Sharkatag 2009

[TF_geepsterParticipant]

May Update
Sharkatag T-shirts and caps available – get yours here.

Hi,
As we move into summer there’s quite a lot ahead of us and several opportunities for you to get involved.
First of all, Sharkatag2009 – just over 30 days to go !! The event runs from the 12th to the 14th of June and is attracting anglers from all over the UK, some are even coming from Cornwall and Devon.

We are expecting around 250 to 300 rods to take part over the three days from 100 to 150 kayaks and boats; anglers will be visiting marks around the Solway looking to catch and tag tope, smoothound and spurdog and collect data on other shark species.

The terrific efforts of the SSACN Sharkatag2009 project team and volunteers are being well supported by SeaLife, Mustad, SNH, the Solway Firth Partnership, local members of the RNLI and Coastguard.

You too can help – sign up for the event / donate space on your boat / help coordinate it / donate tackle – anything at all – we have already had tremendous interest from the media – TV, radio as well as the general and angling press – you can help make Sharkatag a success.

Presentations – If your club, association or body would like us to come along and let you know more about SSACN, please drop us a line at [email protected] .

Safety whilst fishing – there are a couple of posts on the site regarding safety worth a read – ICE a suggestion you help the emergency services by storing the number of an emergency contact person(s) under the name ‘ICE’ ( In Case Of Emergency) on your mobile phone and the MCA is advising all anglers, whether they practice their sport from the sea, on rocks or shore, to carry and wear a lifejacket when near the sea.

The future of sea angling will be somewhat determined by the Marine (Scotland) Bill which was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 29 April 2009 . The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, as the designated lead Committee for scrutiny of the Bill is seeking views on the general principles of The Bill. The closing date for written submissions is 11th June 2009. See here for more details.

The SSMEI Firth of Clyde project, which also has great potential to affect sea angling, has launched its draft marine spatial plan for public consultation. More information can be found here and the draft MSP in pdf format may be found here on their site.
Local meetings are also being held at the following locations / times.

• Lochgilphead – Community Centre – 19/05/09
• Campbeltown – Aqualibrium – 21/05/09
• Helensburgh – Victoria Halls – TBC
• Largs – Yacht Haven – TBC
• Gourock – Royal Yacht Club – TBC
• Glasgow – Nautical College – TBC
• Arran – Wildlife Festival – TBC

If you would like to see the interests of sea anglers taken into account, you need to go along to your nearest consultation, put your views across and respond to the consultation by Friday the 26th of June 2009.

KAST – A new SSACN initiative – Keep Angling Scotland Tidy – to clean up, and keep clean, the many sites where sea anglers go to enjoy a day’s fishing on the beautiful coastline of Scotland. There are KASTing Events being planned for several locations – please get your club, association, friends etc involved. It’s FREE.

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