www.kentishthames.com/conservation.html

Kentishthames.com are members of the Sea Anglers Conservation Network (SACN)and fully backs any plans that are laid out to protect our marine environments, not just for Anglers but for everyone as a whole. Commercial fishing is emptying the seas resources and a greedy few wont stop until the seas are completley empty. Back in the 1970s i remember my neighbour returning from Kent beaches with 20lb+ cod every time he went, not just one fish but several. These fish were a regular occurance back then and Sea Angling was a huge pastime for thousands of Anglers every week. Nowdays thanks mainly to Commercial overfishing these 20lb fish are very rarely seen or heard of, in fact a 10lb fish would be considered a fish of a lifetime. Global warming may have a lot to do with it but mainly its the overfishing from the UK and EU Commercial fleet. We need to act now and the best way to do so is to back organisations like the SACN. Its a simple sign up process and takes under 5 minutes, the link is opposite and the more people that sign up the more our voices will be heard. One things for certain, if nothings done the Commercial fleet will keep taking from the Oceans and in the end there will be nothing left. You will hear their arguments everyday on other sites, they are trying to earn a living, the seas full of fish, etc etc but lets be clear, they dont care about anything other than profit. once there are no fish left they will go elsewhere and start earning a living doing something else. i dont buy into their 'putting food on the table' and 'trying to earn a honest living' arguments, these people are just profiteers stripping a natural resource bare for profit, plenty of people earn a honest living in the UK without having to take something for next to nothing and selling it for profit. They wont change unless they are forced to by Government and the only way to make the powers that be listen is by pure weight of numbers. There is also a policy that SACN are trying to push through called 'The Golden Mile', this is an idea of banning all commercial activity within one mile of our coastline. This would give a safe haven for fish and other marine species and allow the natural reefs and musselbeds to return to their natural glory. This could only improve Angling as a whole and help the seas natural resources to fully recover from years of abuse by fishermen and Dredgers. There is a link for a Golden mile petition opposite and is running until the end of the year. People will tell you that these petitions dont work but the same was said before foxhunting was banned, just goes to show it does work. If you wish to discuss anything to do with the SACN then feel free to register with the forum and ask myself or Leon Roskilly whatever you need to know. The forum is comletley free and only takes a minute to register.

John Hills SACN South East regional co ordinator