CONSULTATION DOCUMENT
PROPOSED FOYLE AREA AND CARLINGFORD AREA (TAGGING AND LOGBOOK) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2015
PROPOSED FOYLE AREA AND CARLINGFORD AREA (TAGGING AND LOGBOOK) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2015
CONSULTATION DOCUMENT
INTRODUCTION
This Consultation Document sets out proposals by the Loughs Agency to introduce Regulations which will reduce the number of tags which can be issued to a person who has bought an angling licence (other than a 3 day licence) for the Foyle and Carlingford areas. These Regulations are made under section 13(1) of the Foyle Fisheries Act 1952 and the Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952. The consultation document is available on the Loughs Agency website at www.loughs-agency.org.
PURPOSE
These Regulations propose to: 1. Amend the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Tagging and Logbook) Regulations 2001. 2. Reduce the maximum number of tags available for the entire season for game fishing rod and line licences from 25 to 10. 2|P a g e
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3. Reduce the total number of tags available for game fishing rod and line licences (excluding 3 day licences) from the period of the 1st January to the 31st May from 5 tags to 2 tags. 4. Reduce the total number of tags available for game fishing rod and line licences (excluding 3 day licences) from the period of the 1st June to the 31st October from 20 tags to 8 tags.
BACKGROUND
Section 13(1) and section 13(2B) of the Foyle Fisheries Act 1952 and the Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 provide the legislative background to this regulation. Section 13 of the 1952 Acts (as amended) allows the Loughs Agency to: Make such regulations as appear to the Commission to be expedient for the management, conservation, protection and improvement of the fisheries of the Foyle Area and the Carlingford Area; Make regulations in relation to the times and seasons for the taking of fish or any kind of fish or for any mode of taking fish or any kind of fish and the conditions subject to which fish or any kind of fish may be taken; Require tags issued by the Commission to be attached to the carcasses of fish. The introduction of limits to the number of tags which the Loughs Agency can issue was introduced in the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Tagging and Logbook) (Amendment) Regulations 2007. These regulations allowed for the allocation of 5 tags to be issued for game fishing rod and line licences
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(excluding 3 day licences) from the 1st January to the 31st May and for 20 tags to be issued for game fishing rod and line licences (excluding 3 day licences) from the 1st June to the 31st October. Since the introduction of this Regulation, however, the need to extend protections offered to game fish such as Atlantic salmon or sea trout has increased. The taking of fish by anglers is one of a number of elements which have be identified as factors which need to be addressed in order for the Loughs Agency to fulfil its conservation and protection goals. These regulations aim to reduce the number of tags available to anglers. This will have the effect of reducing the maximum number of fish they can retain over the angling season. By reducing the maximum number of fish which can be retained from 25 down to 10 these regulations shall ensure that there are more fish capable of spawning left in the systems. This represents a significant percentage reduction in the maximum fish take for each angler and will therefore help achieve the Loughs Agency’s conservation and protection goals and ensure the sustained viability of angling in the Foyle and Carlingford areas.
OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED FOYLE AREA AND CARLINGFORD AREA REGULATORY AMENDMENT
For game fishing rod and line licences issued by the Loughs Agency except for 3 days licences, the number of tags which can be issued shall be reduced. These regulations shall: 1. Reduce the total number of tags available from the period of the 1st January to the 31st May from 5 tags to 2 tags.
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2. Reduce the total number of tags available from the period of the 1st June to the 31st October from 20 tags to 8 tags.
DETAILS OF CONSULTATION PROCESS
1. Responses to this Consultation Document should be received no later than 26th August 2015. 2. Responses and any comments about this Consultation should be either: sent to Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Tagging and Logbook) (Amendment) Regulations Consultation, Loughs Agency, 22 Victoria Road, Prehen, Londonderry, BT47 2AB, (Fax Number (028) 71342720); or emailed to laura.mccready@loughs-agency.org
3. Hard copies of this Consultation Document can be obtained from Loughs Agency at the above address or by telephoning Laura McCready on (028) 71342100.
4. The Consultation Document is also available on the Loughs Agency website at www.loughs-agency.org
5. Copies of this document in an alternative format can be made available on request in large print, disk, Braille and audiocassette. It may also be made available in other languages on request.
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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Loughs Agency will publish a summary of responses following completion of the consultation process. Your response, and all other responses to the consultation, may be disclosed on request. The Agency can only refuse to disclose information in exceptional circumstances. A full copy of the Freedom of information Code of Practice is available for download or viewing at www.loughs-agency.org
EQUALITY IMPACT AND HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS
The policy has been screened for section 75 groupings and there are no equality issues for any of the section 75 groups.
The Loughs Agency is of the view that the proposed legislation is compatible with the Human Rights Act 1998.
REGULATORY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
A partial regulatory impact assessment is attached at Annex a. The Agency would welcome comments on the draft assessment.
ENQUIRIES AND FURTHER COPIES
For enquiries and further copies please contact the address below:
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Loughs Agency 22 Victoria Road Londonderry Northern Ireland BT47 2AB The consultation document is also available on the on the Loughs Agency website at www.loughs-agency.org
John McCartney Director of Conservation and Protection.
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Consultation Responses 1. Name / Organisation
Title Mr
Ms
Mrs
Miss
Dr
Please tick as appropriate
Surname
Forename
2. Postal Address
Postcode:
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Phone:
Email:
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Response Questions Question 1: Do you agree with reducing the number of tags available for the entire season from 25 to 10?
Question 2: Have you any comments on how the 10 tags will be divided between the dates of the 1st January to the 31st May (reduced from 5 to 2 tags) and the 1st June to the 31st October (reduced from 20 to 8 tags)?
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Question 3: Do you have any further comments or recommendations regarding these proposals?
Thank you for taking time to respond to this consultation.
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