Amateur anglers 'to log catches'

Some 500,000 amateur anglers fish in UK seas each year

Amateur fishermen and women may have to declare any catches at sea so they can count against the UK's fish quotas, the European Commission has said.

Under the proposals, some so-called "recreational anglers" would have to log hauls of species like cod and sole.

Commission spokesman Michael Mann insisted that only "big-scale" boats at sea would be affected by the move.

But furious angling enthusiasts told the BBC the plans were unnecessary and would hurt suppliers and charter boats.

'Lot of fish'

It is believed that around 500,000 amateurs in the UK fish from a boat at sea each year.

At present, they can catch what they like so long as they do not sell it afterwards.

But under the proposal, known as Article 47, they would be required to report catches of controlled species, including hake, sole, herring and eel. Anglers who fished from a pier or a sea shore would not be affected.

Andrew Selby, the owner of a fishing tackle shop in Weymouth, Dorset, warned that the proposals would damage tourism.

They've messed up the Common Fisheries Policy, now they're going to mess up the sports angling situation in the UK Chris Caines Charter boat skipper

He said: "We have small boat owners coming down here, yachts coming down here, and they all stay in Weymouth, it brings hundreds of thousands of pounds of business.

"And this could be lost, because who's going to fill out pieces of paper to record half a dozen mackerel?"

Charter boat skipper Chris Caines said the Commission simply did not understand those who fished as a hobby.

"My big worry is that they've messed up the Common Fisheries Policy, now they're going to mess up the sports angling situation in the UK," Mr Caines added.

But the Commission insisted that its plans would not affect the average angler.

"This is about big-scale boats going out and catching a lot of fish," Mr Mann said.

"We're not suggesting that Mr Smith has to report when he goes out on his fishing boat on the beach and catches two cod."

The proposals are still being drawn up, but the BBC's Richard Westcott said there were many unanswered questions about how the scheme would work - whether charter boats or private yachts would be affected, for instance; if boats or individuals would be given quotas; who would pay for the scheme; and how would it be policed.

It is believed that Marine and Fisheries Minister Huw Irranca-Davies met angling bodies at a summit in Westminster to discuss the matter, when he told anglers that it was "early days" for the scheme.

A spokesman for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "The Commission's proposal is very detailed and we need to study it closely. We will be consulting all interested parties as soon as possible."