'They can lock me up' - fisheries owner may face human rights action
A GRIMSBY fishery owner says he is prepared to go to jail to defend his ban on Eastern Europeans fishing in his waters – after calls to prosecute him.
As reported, Tony Booth, owner of Trentside Fisheries, in Burton-upon-Stather, banned all foreigners from his ponds, over fears they might steal and eat his prize fish.
This ban has since been relaxed to include only Eastern Europeans, as carp and other coarse fish are often considered a delicacy in their home countries.
Now, The Federation of Poles in Great Britain has made clear their intention to refer Mr Booth to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) if he refuses to drop the ban.
In a letter to the Telegraph, Federation spokesman Wiktor Moszczynski said: "We have noted with considerable concern a statement by the owner of Trentside Fishery in your newspaper that he has imposed 'a ban on foreigners from fishing in his waters' and that he is now planning to amend his ban to encompass only 'East European' anglers.
"We are sorry to point out that either decision – but particularly the latter – is discriminatory on grounds of race and national origin and, unless it is withdrawn, would have to be referred to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission."
The Federation expressed its sympathy with Mr Booth, but said he should prosecute thieves individually, rather than imposing a blanket ban.
However, Mr Booth has responded by saying: "When these people buy a ticket to fish, I tell them the rules of the fishery and I also point out the sign that says all fish must be returned to the water – and most of them seem to understand English.
"I have told them time and time again not to kill my fish but they look at me as if I am from the moon."
Mr Booth also told Angling Times that he did not think anyone "had the bottle" to prosecute him, and added: "I'm making a stand, because if the current situation continues, then most of the nation's waters will have no fish left in them within a few years' time.
"I'll be keeping the rule regardless of what they throw at me – and they can lock me up if they like,"
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by JO, Grimsby
Friday, January 30 2009, 8:42AM
“They'll agree Percy .. But it has to go to Council first where Britain will quite rightly fight it. And if we're outvoted, we'll be forced to implement it.
Oh we might just manage to get a derrogation - a temporary opt-out - but if it's agreed by a qualified majority vote in the Council, we'll have to implement it eventually. Fishing policy is a full EU competence.”
by luke, grimsby
Friday, January 30 2009, 12:28AM
“Tony Booth is a personal friend of mine and a lot of other people in this town. he has offered a lot of support to the angling commnity in Grimsby and the local area in particular the junior clubs. he has NEVER been a racist nor has he been uncooperative on grounds of colour, religon, sex or ethnicity. to label him as such is bigoted and ignorant. and the sooner people stand up and realise he is only trying to protect his fish stocks the better we will all be. there is a large community of anglers in this town and even people who do not fish agree he is in the right. oh and james your a t*sser!”
by Percy, Grimsby
Thursday, January 29 2009, 5:08PM
“If our puppet government AGREES to the move??
Surely, Jo, we are FORCED by those nasty men from the EC to accept any rule they come up with?
It won't happen, and is another scaremongering rumour from the anti EU brigade.
Have a pleasant evening Jo.”
by JO, Grimsby
Thursday, January 29 2009, 4:39PM
“Well, Pilu, it's all due to come to an end anyway, because the EU in all it's infinite stupidity, are about to decree that 'recreational' anglers - those who fish for the sheer pleasure if it - will only be allowed to catch a certain amount of fish. They will also have to tell Brussels bureaucrats exactly what they have caught and this will be included in Britains annual 'quota' allocated to the British fleet.
If 'recreational' fishermen go over their quota ¿ which will be set nationally if our puppet government agrees to the move ¿ they could be fined up to £50,000.
Ain't life grand?”
by Pilu, Budapest
Thursday, January 29 2009, 2:42PM
“Hi,
I'm a fisherman from Hungary. I see how most of the so called fishermans in our country behave, and I simply can't argue with Mr Booth's decision. I'm personally very sad about it, and feel ashamed but that's all I can do about it. We in Eastern Europe got used to the "feeling" that stealing from the community is not a real crime, but some "take from the rich like Robin" thing. To "catch&filease" (If you say filease, it's the word in Hungarian for filleting) is somehow the same thing. You have problems with the poles, "we" Hungarians butcher the wells in Italy, and you are lucky if you didn't met so far with the Rumanians. There is a speakng in Hungary: the Rumanian fisherman is like the royal flush: takes everything. You can imagine...
So to the hell with the human rights, defend your waters from the horde.”