Federation Meeting with Fisheries Board Sub Committee for new Sport/Recreational

shanook · December 06, 2012, 09:08:04 CET

HAWWADNI HA NIFHEM..........

busumark · December 06, 2012, 18:32:24 CET

The full time MFA and part-time MFB received a letter from the fisheries that fishing methods are going to be revised. They told them that they will be revised after having discussions with them and consulting them. There will be discussions on different days depending on which fishing gear is used. The discussions will be between the government officials and the fisherman themselves.

@ Gogo is it possible that we have (recreational fisherman) discussions with the government officials concerning the proposed revised fishing methods concerning us.

The above mentioned fisherman are all going to be consulted and not only their representatives at a sub-committee level. So if no discussions are held with us it will be really a matter of 2 weights and 2 measures for some.

Moonwalker · December 08, 2012, 01:45:17 CET

What I understand is that they want to put more restrictions on recreational fishermen so that they keep the sea for themselves.
I am not against having some rules for the recreational fishermen but there must be a way for a receaetional fisherman to upgrade to MFB when the fishing becomes more serious.
And since the 100HP outboard limit does not make sense for MFC so must the MFB license allow outboard motors too.

caldaland · December 08, 2012, 14:57:41 CET

I have been informed that all trawlers have been suspended from fishing.The reason for this is that they were caught using smaller sized mesh.NEEDLESS TO SAY,THEY WERE NOT CAUGHT BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES BUT BY E.U. INSPECTORS.
THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE TOO BUSY DISCUSSING RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN!
WHAT A FARCE!

skip · December 09, 2012, 09:08:33 CET

The trawlers on the East Coast should never have been given a permit in the first place, that is.the biggest farce. Following which after being caught they should be suspended from fishing for at least a year. Otherwise with some lousy fine they will continue doing as they see fit.

And just keep moaning about us

Gogo · December 09, 2012, 14:21:47 CET

Busumark @ Gogo is it possible that we have (recreational fisherman) discussions with the government officials concerning the proposed revised fishing methods concerning us.

Hi Busumark,
Why ask for discussions when discussions are on for the past five weeks (five meetings) with Representative of the Federation of Amateur Fishing Associations which is the recognized NGO representing recreational fisherman.

As to the Commercial Fisherman meetings, do you think that One and a half hour meeting is enough to discuss Longlines,nets and traps of all kinds? Do you think that a similar amount of time devoted for each caption as Trawlers, Tuna,swordfish and lampuki fishing will be enough?
These meetings are aimed at gather information and complaints from fisherman in all sectors of commercial fishing activity.
On the other hand with recreational fisheries there have been five meetings of over two hours each. More discussion are due in the furure.

Gogo

busumark · December 09, 2012, 18:35:31 CET

were the five meetings discussions between the members of the federation only or there was also a representative of the government ?

I still think that a meeting between all recreational fisherman (not only members of the federation) and the government takes place after the federation would have gathered all the information. I am sure that a lot of people will turn up since they are now realizing that this time our hobby is really being threatened. The government will realize that there are a lot of people practicing this sport

Gogo · December 10, 2012, 08:37:28 CET

Busumark "were the five meetings discussions between the members of the federation only or there was also a representative of the government ?
Well Busumark, in my first posts on this thread I named all the representatives on this subcommittee including the Fisheries representative and legal advisor.

"I still think that a meeting between all recreational fisherman (not only members of the federation) and the government takes place after the federation would have gathered all the information."
Yes, this is the aim of the Federation committee. The Federation embraces seven clubs with close to 2000 members. The National meeting will be open to ALL AMATEUR FISHERMAN.

"I am sure that a lot of people will turn up since they are now realizing that this time our hobby is really being threatened. The government will realize that there are a lot of people practicing this sport "
Yes I hope that in that event people turn up. Sadly enough, Mr. Tony Pace can witness this, the Federation calls an AGM and even when there where issues much worst than this the floor rarely exceeded a 100 person. Still we managed to maintain our hobby. The present situation is not that threatening as maybe some one is saying. The Government knows, because I produced numbers, that recreational fishermen amount to thousands. In fact there are 1647 below 6 meter MFC boats not registered with TM and another couple of thousands if not more in the SSR not registered with FCD and regularly practice recreational fishing, apart from all MFC above 6 meters registered with both authorities. At present the Federation is on the look out at this issue.In fact the Federation ia making a firm stand that no progress can be achieved unless the 100 HP power outboard ban policy on MFC boats is altered or preferably removed. We called for a meeting with the Fisheries DG to thrash this policy before further discussion continue.

Gogo

skip · December 10, 2012, 12:09:41 CET

@GoGo

If it comes down to S vessels needing to be MFC registered with Fisheries, I assume that the transfer will be seamless and without a Fee?!

Eg. if I have a 6m S registered boat, do not wish to leave territorial waters and want to fish recreationally, then my register will be moved from TM to Fisheries at no cost and I will pay a basic annual fee?

shanook · December 10, 2012, 17:49:23 CET

Nick not exactly sure what u meant by territorial. But if you have a 6mtr boat and switch to MFC, you don't have a choice but you need to register Valletta.
So it would be an mfc fee and a valletta fee.
This is how I know that it stands.

busumark · December 10, 2012, 20:27:08 CET

Thanks GOGO for your reply. Maybe we can understand better when we know all the proposals of the government

Gogo · December 10, 2012, 21:02:01 CET

Skip "Eg. if I have a 6m S registered boat, do not wish to leave territorial waters and want to fish recreationally, then my register will be moved from TM to Fisheries at no cost and I will pay a basic annual fee?"

Dear Skip for boats above 5.99 meters all MFC vessels are registered with Merchant act i.e Valletta. In practice it is economically better than a registration with SSR. All fishing vessels including MFC in the Merchant act are charged an initial registration of €70 and an annual renewal fee at €61 irrespective of size or engine power. The SSR annual renewal fee for power between 50 HP to over HP 150 range from €80 to maximum of €140 with an initial fee of €50.
For the MFC fishing license there is no registration fee but annual licenses of €58.23 between 6 to 7.99 metres and €81.53 between 8 to 11.99 meters.

Please note that all motorized boats whether in territorial or lnternational waters must be registered with Transport Malta. Those that opt to fish whether recreational or commercial then apply for the fishing license. There will be no registration fee with FCD but only an annual license according to size of boat.

These fees have been in force since 2009 for FCD, 2010 for SSR and 2012 for Merchant Shipping.

Gogo

Moonwalker · December 11, 2012, 00:03:55 CET

So for vessels of 6 - 7.99m, and wishing to practice recreational fishing, they have to register as Valletta (total of €70+61) and MFC (of €58.23). Is there no initial registration for MFC then? And is this already in force or is part of the new regulations proposed?

Granitu · December 11, 2012, 00:12:32 CET

Quote from: Moonwalker on December 11, 2012, 00:03:55 CET
So for vessels of 6 - 7.99m, and wishing to practice recreational fishing, they have to register as Valletta (total of 70+61) and MFC (of 58.23). Is there no initial registration for MFC then? And is this already in force or is part of the new regulations proposed?

Any discussions following today's development is futile.

Discussions should resume after the 9 of March 2013 now. No laws can be enacted now

Gogo · December 11, 2012, 08:51:36 CET

moonwalker [i]"So for vessels of 6 - 7.99m, and wishing to practice recreational fishing, they have to register as Valletta (total of €70+61) and MFC (of €58.23). Is there no initial registration for MFC then? And is this already in force or is part of the new regulations proposed?"[/i]
No there is no initial registration with FCD for vessels above 5.99 meters as per schedule II L.N. 426 of 2007 amended by XV 2009.49.

Granitu [i]"Any discussions following today's development is futile.
Discussions should resume after the 9 of March 2013 now. No laws can be enacted now"[/i]
As far as I am concerned the Federation nominated me to act on the Fisheries Board which has a three year mandate ( circa another two years). I cannot see why continuation of discussions on non political proposals as Fisheries recreational regulations should stop with loss of previous work done. When the draft proposals will be ready these are passed on to the Fisheries Board and then to the Minister of the day for approval or not. I cannot conceive why a change in the Ministry should not consider the work done by any non political board in a previous administration. The sub committee members propose regulations and do not enact any law.

Gogo