The federation represents the Amateur (enthusiasts) or the Commercial fisherman

[Galea_5]

U biex inkompli ma ta fuq Caldaland tidher li ghandek il potenzjalita ghal post li ghandu l Gaffer !

[caldaland]

Thank you imma no thank you Galea.

[caldaland]

U biex inkompli ma ta fuq Galea,biex tkun fuq il-board,irid jahtrek l-hon.Galdes,u nehhieha min rasek li ser jahtar lili.

[busumark]

Joe you went to speak in the name of the Forum and with the help of the Forum you were appointed on the board. At that time nobody asked any questions how this happened. Everybody thanked you for this and maybe they thought that you were the best person for this job, you had a lot of energy and determination. You made arguments and convinced everyone that things were going to change. Now a year after everything is the same or maybe worse. You should vent your frustration on those people that a year ago promised you that the way how  things are done were going to change for the better and not on someone who asks questions on something that he was promised a year ago and has not seen any results yet.

If now after a year on the board you lost hope that things will ever change it is a different thing.

[The_Gaffer]

No worries buzz, if you want my place, i will support you

[redhead]

Gaffer,

If the Prim Minister resigned every time he receives criticism then we would have an election every ten seconds. However I must agree that here you received some very unconstructive criticism that must really hurt. Especially when you are facing a wall on the fisheries board. If you resign I can understand that. But I wouldn't. You tend to take criticism badly because you put a lot of effort in it and feel betrayed by your comrades. Well personally I never heard any one calling for you to resign and personally I think that if you resign we will lose an asset in our fight to safeguard our hobby. Your energy is more than welcome.     

[lazyfisherman]

I agree with redhead 100%. I don't know Gaffer personally (and neither do I know other forum members involved in this issue) but from what I read here, I think much of the criticism directed at the Gaffer is unfounded and unfair - from what I read here some people are finding it difficult to accept the simple fact that not much that concerns the amateur fisherman has been discussed at the Fisheries board and therefore Gaffer doesn't really have much to update us about.

When a real issue cropped up, namely the fact that permits for fads for amateur clubs have been refused, Gaffer directly contacted the minister about this issue, To be honest I can't see what more we can expect from our representative when after all, this is all being done on a voluntary basis with no personal gain.

[busumark]

unfortunately I am not very good when it comes to to push forward an argument during these meetings. You need to have a very persuasive way when you make your arguments and convince the others that what you are saying is good. I can help in other ways but not as a representative on the board.   

[skip]

I do hope that they don't just push through the pervious set of draft regulations without first discussing them again. Whilst the sub-committee worked hard on the proposals, as can be seen from our objections there were still several issues which either didn't make sense, needed clarification or were felt to be unfair on recreational fishermen.

I'm sure there is pressure from various entities including the EU for Malta to put something in place ASAP and this is where my concerns would be as it's easy to just put something in place where the work has already been done.

I trust that the Hon. Galdes will put his foot down where it is clearly needed, as Fisheries have gone through a difficult time of the past 12 months or so.

[Pauline Tuna]

In view that I know Gaffer personally, I must say that we have been through this passion of fishing for years now. I remember when years ago we used to be alone fishing for albacore and searching for fish for several days at sea (few boats around).  I think that such people need to think and evaluate before spreading anything here on the forum, as in this field we need people who have experience on all related criteria, and not only know the basics of how the fishing regulations were issued to MFC & S in particular.  As Shanook stated before, in the first message of this discussion, he made a very relevant point were NO ONE pointed out this issue.  Nowadays with the increase of recreational fishermen around, I am afraid that not every comment is appropriately used based on past experiences, and we are hitting the nail on its head, as the repercussions are getting worse to us. We need people who are the same scale as us (recreational), who support us in the meetings and federation, as this is a group for MFC & S.  Otherwise if this not happens I am afraid that the laws and methods we are used to fish with will get more worse as every individual who is not in our category, for sure will work in favour of other catagerories.  What I can say is that in result of this certain laws which are being abided by us are getting worse and worse each day with no meaning at all. Also we have to keep in mind that at the moment certain winch rooms around the island have difficulties, and cannot be used appropriately after investigations by the institutions.  From experience once again I have to say that we need experienced recreational fisherman, both here on this channel forum, and at the fisheries. This forum was aimed to adhere MFC & S, so lets support it.

[Pauline Tuna]

If you look into what law we have to abide and adhere, us MFC and S, is rather unbelievable. Starting from the catching of Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna Law for us recreational (controlled by ICCAT), to several more. We are loaded with extremes that its more viable to put the boat aside on shore and change our hobby, than going fishing anymore.  These laws were imposed by people responsible for the what' so called Controlled fishing.  If one looks deeply inside these laws one can see that some off are out of point, and indirectly imposed and created for us to adhere other categories. If you look at the brighter side, both MFA and MFB have a red carpet on their feet, including also the government scheme on fuel expense, and all that they managed to get in favour of them through the years with the help of the co-operatives - everyone knows how they control the industry.  If you look at our federation and small clubs, there's a huge volume of people who speaks without basics, in view that we need to be as one to bring again what has been taken from us through these past 10 years.  In view of all this, this week fisheries department have issued notifications re the Lampuki season with the exact distance to keep from the kannizati and related (heavy laws).  Can I ask a question if the employees working at the Fisheries department have a basic knowledge on what is happening, and who they really support and listen to.......

[shanook]

No fisheries don't have an idea about the sea or fishing. What they are stating in the new rules about fads is that if you are around Gozo and want to go to hurds bank you cannot take a straight line as you would cross the fads, you do not have enough space to pass in between them. If you are in any port for that matter and want to go deep sea fishing you cannot go straight to your fishing spot......what a load of bull....and all this to safeguard the commercial.  Close to shore lampuki are not that abundant except for a few fads that have a favorable seabed. The fish are usually caught offshore where the recreational does not venture out, or at least just a few do.

[skip]

I'd like to see how this will apply to commercial traffic on the East Coast. If they are going to impose these regulations, then Cimi should be layed from 12nm out to allow those free movement within territorial waters.

[caldaland]

The weak and vulnerable have lost the land......the sea........space is next!

[shanook]

well at least i cannot complain of being constipated......