Help Save Sea Stocks - Give Fish A Chance

Scottish Sea Anglers Conservation Network (SSACN) has launched its' Give Fish A Chance (GFAC) recommended size chart.

Enjoying a freshly caught fish is an integral part of the angling experience for many. Up to now anglers have used their clubs' competition size limits or government prescribed MLS (minimum landing size) as a guideline as to whether a fish is 'takeable'.
Unfortunately, neither offer a sustainable approach to stock management, indeed many fish species are given no MLS!

Voluntarily only taking a fish at or above the GFAC suggested size will enable anglers to do their bit to help ensure the future of the species, as anglers can be reasonably certain that the fish has had at least one chance to breed.

Each species also has an 'at risk' rating reflecting its general status in Scottish
waters; obviously SSACN recommend that anglers think twice before taking any quantity of fish rated 3 or 4 without recommending an 'open-season' on those rated 2.

Looking down the list you may well think you'll catch very few that are 'table-sized' and none rated as '1' - this is very much a reflection of the state of our stocks and perhaps even more reason why you should support SSACN and all our efforts.

Even though you may feel there are many other factors which cause greater damage to stocks, we would encourage everyone to consider applying the GFAC measure before taking a fish.

SSACN would naturally be grateful for any feedback, documented proposed changes etc. at gfac_updates@ssacn.org

www.ssacn.org


Please check with http://www.ssacn.org/all-we-are-saying-is-give-fish-a-chance/ for any updates.

Fish Name At Risk Rating MLS Match GFAC Size
Cm Cm Cm

Bass 3 36 38 45
Black Sea Bream 2 None 23 30
Brill 4 None 30 40
Coalfish / Saithe 2 35 36 60
Cod 4 35 3 50
Conger 4 None 90 90
Dab 2 None 23 25
European Eel 4 None 36 55
Flounder 2 None 25 30
Grey Mullet 4 None 30 45
Gurnard (Grey) 2 20 22 24
Gurnard (Red) 4 None 20 20
Gurnard (Tub) 3 None 20 20
Haddock 3 30 36 40
Hake 4 27 30 65
Herring 4 20 20 25
Horse Mackerel 4 15 20 25
John Dory 3 None 25 35
Lemon Sole 3 None 25 25
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 3 None 60 60
Ling 4 63 64 95
Mackerel 2 30 30 30
Megrim 3 20 25 30
Monkfish 4 None 20 85
Plaice 4 27 27 31
Pollack 3 30 35 55
Poor Cod 2 None 23 23
Pout 2 None 20 20
Smoothound 4 51 75 85
Sole 4 24 25 30
Turbot 4 None 30 35
Tusk 4 None 25 50
Whiting 2 27 28 30
Witch 3 None 28 28
Wolffish 4 None 25 60

Halibut, Tope, All Rays, Common Skate, Spurdog and Porbeagle Shark – Preferred No-Take, Catch and Return only

Sources :: SFSA, SWSFSA, cefas.org, defra.gov.uk, fao.org,
fishbase.org, wikipedia.org, members and contributors to SSACN.

Please email documented updates to gfac_updates@ssacn.org

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Perhaps Defra and the European Community Leaders might consider these sizes for inclusion in the Common Fisheries Policy quota and size system?

BTW I have had three goes at making this chart work. And I can't; nearly as good as my fishing has been recently!! Any geeks out there who know how to do it might want to email secretary@saauk.org with the info. Thanks.