NO TO ROD LICENCE

Regardless of what the EU decides regarding the need for countries to have a sea rod licence, the UK is leaving the EU. Its legislation has ruined the UK’s commercial fishing industry, and we should not allow it to ruin recreational fishing under any circumstances.

Most of the UK shoreline, I believe up to the 12-mile limit, belongs to the Crown and not the EU. It is acknowledged that the rights of the people to fish in the sea, as stated in Magna Carta, are vague, and many areas are privately owned and may be subject to charges.

However, shore anglers should not require a fishing licence. We need to encourage younger generations to take up the sport, not prohibit them.

Overfishing of some species can be controlled by the following measures – restricting competition fishing (only fish of above minimum size and no controlled species such as sea bass being permitted, and only trophies being awarded); educational signage at beach access points; labelling on angling products; more advice in your excellent magazine; restriction of all forms of commercial fishing to outside the 12-mile limit; charter boats to outside one mile of the low water mark; plus a ban all forms of commercial fishing and restriction of charter boat fishing for bass within UK waters.

Tom Marlow, by email