Wales Sea Bass Advisory Group meeting: 26 March 2026

Group

Colin Charman (CC)
Jim Evans (JE) 
Hannah Rudd (HR) 
Sion Williams (SW)
David Curtis (DC)
Simon Frobisher (SF)
Grant Jones (GJ)
Kieran Hyder (KH) 
Kevin Denman (KD)
Brett Garner (BG)
Gareth Henson (GH)

Welsh Government

Julian Bray (JB)
Seb Evans (SE)
Michelle Billing (MB)
Matt Sayer (MS)
Prideaux Hattle (PH) 
Michelle Fraser (MF)  

Apologies

Richard Strudwick (RS)
Ian McCarthy (IM)
John O’Connor (JO)
Peter Elliot (PE). 

Welcome and introductions, purpose of meeting

Julian Bray welcomed everyone to the 11^th meeting of the group and relayed apologies from Richard Strudwick and Peter Elliot.

Review and sign-off notes and actions of previous meeting

Michelle Billing reviewed the notes and actions from the previous meeting. No comments were raised, and it was agreed the notes could be translated and published. 

MB confirmed all previous meeting notes were now translated and published on the Welsh Government website.

Some previous meeting actions were noted as being outstanding due to the prioritisation of the recreational element of the socio‑economic study and the VCRS. Work on these actions will resume next month alongside the bass authorisation review.

A one‑page summary circulated with the agenda set out progress against FMP actions to the end of 2025 and priorities for 2026. The intention is for this to be produced annually. Feedback on the format and usefulness of the paper was requested by Friday 24 April.

Action 1: translate and publish notes and actions from meeting 10.

Shore-based netting 

Voluntary Catch Reporting System (VCRS) 

Seb Evans provided an update on the voluntary catch reporting system for shore‑based netting in Wales. 

Approval to launch the system was obtained from the Deputy First Minister on 1 April. 

VCRS Demonstration 

Michelle Fraser provided a demonstration of the VCRS test system, including the registration process and simulation of a full catch return to illustrate the system features. User guidance will be made available to support users on launch. 

During the demonstration:

• a member asked whether the system would be available as an app - MF to check this with the digital and data team
• it was explained that recreational shore‑based netters are not permitted to retain bass caught in fixed nets, as set out in the Bass Fishing Guidance 2026
• in the case of a net set for longer than one tide, a catch return should be provided each time the net is cleared, rather than at the end of the fishing period
• a member raised concerns that the validation feature which restricts net length to the maximum legal length was not appropriate, given that accountability for compliance sits with the user. It was agreed the validation would be removed

Action 2: confirm whether an app is available for the VCRS.

Action 3: remove maximum net length validation from VCRS.

Bycatch study update

Seb Evans confirmed the University of Liverpool has been commissioned to undertake the scientific bycatch study for shore‑based netting in Wales. The study supports the FMP commitment to review shore‑based and shallow inshore netting to assess whether additional regional or national protections are needed to prevent bycatch of migratory fish and other protected species. 

SE noted there had been a good response rate for participation, however, further involvement was encouraged as increased data will improve the robustness of the study. Members were asked to promote participation, and registration details can be re‑circulated if needed.

Socio-economic studies: commercial and recreational 

The first draft report on the commercial element of the socio-economic study has been received from Seafish. Feedback has been provided and a final draft report is awaited. 

The invitation to quote for the recreational element of the socio-economic study was issued before Christmas and three responses were received by the 30 January deadline. 

The contract was awarded at the end of February to the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), University of Gloucestershire. 

Initial meetings have been held with the CCRI research team. A detailed briefing note is expected by the end of March, setting out the benefits and risks of different approaches to support robust study design from the outset. 

Members will be kept informed at this early stage and engaged once the study plan and methodology are drafted. The project team will attend an advisory group meeting, with further updates to be provided at the next meeting. 

Updates                   

Bass authorisation system review

SE confirmed that, with work on the VCRS nearing completion, progress on the authorisation review is expected to resume in April. 

A discussion paper has been drafted and is currently with legal services for clearance. The paper will then be shared with members. 

Recreational bag limit increase

Following EU negotiations, legislation to increase the recreational bag limit came into force on 27 February 2026. 

The Bass Fishing Guidance has been updated to reflect the changes, and once the current closed season ends on 31 March 2026, recreational anglers will be allowed to retain up to three fish per day.

Bass handling guidance

SE thanked the Angling Trust for their work in developing the handling guidance, along with all members who completed the survey that helped inform the guidance. 

HR confirmed that final comments were submitted on 25 March 2026.

Once the final text is confirmed, a Welsh‑language version will be produced, and tackle‑box stickers will also be made available.

Any other business, date of next meeting

The next meeting will take place in mid‑May and will focus on the recreational socio‑economic contract.

DC raised concerns that recreational fishers were dissatisfied with the current strategic approach, noting that this issue had been raised at MAGWF without a satisfactory response. 

JB said that there is currently a lot of focus on developing new Fisheries Management Plans, and the recreational sector is referenced in each. He explained there may be a new Minister post-election, providing an opportunity for the recreational sector to clearly articulate its wishes, with JO acting as the representative. 

DC asked about the closed season report produced by Bangor University, specifically whether it had been written from a biological or enforcement perspective. 

MS confirmed that the report was written as a scientific paper and suggested that the current closed season may not align with new biological evidence. 

JB confirmed that once peer‑reviewed, the Bangor paper will be shared. An opportunity to discuss the topic in more detail will be provided in a future meeting. 

KH noted that the University of Essex is undertaking similar work on fish spawning periods across a wider area and welcomed the opportunity to consider findings from both Bangor and Essex. 

Action 4: MS to coordinate a discussion on spawning periods between the University of Essex and Bangor University.

Outstanding actions from previous meetings

Meeting 7: 5 December 2024

1. Obtain advice on how recreational bag limits might be varied. MB: ongoing.
2. Speak to enforcement about the monitoring of recreational bass boats in South Wales. MB: ongoing.

Meeting 8: 4 February 2025

1. Prepare a statement on the role of recreational angling and importance of recreational data in delivery of the bass FMP.  SE/HR: ongoing.
2. Explore potential use of ambassadors to promote the sea angling diaries. MB: ongoing.

Meeting 9: 11 March 2025

1. Meet with KH to explore possibilities for anglers' participation in managing the Sea Angling Diary. MB/SE: ongoing.

New actions from this meeting

1. Translate and publish notes & actions from meeting 10. MF: completed 13 April 2026.
2. Confirm whether an app is available for the VCRS. MB: completed 1 April 2026.
3. Remove maximum net length validation from VCRS. SE: completed 23 April 2026.
4. Coordinate a discussion on spawning periods between the University of Essex and Bangor University. MS: ongoing.