Viewing 1 to 10 (10 Total) Fish welfare |
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mickgroveTotal Posts: 107
Joined: June 2, 2015
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Just wanted to share some thoughts on declining barbel numbers on Severn. For most regulars on middle Severn it is quite clear that in terms of numbers, the barbel population has declined over the last decade or so, Blame tends to be attributed to spring and summer floods, predation by otters, natural cycles etc. I just wonder how much angling pressure on barbel and in particular treatment of fish plays a part in mortality rates? We've all witnessed poor treatment of fish from the summer brigade who arrive in groups, chuck out pellet feeders until they eventually catch a fish and then carry it to the next peg to show their mates, prod and poke it, weigh it, photograph it and eventually stick it in a keep net after 5 or 6 minutes out of the water after a hard fight. Then of course there are the matches where half a dozen barbel or more can be kept in keep nets and then hauled up the bank to be weighed and then, in some cases, literally tipped back into the river. It seems a far cry from the more responsible attitude of the minority of anglers who treat their catches with a little more respect. Whatever happened to the spirit of Mr Crabtree - "nice fish Robert - now hold him facing the current until he recovers, it might take a few minutes, but when you feel him kick, let him go". A bit like litter - we really need to be less tolerant of bad practice and promote more responsible fishing rather than paying lip service to it. Apologies for the minor rant, but we could do so much more to help offset the pressure on our fish stocks than we do currently. Don't think situation is helped by poor practices on commercials, where inevitable fish losses are met with a shrug of the shoulders and a re-stocking.
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Posted on August 12, 2017 at 9:12 PM
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curryTotal Posts: 72
Joined: July 23, 2015
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Re: Fish welfareThere's not much we can do as individual angler to educate the culprits other than lead by example and spread the message to any anglers when we have the opportunity.
Posted on August 12, 2017 at 10:38 PM
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Johnny_CareTotal Posts: 407
Joined: June 10, 2015
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Re: Fish welfareGood post Mick, and spot on. The reason why unhooking mats should be compulsory whilst fishing for barbel. I'm a member of Lymm AA as well as the BAA, plus a few other syndicates etc, they all have a rule that everyone must use a unhooking mat.
Posted on August 13, 2017 at 9:15 AM
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john_williamsTotal Posts: 181
Joined: February 13, 2015
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Re: Fish welfareBandwagon time, yet again!
Posted on August 13, 2017 at 4:14 PM
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mickgroveTotal Posts: 107
Joined: June 2, 2015
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Re: Fish welfareNot really John - just a personal view for discussion - thought that was the point of a forum. Mick
Posted on August 13, 2017 at 7:22 PM
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john_williamsTotal Posts: 181
Joined: February 13, 2015
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Re: Fish welfareMick, I agree entirely, that's what forums are about.
Posted on August 13, 2017 at 8:49 PM
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onelastcastTotal Posts: 819
Joined: July 4, 2015
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Re: Fish welfareOh! come on...how hard is it to take care of the Barbel? Just common sense really, and a message that should be repeated from the top of the management tree ...sure having to keep fish in a keepnet is part of match fishing, but Barbel don't take to kindly to being kept away from oxygenated water for too long, and they can die,
Posted on August 13, 2017 at 9:55 PM
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HornetTotal Posts: 108
Joined: June 23, 2015
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Re: Fish welfareDitto the above post,
Posted on August 14, 2017 at 4:31 PM
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AlurnSTotal Posts: 53
Joined: July 7, 2015
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Re: Fish welfareIt's not just barbel that benefit from proper fish care. Any fish that's big enough to be laid down to unhook should have a mat underneath them. I don't discriminate; barbel, carp, tench, bream, chub, whatever, they all get the same treatment from me.
Posted on August 15, 2017 at 12:05 PM
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KenLTotal Posts: 280
Joined: December 27, 2015
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Re: Fish welfareHere we go again with the usual predictable "this is how I fish so I'm going to change the rules so you have to do the same" nonsense.
Posted on September 4, 2017 at 8:55 PM
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