18/01/07
NO ISSUES for Live-Baiting in England or Wales! There
has been some discussion recently about the right to live-bait in England and
Wales, given the potential ban in Scotland that comes before their Assembly for
consideration on the 24th of January 2007. SAA have raised our concerns with the
Environment Agency that Scotland's potential move could lead to restrictions in
the rest of the UK. We
have discussed this in depth with Adrian Taylor, Fisheries Policy & Process
Manager at the Environment Agency, and are pleased to advise that they have given
us an unequivocal assurance that they have NO restrictions either planned or considered
to restrict the use of live-bait in England and Wales. Furthermore,
to answer the concerns of our predator group members we would like to elaborate
on the individual points that have been raised with the EA, with their replies
below;
1.
"Could the proposed Secondary Legislation that is being used to enable
sections of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review, be used to restrict live-baiting?"
"The
EA already has the powers to bring in such bans if they were justified, but there
are NO plans or thoughts to ban live-baiting. As far as EA head office is aware
there are also no plans to look at any other local bans similar to the NW situation.
In theory new secondary legislation could be used but the Animal Welfare Bill
would have been the logical route for this-see point 3 below."
2.
"If Scotland moves to a ban, surely England and Wales will follow?"
"Regarding
the potential Scottish ban, geography and game fish heritage create an issue for
the whole of Scotland, under the fish conservation ticket. The proposal has been
driven by the translocation of unwanted species. The proposed ban is NOT based
on taking a moral stance on live-baiting. It does not therefore set a precedent
for the UK, and the EA have NO plans OR intention to ban or restrict live-baiting."
3.
"Surely a ban is being considered "behind the scenes", it would
be a logical extension of the NW ban?"
"If a ban on live-baiting
had been sought on fish welfare grounds then the Animal Welfare Bill was the perfect
opportunity. However fishing overall, and by definition that includes the use
of live-bait, is specifically excluded from the Bill. The Act is now current legislation."
To
sum up, the EA have no plans to either extend the existing local ban, or to introduce
a national ban on live-baiting.
SAA would urge all predator anglers to
act in a responsible manner in future and abide by the PAC/SAA Codes of Practice
with regard the movement of fish for live-baits. These must not in future be moved
without Section 30's, which would ensure the EA do not have any reason to reconsider
the matter. Individual anglers who flout the rules will place the right to live-bait
at risk for all of us!
Chris
Burt, SAA.
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