Eating Wildlife

[big_si]

Originally Posted by Ding Dang Doo

I've eaten hedgehog.

Very tasty it was too, a little bony perhaps...

Pete

You should have eaten one too frightened to do anything... Spineless


Getting my coat!

[A. Berk]

Originally Posted by big_si

You should have eaten one too frightened to do anything... Spineless

Spineless hedgehog... that would be a bald one then! Oh er, mines the black crombie next to the tweed - thanks

[Scuttler]

Most skippers will tell you if you're in a no take zone. They'll also tell you if it's too small.

This is extracted from the fisheries website:

Originally Posted by Fisheries

Minimum sizes of fish

No person shall land, sell, expose or offer for sale, or have in his possession any fish or shellfish that is under the minimum sizes set out below. Any such fish taken on board a boat must be returned to the sea immediately. Licensed commercial fishermen should check their licence conditions as they may contain further restrictions relating to the sizes of fish which may be retained or landed.

Seafish (minimum size in cm from tip of snout to end of tail fin): Bass-36; Bream-23; Brill-30; Cod-35; Conger Eel-58; Dab- 15; Flounder-25; Haddock-30; Hake- 30; Herring-20; Horse Mackerel-15; Lemon Sole-25; Mackerel- 20; Megrim- 25; Mullet-20; Plaice- 27; Pollack-30; Red Mullet-15; Red Sea Bream-25; Saithe-35; Shad-30; Sole-24; Turbot-30; Whiting-27; Witch-28.

Shellfish (minimum size in cm): Chancre crabs (measured across the broadest part of the back)-14; Lady crabs (measured across the broadest part of the back)-6.5; Whelk (total length)-4.5; Spider crabs* (the carapace measured from between the two horns to the rear end of the body shell along the centre line of the body shell)-12; Lobsters (the carapace measured from the rear of the eye socket to the rear of the body shell along a line parallel to the centre line of the body shell)- 8.7; Clams (measured across the broadest part of the shell)- 4; Ormers* (measured across the broadest part of the shell)-9; Scallops (measured across the broadest part of the shell)-10.2; Razor fish (across the longest part of the shell)-10; Queen Scallops-4; Prawn (measured from rostrum to tail)-5

* These fisheries are subject to seasonal closures.

Another thing to bear in mind when catching brown crab is that just because it's the right size doesn't mean it's full of meat.......if the crab has a soft shell (recently moulted) then the inside will not be full of meat and so usually isn't worth taking although the meat is tastier.

Ask you're skipper or another diver how to test for the hardness of the shell. Basically you press the underside of the crab to see if there is any flexing/give in the shell. Trouble is you need to be careful not to press too hard which is why it's easier to demonstrate than to explain.

[DiveBuddy2]

Not had hedgehog but had Monk Jack .................wasn't that keen, and its fish mongers for me apart from scallop hunting next week.

[drysuit repair dave]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

Most skippers will tell you if you're in a no take zone. They'll also tell you if it's too small.

This is extracted from the fisheries website:



.

There is only presently one statutary no take zone in the UK, around Lundy Island off North Devon.
Minimum landing sizes also vary from area to area, so it is worth checking with the local Sea Fisheries Committee (for example bass are 37.5cm in Cornwall).
BSAC recently supported a proposed spearfishing ban in South Wales, which would also have stopped scuba divers taking flatfish

cheers
dave
drysuitrepair.co.uk

[PeeBee]

there are also voluntary no take zones, isn't kimmeridge bay one?

I like to take dinner home but am fussy what I take, I don't see enough sole and skate to take any whereas scallops lobbies and crabs are fair game as long as they are big enough.

[Scubee]

i thought there was also an area of Pembrokeshire, Skomer? Wherever the Lucy is, I think

I wouldnt know for sure, everywhere is a no-take for me, i am to scared of getting my fingers nipped of by some bloody crab

[SoggyFox]

I don't take and i don't particulalry like seeing people take, it got bought home to me while diving at Easter, i saw very few of anything while diving over 6 days around the manacles but people form our club where taking whatever they could find, it was grea shame as it some really stunning dives but very little life expcept the scenary.. Then i dived a few weeks later on a wreck out of Littlehampton and was stunned at the amount of life on it, big crabs lots of lobbies eveywhere, i said to the skipper how surpised i was and his answer was " i'm not surprised its hardly ever dived".

Everybody seem to justify taking with the arguement that "i'm only one diver, taking enough for a meal" now mulitply that up over a weekend across the country. Does anyone here put anything back or merely continue to take and take? theres only so much our seas can provide and if everyone takes without thought then what will become of our seas?

[Prometheus]

You must spread the rep. before.......to the SF.

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by SoggyFox

Everybody seem to justify taking with the arguement that "i'm only one diver, taking enough for a meal" now mulitply that up over a weekend across the country. Does anyone here put anything back or merely continue to take and take? theres only so much our seas can provide and if everyone takes without thought then what will become of our seas?

Well I have been known to throw up a few times. I have also cut crabs and lobsters free from line and let them go.

I do occaisionally take. But is it not regular - low figures each year. So far this year it is 1 lobster and that was from a lesser dived site. Nothing more yet.

Adrian