fishing in scottish waters forum

johnr · Site Admin Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 151

Green MSP Eleanor Scott:
"There are two problems with using live fish as bait. First, if they escape the potential exists for them to establish themselves in areas where they do not belong—which, it has been argued, has already happened—with consequent effects on the ecosystem.

"The second problem is fish welfare. Some angling groups have suggested using as bait fish that were caught in the same waters on the same day. That would solve one problem, but it would not solve the fish welfare problem. Fish are sentient beings. That is acknowledged by the aquaculture industry, which has taken steps over the years progressively to safeguard fish welfare. I do not believe that any live vertebrates should be used as bait and I endorse the committee's request that the Executive lodges an amendment to prohibit the practice."

Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin:
"Eleanor Scott talked about using live fish as bait. The Executive will lodge a stage 2 amendment to introduce explicit provision in the bill that will prohibit the use of live vertebrates as bait. That is in response to the committee's recommendations and stakeholders' wishes."

This makes it plain that the Scottish Executive are banning livebaiting (at least in part) on grounds of fish welfare - unlike the Cumbrian ban which was instigated solely on environmental grounds.

does this worry you?