I think Guernsey has the potential to be a highly attractive destination for recreational bass fishing and would therefore reap significant economic benefits if the fish stocks were well looked after.
I'm not a fisherman, in fact, my only love of them is when served on my dinner plate, but the preservation of the rich diversity of life on our planet is precious in ensuring that our children get to enjoy the wonderful splendour we so sadly seem to take forgranted.
Like many other anglers, I choose my holiday destination based on the quality of the fishing in that area/country. As an example; I used to be a regular visitor to Eire until the Bass and Salmon fishing declined. Bass, being a slow maturing fish should be protected in any way possible and especially during their spawning season. It is my opinion that where stocks are known to be low or in decline, a bag limit should be strongly enforced or, in extreme cases, only catch and release allowed.
I travel throughout the uk and ireland in pursuit of Bass.I spend a huge amount of money in doing so. I could so easily be persuaded to make guernsey my destination if the stock was protected and conservation was driving decision making. I also practice catch and release
The Bass Angler's Sportfishing Society BASS have put together a document containing a number of conservation measures for management of bass stocks within the UK 12 mile limit.This document known as the BASS MANAGEMENT PLAN (BMP)is currently with DEFRA. We have wide support for its contents and can be found on www.ukbass.com Please visit this site and read the BMP as it could help resolve the same problems on your side of the Channel.The CBE in France our fellow organisation also supports these new measures. If you wish any more information please don't hesitate to contact me. Chairman of BASS. You have our full support.
How long will it be before people realise the 'reel'value of this wonderful fish species. Fished Cape Cod last year for 'stripers' and saw first hand what sensible conservation measures can bring about.
We need to act now to protect our stock of Bass before its too late, whilst there are plenty of good bass present at the moment that certainly wont be the case in 5 - 10 years time when the impact of this slaughter hits home, why cant States / Sea Fisheries see this??
If this was a cuddly creature then the goverment would pull out all stops to sort it out but since it is only a fish then they do not really care. Sort it now before its too late.
If they destroy a natural resource it would certainly affect my decision to visit Guernsey - this is a short sighted policy for quick commecial gain and NOT long term sustainability. The amount visiting anglers spend would far outweigh the profit from intensive fishing.
There is a close season in Ireland now, along with other conservation measures. Stocks have vastly improved and large numbers of Bass anglers are now returning.
I will not holiday in Guernsey til this issue is addressed and I will make sure that everyone I know also boycotts Guernsey as a holiday destination. This will hurt Guernsey unless it is addressed.
A resource as important to Guernsey as the bass should be given a close season whereby spawning can freely take place. My son would love to have the same opportunities I have had with this magnificent fish.
specis disapearing every day.better fish management here on the east coast of the u.s.a recovered the stocks of striped bass from near extinction,and there is still a long way to go.wake up guernsey and take a longer veiw before it is too late.
I am in the commercial fish business in Norway. Fiskcentralen A/S and i think its terrible how the quote rules can be spoiled by careless inviduals. They will spoil it for everyone and when a ban is on fishing for Bass they will be to blame and people who enjoy a good days sport fishing for Bass can look down on them and say they are the people who have ruinned our sport.
I am a big beliver in stopping commercial and rod and line fishing on breeding grounds. Lets get it stopped now and protect our sport and fish stocks for the future.
Guernsey is my ideal family destination providing lots of attractions for the family, but then again so do so many other European resorts and a lot of them considerably cheaper. However the quality of the Bass angling in Guernsey is unsurpassed in Europe and is the deciding factor for me and my family. If the current large catches on the spawning grounds are permitted to continue the valuable resource will be lost together with the thousands of visiting anglers and their families.
As an Ex- Fisheries Biologist I have to say that to allow the exploitation of any spawning fish stock, especially such a slow growing one as bass is plain stupid.
Protect the bass before it is too late. The bass is much more valuable as a sportfish as it can be caught many times. If a commercial fisherman catches it it is only caught once.
