From: Joe Lynch
To: ICSA Committee
Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2016 12:00 AM

​Hello All,

Please see the correspondence below from Billi Grabher. We will put these on our facebook page and website as she suggested.
 
There are several issues to note, which Donal Kennedy and I have initially discussed. On the petition issue, there is actually nothing we can do to stop supertrawlers for as long as what they do is legal. Nevertheless, politically, it is best if the ICSA is seen to strongly oppose this over-exploitation of inshore waters. Don’t expect a response though.
 
On the survey – quota issue, the bottom line is we are already subject to the Common Fisheries Policy, and if the EU wants us to be subject to quota, then like it or not, we will be. It won’t happen any time soon, as quota will have to be withdrawn from commercial fleets to assign to us, and that will be fiercely resisted by them.
 
On the EU survey issue, which will be used to determine what quota will be assigned to recreational fishing, the survey is already legally mandated, unfortunately, with a heavy emphasis on charter boat operators. They believe they have us over a barrel.
 
If you follow the various links here, you will see what’s been proposed:  
http://www.eaa-europe.org/news/7845/recreational-sea-fishing-future-data-collection-in-eu.html
 
I believe the position we should take on a mandatory survey is that no Skipper can be held responsible for any wrongdoing by a fare paying passenger. If an anglers survey sheet is incomplete at boarding / checking time, that must be a matter between the angler and the authorities. I believe we should issue the forms to anglers, provide a box to post the completed survey forms, and advise/assist any angler who needs help to complete it – and that’s it!
 
We should never accept that Skippers be legally liable to record anglers catches. In that respect we are totally different to a trawler skipper, who employs his crew to manage the vessels catch, and is responsible for their actions. On a ferry, if drugs are discovered on a passenger, the passenger is in trouble, if found on a crewmember, the Captain is accountable along with the crewman.
 
Remember, the penalties for breaches of fisheries law in Ireland are eyewatering!
 
Any opinions on these matters ?
 
Joe Lynch
  
----- Original Message -----
From: Billi Grabher
To: Kennedy, Donal
Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2016 3:06 AM
Subject: Facebook

Hi Donal,
 
Happy New Year with hopefully much better weather and a good and safe angling season!

While browsing the internet I came across two things which I think could be shared on the ICSA Facebook page, but I want to check with you first, if this is ok.

One is about the supertrawlers fishing near the Irish coast. More signatures are needed in the campaign to ban supertrawlers from Irish seas. https://uplift.ie/supertrawlers/

Can I sign the campaign in the name of the ICSA and publish it on the Facebook page, so other can join in?

The other is about the EU and future data collection and monitoring recreational sea angling.
http://www.eaa-europe.org/news/7845/recreational-sea-fishing-future-data-collection-in-eu.html

In my opinion, the quota-thing is hidden in this one, they want figures and then they put quotas on recreational sea angling businesses.

What do you think about those two issues? Any thoughts I can add to the posts?

Best wishes,

Billi

It has been an Annus Horribilus this past year for Charter Boat Operators. Severe windy weather, lack of sun, a lot of rain, the depressed state of the economy generally, and a big reduction in overseas visitors, led to a very poor season for most Skippers. The sole consolation was falling fuel prices.
 
Due to committee members illness, time pressure due to bad weather as we tried to prepare our Boats for the Season, and other constraints, we were unable to hold our AGM in Spring this year. We will hold our 2016 AGM as previously, on the same WE as the Specimen Awards, when many Skippers will be in Dublin already.
 
After discussion, it has been decided that that the Renewal Sub for 2015 will be zero – We have some cash in the Bank, and few outgoings at present, so bearing in mind the current poor economic climate, and financial hardship being experienced by many Skippers, we do not urgently need to collect subscriptions. All existing Members will be sent their annual membership window stickers shortly. Any Skippers who have already paid their Sub will be refunded. In the event of an unforeseen problem arising that requires money, or a general improvement in the Charter Business, we will restart an annual Subscription.
 
A query was raised during the year on recreational Angling for Blue Fin Tuna – please click  HERE  to see the Parliamentary Question put to Mr Coveney and his reply on the matter, which outlines some of the complexities involved.
 
This year, several members of the ICSA were asked to join their local Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum (RIFF) as Marine Leisure Reps, and our Vice President, John McLoughlin, is a member of the National body, the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF). This development gives Charter Skippers a voice in the utilization of our Inshore Fisheries. Although heavily outnumbered by commercial interests, it nevertheless gives us Charter Skippers a voice on the National Stage, some input into how the inshore Fishery resource is to be exploited on a fair and sustainable basis by all, and a say on how any new funding sources are allocated to the Sector. An announcement on new Funding will be made during the coming year.
 
Among other matters discussed at the RIFFs this year, of particular interest to charter skippers were a commercial quota for Bass (strongly resisted), restrictions on ‘Recreational’ potting, the conflict between vessels of different sizes in inshore waters, (which could lead to something like the “Golden Mile” concept, pushing the larger vessels out to deeper waters), and implications of Special Areas of Conservation, ( it looks like SAC’s will have no severe effects on Angling operations at present.)
 
The ICSA members involved in the NIFF and RIFF are :
 
National Inshore Fisheries Forum
John McLoughlin - Vice President of ICSA             email malininfo@inishowenmotors.ie
 
North Western Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum
Mary Gavin Hughes – Treasurer of ICSA                email clewbayangling@gmail.com
 
Western Regional Fisheries Forum
Luke Aston                                                           email lukeaston@eircom.net
 
Southwestern Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum
Joe Lynch – Secretary of ICSA                             email joelynch@iol.ie
 
If you have a view on how the Inshore Fishery is to develop, please contact your local RIFF representative at the above email address.
​
Chairman’s Annual Christmas Greeting
​It’s been a tough year for Skippers, but 2016 will be a better year for us. The weather can only improve, and so too will our business.
 
Happy Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year to all members of the Irish Charter Skippers Association !
 
From Donal Kennedy, and all the Committee of the ICSA