What a can of worms this all is. How hard can it be to get a straight forward answer to what is a very straight forward question? Are we allowed to go fishing in the sea from the shore (not from a boat or kayak) under the current rules? YES or NO.
On Friday the 24th of April the Isle of Man relaxed many of the rules related to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) regulations. We are allowed out of the house for non essential reasons and to be out for as long as we want, there are still strict social distancing rules in place but it appears as long as you stick to these rules you are fine to go fishing? Obviously not from the boat or kayak, these are covered under the personal craft regulations that tell us you’re allowed onboard but not to let go of the ropes, full stop, whether fishing or not. Simply put you are not allowed to use your boat for anything other than gin parties (yes that’s right, remember who elected these tools the next time an election comes around!) These rules didn’t stop a large number of boats leaving various island harbours on the Friday to go for a spot of fishing. Mostly the old boys who don’t give a shit. I haven’t heard of any fines being dished out.
But back to the shore fishing. It looks as if we should be fine to fish from the shore as long as we keep 2 metres apart? Unsure because of getting told different things from different people I asked my MHK for a definitive yes or no answer, she asked the question, she came back to me with the answer that it was INDEED fine to go shore fishing as long as we could social distance. Brilliant. That lasted a whole 24 hours before various news items on the island indicated that all fishing was banned. How come? They can’t just make the rules up as they go along can they? Well they can.
Here is the part of the emergency powers act that Tynwald voted through for themselves that they are using to stop all fishing. This is straight from the keyboard of our DEFA Minister.
Quote:-
This restriction is imposed as all places are closed for the purposes of recreational fishing as a consequence of paragraph 21 of the Schedule to the Emergency Powers (Coronavirus) (Closure of Businesses and Other Premises) Regulations 2020 (https://www.tynwald.org.im/links/tls/SD/2020/2020-SD-0200.pdf) as amended by the Emergency Powers (Coronavirus) (Closure of Businesses and Other Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (https://www.tynwald.org.im/links/tls/SD/2020/2020-SD-0217.pdf). Therefore, for the time being, any type of recreational angling on rivers, reservoirs, lakes and from the shore, is not permitted.
End Quote.
BUSINESSES AND PREMISES THAT MUST CLOSE
Paragraph 21 is this :- Any premises that provide recreational fishing activities
That is the single line that stops us from being allowed to shore fish. Or rather it is how they have interpreted that line that stops us fishing, “This restriction is imposed as all places are closed for the purposes of recreational fishing…” is not the same as “Any premises that provide recreational fishing activities”. They have declared all beaches, breakwaters, foreshores etc as premises that provide recreational fishing activities and therefore MUST CLOSE! Yes really! Except of course none of them are closed. None of them. The beaches and breakwaters are still fully open for any number of activities within social distancing guidelines. I can go for a walk on the beach right now, it’s not closed.
But the rules are the rules, we all must stick to them. At the end of the day this is only fishing and not life and death, except for the people who use fishing as part of a therapy process as many do, just ask Paul Whitehouse or Bob Mortimer. I suggest you all take up Beach Yoga instead, as that is perfectly fine. Or buy a horse and ride that on the beach, that’s also fine.
WE vote for these people, just remember that when the circle comes around. For now though the answer to the simple YES or NO is NO you’re not allowed to go fishing from the shore. Although it’s not illegal, just a case of DEFA not “allowing it”. Remember to share this with your friends, the more people who know why we can’t fish and who is responsible the better.