Written By: Chris Caines
On Date: 9/4/2012
Charter Boat skippers who work between Lyme Regis and Langstone will be holding a protest outside the Southern IFCA offices on Tues 10th April from 12noon. The protest will be peaceful and is designed solely to let the public know how the IFCA has wasted taxpayers money. The key reasons (and there are lots more) are as follows:
1. A byelaw which was created to stop large commercial fishing vessels fishing inside the 6 mile limit has been used against a recreational angling vessel which was used to take members of the public on angling trips. We are sure that the byelaw was not created for that purpose.
2. The Southern IFCA prosecuted the owner and his skipper and in March 2011 District Judge, Roger House found that the prosecution was irrational and unreasonable and declared the byelaw ‘ultra vires’ which means that used against an recreational angling vessel the byelaw exceeded its powers.
3. Arrogantly, the IFCA took the case to the Appeal Court in London where on 30th March 2012 Lord Justice Law and Mr Justice Owen ruled that District Judge House was correct in his judgement and they dismissed the IFCA’s appeal.
4. We consider that the Chief Fisheries Officer was responsible for an act of un-provoked aggression against the angling boat community. Therefore, we have no confidence that the CFO or the Chairman of the IFCA is able to carry out their duties impartially in the future and we demand that both the CFO and the Chairman are replaced forthwith.
5. The legal costs paid out of tax payer’s funds amount to approx. £120,000 in relation to both these court actions.
6. The human costs to the skipper’s and their families as a result of this ordeal are incalculable and unnecessary. If the IFCA (previously SSFC) had accepted our reasonable request in January 2008 for an amendment to the byelaw as other IFCAS had done, then all of this could have been avoided.
7. Finally and at long last, today, (10th April 2012) The IFCA is meeting here to approve a new byelaw to make recreational angling boats exempt from the byelaw.
Please join us on Tuesday to show support...thanks
On 4 April 2012 21:24, Leon Roskilly <leonrosk@gmail.com> wrote:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150705486492450&id=675247449
If you are concerned about the Southern IFCA committee and its management making decisions on your behalf as a legitimate stakeholder,
Then we Invite you to join us on a peaceful protest on 10th April 2012
At the Southern IFCA offices 64 Ashley Road, Poole, BH14 9BN at 12:00 hrs (Noon)
The Facts,
The Southern IFCA have just wasted in excess of £120,000.00 of your money pursuing an over 12 metre licensed charter vessel for fishing inside the 6 mile district under the vessels used in fishing byelaw, The initial court case was found in favour of the skippers and the subsequent appeal by the IFCA was also found in favour of the skippers!
The IFCA is funded by local councils who pay a levy out of your council taxes to the committee funds, this amounts to approximately £750,000.00 per year,
This byelaw was created back in the mid 1990’s to control commercial fishing vessels from devastating the inshore fishery, a request by charter boat operators to amend the byelaw was denied by the committee, Why?
It was denied because the committee believe that charter boats operators take out more than twelve passengers and that those passengers sell their fish! We know this from the evidence given in court and the Chief Executives report to the committee!
What do we want?
We want a new management regime put in place that is open, fair minded and treats all stakeholders as equal, we want these lies about charter boat operators to be squashed immediately and we want an unreserved apology from those responsible,
To this ends we demand the sacking of the Chief Executive Ian Carrier and the Chairman Antony Jenson.
The mandate of the Southern IFCA is:
The IFCAs are responsible for managing inshore fisheries resources in English waters out to six
nautical miles. Their aim is to “lead, champion and manage a sustainable marine environment and
inshore fisheries, by successfully securing the right balance between social, environmental and
economic benefits to ensure healthy seas, sustainable fisheries and a viable industry”.
In our opinion the Southern IFCA has failed in 5 of the Marine Management Organisation 7 tests for success criteria.
How can you help?
Please attend to show your support,
Feel free to bring a placard or banner etc. (Suggested text for these are copied below)
Carrier Out
Give Charter Boats a Fair Deal
End Discrimination
Sack The Liar
Anglers Against Anarchy
Fish Off Carrier
Public Funded Bully
Resign Now Carrier
MMO Promises Broken
We ARE Stakeholders
No Expense Spared to Persecute
Give us our taxes back
Wasters
Stop the Lies NOW
The Weymouth & Portland Licensed Skippers Association has prepared leaflets for you to distribute to the general public outside the IFCA offices, it would be great if you can make your own way to the venue or, if you live local to Weymouth there will be a limited number of spaces available on a free coach leaving Weymouth at 10:40, (Please call Chris on 07976766169 to reserve a seat)
We envisage the protest to be complete by 15:00 hrs, The press and TV may be in attendance.
For further information please call Chris on 07976766169
Southern IFCA protest