From now on, every recreational fisherman must register via the European Commission’s RecFishing digital system. The new rules and the mandatory registration in a catching app apply to all beach fishermen, fishermen on pickets and non-professional anglers on small boats.
Bart Merckaert, Agriculture and Fisheries Agency: “The government did not have a good idea of what recreational fishermen catch and what they release. We want a better picture of this to know more about what is in the sea and what the fish stocks are like.”
The app is user-friendly and according to fisheries control, it is not the intention to be stricter and mainly to issue fines. For two months a year, in February and March, sea bass are no longer allowed to be taken. Eel is even completely banned because it is so endangered.
Sea bass also deserves extra protection. Actually, not much has changed for other species, but registering and reporting in the app what you catch, how much it weighs and whether you throw it back is now the rule.
