MMO Agrees To Stop Accusing ‘Recreational’ Anglers Of Selling Their Catches

The Marine Management Organisation recently accused recreational anglers of being a significant source of illegally landed, and potentially hazardous, fish. After a quick response from the Angling Trust, and our members who emailed the MMO directly following our appeal, the MMO has now agreed that recreational anglers do not sell their catches and that any fish landed and sold from an unlicensed boat – including by rod and line – is illegal fishing for commercial gain.

Thanks to all those members who emailed the MMO about this. However, we are still waiting for a response from the MMO about the loophole in the Registered Buyers and Sellers Scheme (2005) which allows registered sellers to sell up to 25kg (over 60lb) of unrecorded fish per transaction to unregistered buyers as long as it is for private consumption. Keep your eyes peeled for more updates.

There’s yet more dismay with the Marine management Organisation, this time at their recruitment process for IFCA committee members in the Eastern IFCA which has seen another commercial fishing representative join the committee without other interested groups being given the opportunity to apply for the role.