THE British Record rod-caught Fish Committee meets as and when necessary, the most recent occasion being in
In attendance were representatives of the National Federation of Anglers, Salmon and Trout Association, Specialist Anglers Alliance and the National Federation of Sea Anglers. The meeting was chaired by Mr Colin Scull.
At the meeting a new procedure was agreed to enable claims for British Records to be processed quickly. In the past claims have had to wait until a full BRFC Meeting before they can be confirmed, and this has caused some delay.
The committee has addressed this and from
The committee are also very pleased to announce that the Environment Agency has agreed to join the BRFC and to assist with the identification of freshwater fish and the production of the BRFC List.
The following claims for British Records were accepted:
SEA FISH SHORE
Interim Record: COUCH’S SEA BREAM (Pagrus pagrus): 2 lbs 1 oz 4 drms, caught by Mr Fredrick Ferbrache at St Peter Port, Harbour, Guernsey, on September, 26th, 2002.
COUCH’S SEA BREAM (Pagrus pagrus): 2 lbs 2 ozs 1 drm, caught by Mr Edward Glaba – at Gouliot Passage, Sark., on
COARSE FISH
MIRROR CARP (Cyprinus carpio) 61 lbs 7 ozs, caught by Mr Lee Jackson at
DACE (Leuciscus cephalus): 1 lb 5 ozs 2 drms, caught by Mr Simon Ashton, from the River Weir on
The following potential claims were deferred pending further information or confirmation of identification.
SEA FISH CLAIM – SHORE
HERRING (Clupea harengus): 1 lbs 5 ozs caught from
SEA FISH CLAIM – BOAT
REDFISH (Sebastes marinus): 3 lbs 8 ozs 14 drms caught off
TRIGGER FISH (Balistes capriscus) 6 lbs 4 ozs 14 drms caught ½ mile off Tywyn, Gwynedd,
WRASSE (Species uncertain) 10 ozs caught 4 miles off
The next meeting is scheduled for October 2003
BRFC Fish List: A new booklet is in the course of production, in the meantime a full list of the current records are available from the NFSA website. www.nfsa.org.uk.
APPENDIX to BRFC Press Release dated May 2003
New Claim Procedure from 1 st June 2003
1. The Claimant should contact the Secretary. Telephone: +44 (0) 1364 644643; Fax: +44 (0)1364 644486, or by post to BRFC c/o NFSA Head Office, Level 5, Hamlyn House, Mardle Way, Buckfastleigh, Devon. TQ11 0NS. E-mail: ho@nfsa.org.uk
2. Advice will then be given on identification, the claims procedure and if appropriate preservation. If the office is closed a message should be left on the answerphone.
3. The Secretariat will record the date and place of capture, the species of fish and if a game fish whether natural or a cultivated or in the case of a Rainbow Trout whether a cultivated, resident or wild fish. The weight and details of the scales used to weigh the fish and request that a clear coloured photograph be forwarded so that identification can be confirmed. If the fish is available, the claimant will be advised to keep the fish if pending identification by the photographs.
4. Claims must be confirmed promptly in writing to the Secretary stating the date and place of capture, the species of fish and if a game fish whether a natural or cultivated or in the case of a Rainbow Trout whether a cultivated, resident or wild fish. The weight and details of the scales used to weigh the fish and a clear coloured photograph must be forwarded so that identification can be confirmed.
5. Once the photograph has been received, and its identity established, the claimant will be informed and issued with the claim forms, he/she will then have 56 days to complete the forms and provide the necessary evidence for the claims.
6. Once the completed forms have been returned, the Secretary will acknowledge them, make copies and forward by post to the Members of the Record Committee for their consideration and if acceptable their endorsement of a new record.
7. Once the Committee have agreed the claim, the clamant will be issued with confirmation of the Record in the form of a letter.
8. All claims will then be brought to the next BRFC meeting, which takes place annually, normally in October of each year to officially ratify the claims and to conduct all the business of the BRFC.
9. A Certificate to commemorate the record will then be printed and circulated to the claimant.
10. Press Releases informing of the new accepted claims will be issued by the secretariat bi-monthly or as and when necessary. And a current list of the records will be lodged on the NFSA Web-site, and a Booklet printed as and when agreed by the Committee.
