Papers Today

// Anglers’ fury over bid to lift bass ban

Irish sport-anglers are claiming that the government could lose millions of euros in tourism if it approves a bid by commercial fishermen to lift a 30-year ban on bass fishing.

The campaigners, who are supported by Henry Gilbey, presenter of the Discovery Channel's angling shows, says a proposed reversal of a 1980 law could threaten Ireland's reputation as one of Europe's best locations for "bass tourism".

The elusive fish was on the verge of extinction before 1980 but stocks have improved since the ban was introduced. Anglers claim that the conservation efforts have resulted in visits from thousands of fishing enthusiasts every year. Failte Ireland, the tourism body, is also calling for the prohibition to remain. It estimates bass sport-fishing is worth €8m a year to the economy.

The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF), which represents commercial fishermen, is attempting to have the law changed on the basis that trawling offshore will not affect sport-fishing from the shore. Lorcán Ó Cinneide, the FIF's chairman, said the federation has made a formal request to Tony Killeen, the fisheries minister, to overturn the ban and allow its members to "retain and land" fish that were once caught up to 50km off the coast.

Gilbey, who recently made a number of programmes on Irish bass fishing and visits the country "at least four times a year", said Ireland is "without parallel" for bass angling. He believes the activity is generating significant interest which could be "decimated" if the ban is lifted.

"[Irish] fishing is insanely good. I choose to come to Ireland whenever I can because it has some of the best fishing for bass I'm aware of, anywhere. It really is a goldmine. It is that good," he said.

"If this goes ahead, I dread to think what is going to happen. I never thought I'd ever get to see bass fishing like there is in Ireland. I can't believe anyone is contemplating messing it up."

As well as banning commercial fishing for bass, the 1980 law introduced quotas for anglers.

It is estimated that it takes bass 25 years to reach 10lb in weight. In the summer they are regularly caught on most Irish beaches. In winter, however, the fish move to deeper waters where they become vulnerable to commercial fishermen. Sport-anglers claim a burgeoning clandestine commercial-fishing industry is already threatening stocks.

Jim Hendrick, who operates bass-fishing tours around Wexford, said he has had hundreds of visitors from all over the world. "They are pumping money into the local economy here on a regular basis, all for one species," he said. "If the ban is lifted, stocks would be wiped out in six months. My business would be gone: simple as that.

"The government can't take a short-term approach on this. [All they would do is] make five or so people very, very wealthy quickly."

Ó Cinneide argues that commercial fishing would have no effect on anglers. "We worked on putting together a scientifically credible proposal," he said. "We took advice and assessed very carefully all the evidence. A lot of our members would have preferred us to put in a proposal for inshore fishing for sea bass. But we felt that wasn't justified by the evidence and, as a political assessment, that really wasn't going to fly."

He points out that Irish fishermen who currently land bass have to throw dead fish overboard, while foreign trawlers can land and sell the fish elsewhere.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food confirmed that a proposal to lift the ban has been received and said that there are no "specific" plans in place as yet.
Stephen Dunne
(c) Sunday Times