TTW would like to emphasise that the
content of this article is wholly the opinion
POLITICAL NEWS
of the columnist and doesn’t necessarily
represent the views of the magazine.
Bird On A Wire
Political correspondent David Bird is raving about
George W Bush. Why? Because David believes that
George has created the ‘Angling Gold Standard’...
A
s I write this the US Bush with his government’s
has elected in a new current take on the global-
president. politics scene but would it be
Will Barack Obama do wrong to run with his decision
much to address America’s to legally protect our rights and
poor reputation on the world practices within the MPAs?
scene such as the global T_h e so-called negative
fi nancial crash, war in Iraq and aspects of President Bush’s
Afghanistan? T_h e list goes on. administration may make it
If recreational anglers, diffi cult to pursue the protection
off shore and inland, need to we need?
become involved with a new Let’s rise to the challenge.
President we could do a whole Don’t say: “It can’t be done”.
lot worse than promote and Say: “It’s gonna be diffi cult.”
support a dying presidency’s We must try to take the
wish for protection of our rights initiative.
and practices, particularly in T_h e USA can’t always be
the proposed Marine Protected wrong.
Areas (MPAs). In this case they are cutting
President Bush’s support for edge and at the forefront of
our sport must be recognised protecting and enhancing the
as a fi rm commitment to our long-term future of our sport.
future. Internationally, would it
Dare I suggest that the be a good idea for angling
President’s stance be adopted, trawlers, et al, had any sense leave host nations in penury. organisations to pressurise their
internationally, as the gold they would take the longer- Starvation is a fact of life that’s own governments to follow,
standard that all nations aspire term view for their realistic and not accepted or calculated endorse and enforce President
to achieve? sustainable future. when the EU Nations steal the Bush’s brave and sensible
Firstly, recognition of
our sport’s signifi cant and
Instead of my normal negative diatribe on all
initiative?
meaningful contribution to all
things that are wrong about the management
I’m sure that you are all
aware that once politicians or
societies on a multiple of social,
environmental, ecological and
of the marine resource, how about a positive
governments become involved
fi nancial levels.
way forward?
with commonsense and
realistic management, intellect
On the home and A change of direction is marine resource, be it Africa or and sensibilities fl ies out the
international scene, we embrace, needed, particularly with South America. window.
and hold dear, the concept of Europe’s Common Fisheries Just a minute! I’ve been here We should look at
sustainable fi sheries. Dare I say, Policy (CFP). before – banging the same old pressurising our politicians and
for recreational and commercial CFP quota fi shing is a joke drum. governments to adopt President
interests? – of the worst environmental Instead of my normal Bush’s new gold standard.
MPAs address a whole series kind. negative diatribe on all things And, that’s just for starters.
of issues and confl icts between CFP discards are obscene that are wrong about the Are you onboard? TTW
us worm- stranglers and the – the waste of the marine management of the marine
netsmen. resource is unacceptable. resource, how about a positive
Contact
We need a long-term Internationally, EU fi shing way forward?
David Bird
protection for our rights and agreements overexploit T_h ird We may fi nd it diffi cult to
Title Political correspondent
practices, and if the longliners, World negotiations and justify supporting President
E-mail: davidbird@dhpub.co.uk
64 TTW | JANUARY 2009
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