass that can be caught off the Isle of Man.

Changing laws governing the catch would aid the conservation of the species and make the Island more attractive to anglers, potentially increasing visitor numbers, says the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA).

A survey carried out for the Department of Economic Development in 2014 highlighted angling as one of three activities most suitable to target new visitors.

DEFA is consulting on proposals to designate sea bass solely as a recreational species, banning any form of commercial exploitation and bringing in tighter restrictions for non-commercial fishermen, including a daily bag limit and an increase in the size of fish that can be retained.

[Please remember that you don’t have to live on the Isle of Man to respond to this.]

The deadline to submit views is Monday 23 November 2015.

Full article  Click here.

The consultation can be viewed here (click on ‘current consultations’).

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