They call it blast fishing.
Posted on 05/09/2008 4:20:03 AM PDT by tlb
Editor’s Note: Today’s story comes to us from the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association.
Catch and Release fishing will be banned in Switzerland from next year, it was revealed this week.
And anglers in the country will have to demonstrate their expertise by taking a course on humane methods of catching fish, under new legislation outlined by the Bundesrat - the Swiss Federal Parliament.
The new legislation states that fish caught should be killed immediately following their capture, with a sharp blow to the head from a blunt instrument. Under the new regulations, the use of livebait and barbed hooks is also prohibited except in certain situations.
The laws come into effect in 2009 but while the Swiss government does not mention Catch and Release specifically, it does say that "it is not permitted to go fishing with the 'intention' to release the fish."
EFTTA lobbyist Jan Kappel has been in contact with Martin Peter, Vice President of the Swiss Angling Federation, to see whether a joint approach to the Swiss government could persuade them to amend the legislation - which forms part of a much wider animal welfare programme.
The law on the protection of animals was passed by the Swiss parliament in 2005 and officials have spent three years refining the details, taking into account the comments of interested parties.
Said Jan: "Catch and Release is one of the most difficult issues we have to deal with, and one of the most important in my opinion.
“The new Swiss law doesn't make use of the term 'Catch and Release', which is the same as in Germany – but I don't see how governments can enforce legislation which makes 'intent' illegal.
“And demanding that people kill the fish they catch gives no thought to the conservation benefits from releasing them."
Angling Codes of Conduct with regards to proper handling and releases can be found for practically any fish species caught by anglers in Switzerland and the rest of the world. The new Swiss law makes it obligatory for anglers to take lessons before being granted a fishing license. So there is absolutely no need for an outright ban on the release of fish in Switzerland.”
It’s believed that the legislation could affect as many as 275,000 anglers in Switzerland, who generate around 30 million Euros in annual tackle sales.
EFTTA acting president, Pierangelo Zanetta, said: "EFTTA does not believe that forcing anglers to kill their catches is either good for nature or for recreational sport fishing - which makes a significant financial contribution to the EU economy.
“Making the killing of fish obligatory will simply reduce fish population and, at the same time, run the risk of having a negative impact on sport fishing.
"Anglers and the sport of angling invest time and money to improve water quality and create larger and healthier fish populations. We believe is it far better for the fish if the fisherman decides, according to the situation, whether to keep and eat the fish or to release it."
They call it blast fishing.
Worms are breathing a sigh of relief.....
I suppose the most humane way to catch fish is with electricity or with small explosive devices, either of which will stun the fish, which can then be netted and hit in the head with a hammer.
This sounds like satire..........unfortunately, I know it’s not. I inquired about fishing while in Germany and was told that a license is very difficult to get, as you have to got to fishing school, much like driving school...........
Remind me again why fishing is supposed to be fun.
Enviro-Nazis intent on destroying outdoor culture and re-creating it in their image.
I fell for it. The source link is the only google return in Google News for the words “Switzerland fishing”.
What ever causes the holes in their cheese has obviously crossed their blood-brain barriers.
I Goooogled “European Fishing Tackle Trade Association.” and went to their home page website. Nothing about this in their PR or newsletters........
Switzerland is more a true democracy than any other countries out there
Is there a truly free nation left on this planet? A place where you can shoot, fish, defend yourself, build a fire, drive your vehicle, drill for oil, use an incandescent lightbulb, etc., where the government leaves you alone??
If anyone knows of such a place, let me know.
You also need to get a license in Germany to play golf....
Switzerland is more a true democracy than any other countries out there
The article is there, third one in the news section.
http://www.eftta.com/english/index.html?cart=1210339467765498
That is one license I’ll never need.........The B&B we stayed at was on a river with a dock. I told the proprietor that I might sneak down there and drop a line, since a department store was not far away and I had no tackle. He said, “You don’t want to do that. It is against the rules. They check.”
I read of such a place, once. It was called "Galt's Gulch".....
No idea where they got the idea that fish should be killed immediately. That's so unsanitary.
There, fixed it.
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