Suggested Regulations for Recreational Fishermen Report

[The_Gaffer]

@ SteveGB - the issue with 'S' registered boats and MFC registered boats is being addressed.  As with all Gov. Depts, beurocracy reigns supreme.  
The issue is quite simple to resolve.  All sea going vessels need to be licenced by TM (Maritime division).  All vessels wanting to engage in recreational fishing activities need to be licenced by the competent authorities (Fisheries Control Directorate).  

[shanook]

Joe we used to have the privilage of selling fish when we were ptf registered. Then someone came up with the idea of killing the parttimer to accomodate the full time. So the MF reg was introduced with the scope of reducing the mfb registrations. It is about time that the parttimer is reintroduced either by mfb or whatever nomincliture u want to use.

[The_Gaffer]

What is the difference between mfC and s. If u are s reg do u benefit to change to mfc?

This has just been answered above Tony.  Yes, it was a mess.  there was no distiction whatsoever between S registered vessels and MFC registered vessels, except on vessel size and territorial wqater activity. This meaning that by law, S registered vessels could not go out futher than the 12 Kmile territorial water limit.  MFC registered vessesl could go out according to size.  So if an MFC vessel was longert than 6 mtrs, then that vessel was obliged to register with TM under the Maltese Flag (Valletta) and therefore could carry out recreational fishing activites inside the 25 kmile fishing exclusive zone and beyond.  If a vessel is shorter than 6 mtr then it was not obligeds to register with TM and could opt for either an MFC registration with the FCD or an S registration with TM.  People registered S because it was cheaper but effectively as the law stands at the moment, there is no distiction between MFC and S registered vessels as regards fishing activities.

[The_Gaffer]

Tony, my vessel was registered as PTF, and when the change came to MFB, I was transferred without an hassles.  I renounced the MFB registration some 9 years ago as I could not meet the LM1,000 a year fish quota to be sold to the fish market.
I think the restriction on MFB vessels is imposed by the EU.  I think there is a quota allocated to each country as to how much part time fishers are allowed to be registered in each country.  I think it has to do with sustainability and fish management.  I can check, but I think I'm right!

[shanook]

I was ptf and transferred to mfc not mfb. Why should re have a quota when u can only keep the boat for few months of summer and when the good fishing season starts we have to put boat on the hard. Their idea of killing the mfb worked perfectly.

[shanook]

Yes there is a quota by eh. But the km1000 is s maltese prerogative. Can one chech if we have mfb according to quota or are we way under. As all my friends who started mfb have all changed to mfc because of the amount imposed by fisheries

[The_Gaffer]

Thats a good suggestion.  My fear is that we always try and be holier than the Pope. 

[lazyfisherman]

Transferring from PTF to MFB was only possible before EU membership. When Malta joined the EU a basic condition of the accession agreement was that there was to be no increase in the size of the commercial fishing fleet (both in terms of tonnage and power of fishing levels) - hence it became impossible to transfer from MFC to MFB or to MFA.

You can only transfer/buy MFA/MFB permits (like that the number of commercial fishing vessels remains the same). It is important to keep in mind that Malta Fisheries has to work within the framework set out by the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Among other issues, the CFP is aiming to reduce the size of commercial fishing fleets. In fact the size of the EU fleet is being reduced by about 2% every year and the EU has funding to help fishermen decommission their fishing vessels. When these funds are used, capacity leaving the fleet cannot be replaced.

So whether we like it or not we need to operate in these parameters. At the end of the day we can be either recreational fishermen (ie hobby/pastime) or commercial fishermen. We cannot be both - bil Malti jew hobbla jew terdda. 

Regarding bag limits and closed seasons, I think that the main thrust of our argument should be that since bag limits and closed seasons are intended as conservation tools, they should not be imposed arbitrarily across the board but rather they should be introduced for particular species after scientific studies indicate that the particular species would benefit from these measures - just as an example, while we all have to accept the strict conditions and bag limit for bluefin tuna, there is clearly no justification for introducing bag limits for sirran or tumbrell.

[Moonwalker]

I don't regard myself as a part time fisher, but I do sell some fish to recover some of the expenses (mostly everyone who goes for deepbottom fishing does it - also most who go for alunghi sell them too).
So for me I would be happy to have an MFB registration (the Lm1000 is just sales not profits right?) just to regularize the commercial aspect since I don't make any profits. But since no licenses are being issued what can I do?

Now for bag limits. I do agree with bag limits for the 13nm waters but further out than that it would not make sense. Immagine going out 25nm trolling having a limit of 1 alungha - would anyone go?

[caldaland]

What is the scope of a bag limit?

[lazyfisherman]

Moonwalker, you are admitting on a public forum that you are breaking the law -  it does not reflect well on recreational fishermen in general and on the forum as well.

At the end of the day everybody is responsible for his own actions but it is illegal practices by some which put the rest of recreational fishermen in a bad light. While I dont know you and I am certain you don't have bad intentions since you actually want to regularise your position, the fact remains that it is illegal to sell fish unless you are MFA or MFB.

[Cellikku]

Jahasra kemm int bahhu... qed twaqqa il geble fuqek (ma jimpurtox) u fuq kulhadd (jimporta hafna). mela qed titlif jew? Ghemil fattik imma mhux affarijiet li tnizzilhim hawn.

[Moonwalker]

My intensions are not to put in bad light the recreational fisherman! But the regulations governing us are about to change and we either ignore them (u min jaf ihawwel ikompli ihawwel) or we try to change them in our favour.

[lazyfisherman]

I know that your intentions are good but recreational fishermen are recreational i.e. hobby, pastime and nothing else - I  know that I am being blunt here but at the end of the day, unless you want to keep on breaking the law, if you feel that deep sea fishing or alungi trolling is financially not worthwhile then just don't go or go once in a while.

Selling fish to recover expenses, apart from being illegal goes against all that recreational fishing is about. We all fish at a loss - expenses on bait, fuel, boats and equipment are not meant to be recovered by selling catches - recreational fishing is all about thrills, emotions and relaxation.

At the end of the day you have to choose - you are either a recreational fishermen or not. Forget about fisheries allowing any recreational fishermen to sell fish - EU regulations simply do not allow this. I think that your only option is to try and purchase an MFB permit but even this is likely to be very difficult given the power of your boat (the total combined power of all boats in the fishing fleet cannot increase - again EU regulations)

[The_Gaffer]

Guys, the rules and regulations governing recreational fishing are being updated, not changed.  It has been mandated that recreational fishing needs to be controlled, just like commercial fishing is.  We can all argue about the mechanisms that will be put in place, about what is fair and not fair, and what is good for the goose (commercials) should also apply to he gander (recreationals).  Not so my friends.  People from both sides of the spectrum abuse the system.  
My primary aim on the fisheries board is to be the voice of the recreational fishing community.  However, in principle, I cannot argue against what is not right.  So I have also declared my intentions that I will be championing fishing in general.  I want both commercial and recreationals to appreciate the efforts of each other in terms of sustainability and continuity.  There are and always will be challengers from both sides of the spectrum, who think they are above the law and can do what they like.  But we cannot allow that to deter us from our objective.  I see a new breed of recreational fishers coming up through the ranks.  A breed who really beleive in sustainability & continuity.  I call it freedom through responsibility.  The freedom to practice our favorite recreational activity, and the responsibility to maintain and sustain this activity for the future.