SSACN Spurdog Tagging Programme
15 boats and 60+ anglers to take part in SSACN weekend project.
Over the weekend of November 15/16, the conservation charity, the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network (SSACN – www.ssacn.org) are holding a spurdog tagging event in Lochs Sunart and Etive with 60+ anglers taking part.
The anglers will be split into teams of 2 to 4 and will be fishing from 15 boats and the shores of the lochs. Each team will have a leader experienced in handling and tagging spurdog and who will working to an approved set of guidelines – http://www.ssacn.org/spurdog/best-practice/.
According to Ian Burrett, SSACN’s Project Director " Spurdog are considered Critically Endangered in the North-east Atlantic by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) and WWF have placed them on their top ten list as species most likely to face extinction – alongside species like Giant Panda, Siberian tigers etc. "
"Even though Scottish spurdog are at 5% of their original biomass, Cabinet Secretary Lochhead and the Marine Directorate still require further evidence through field based research before they are willing to take any action to protect them – the only way to meet their evidential needs is by tagging."
SSACN’s Tagging Project Coordinator, Davie Murray continued " Evidence from many anglers suggests that these Lochs and their surrounding waters have resident populations which breed in the region; our programme is therefore aimed at gathering the data necessary to provide estimates of fish movements and whether or not there is a resident population of breeding spurdog. The data we collect will be collated and analysed by the UK Shark Tagging Programme. "
Sea Life, http://www.sealife.co.uk/local/index.php?loc=lochlomond, are supporting the project by providing notice boards highlighting the Spurdog Tagging programme in twelve of their centres which will enable the many thousands of people visit every week to understand the issues and support the efforts of SSACN through collection boxes.
Spurdog also provide an economic benefit to these areas as anglers generally seek them outside of the normal tourist season and as anglers typically return any spurdog they catch, with suitable protection, the fishery would be totally sustainable, have minimal environmental impact and offer a ‘Best Value’ solution.
Fisheries minister Lochhead constantly proclaims the government is focused on protecting the marine environment, SSACN believes he could provide real leadership and support sea angling by excluding further commercial exploitation of spurdog in these lochs. This would not only provide a springboard for the regeneration of spurdog, but as an additional benefit, it would also help protect the local Common Skate populations which are equally threatened.
Fish for the Future
Editors – Background Information :
Please note :: The weekend has already attracted strong media interest from TV as well as specialist and general press. Reporters will get a chance to discuss the issues with members of SSACN, the anglers taking part, representatives from SNH, The UK Shark Trust, Sea Life along with any political, government and other NGO representatives. Please contact us if you would like more information.
Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network
The Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network (SSACN) is a Charity registered in Scotland.
SSACN was established to lead a unified, coordinated and comprehensive approach to international, national and local conservation issues which may affect recreational sea angling in Scotland.
The 2007 Marine Environment Inquiry report by the Environment and Rural Development Committee of the Scottish Government recognised that conservation in the marine environment has historically been very low on the agenda for politicians in Scotland.
SSACN campaigns and works with statutory bodies for the continual improvement of Scottish RSA fisheries and access for all anglers to them so that sea anglers can effectively enjoy their sport within fisheries managed for the benefit of all and not just a select few commercial interests.
Spurdog
SSACN spurdog tagging programme – http://www.ssacn.org/spurdog-tagging-programme/
Spurdog background information – http://www.ssacn.org/spurdog-tagging-programme/spurdog-fact-sheet/
In summary spurdog are :
- exceptionally slow-growing and vulnerable to overfishing
- heavily exploited primarily for European demand for meat
- considered Critically Endangered in the North-east Atlantic by the IUCN
- inadequately protected and in danger of collapse from overfishing in Europe
- in urgent need of stronger conservation measures
As the government will not accept anything other than quantitative data the only way to gather the evidence is by tagging, this will be carried out in two phases :
- A standard programme where our members tag the fish with plastic darts with the information collated by the UK shark tagging programme ( http://www.ukshark.co.uk ) followed by an
- An enhanced programme using satellite tags which the Scottish government’s marine scientists at the Fisheries Research Services (FRS) will administer once we raise the necessary £25,000 to pay for tags and satellite time.
Sea Angling in Scotland
Recreational sea angling is a selective, environmentally friendly and low-impact fishing activity, it is the # 1 coastal recreation activity in Scotland and is of great social and economic importance.
Scotland should be a major sea angling centre based around species that are not readily available elsewhere in the British Isles, but lack of stocks through inefficient and ineffective fisheries management has left many species virtually extinct and many areas barren and fishless.
Sea angling supports many livelihoods and business opportunities and contributes more than £150 million / yr to the Scottish economy; over £20 million / yr is being lost to the Scottish economy through the lack of fish stocks and facilities.
Contacts::
SSACN – www.ssacn.org
62 Lounsdale Drive
Paisley
Renfrewshire
PA2 9ED
Steve Bastiman – 01561 361 960 or skype – johnshaven
contact@ssacn.org
SEA LIFE – http://www.sealife.co.uk/local/index.php?loc=lochlomond
Loch Lomond Aquarium
Loch Lomond Shores
Emma McDougal – Marketing Coordinator – 01389 722 440
emma.mcdougal@merlinentertainments.biz
Mark Hind – Conservation and Research – 01389 722 471
Mark.hind@merlinentertainments.biz
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