Live-fish fishing in real danger?
Live-bait fishing has been on the radar of elected representatives from all sides for some time now. Elected representatives who simply want to ban this practice for both freshwater and sea fishing. So, if the law is passed as it stands, we'll no longer be able to live-fish, squid or even crab!
According to the co-signatories of this bill :
"The animal condition is considered an important cause by 89% of the French population (2019 French Institute of Public Opinion [IFOP] poll for Collectif AnimalPolitique). At the same time, there is scientific consensus that fish as well as crustaceans and cephalopods feel pain."
 " This fishing technique is banned in several European countries on all or part of their territory (Germany, Switzerland, in freshwater in Ireland, in most of the Austrian Länder...). In France, several local authorities are opposed to the ban (Métropole de Grenoble, Paris, JoinvilleâeurosleâeurosPont, CarrièresâeurossousâeurosPoissy, Puteaux...). Â"
"We think it's time to regulate recreational fishing with regard to animal suffering: banning live-fishing, considered the cruelest technique, is essential. Not everything should be allowed when it comes to the suffering of fish
The proposed law is as follows:
- Article 1
Article 521âeuros1 of the French Penal Code is supplemented by the following paragraph:
"This article applies to all species of vertebrates, cephalopods and decapods bred, caught or marketed for use as live bait in recreational fishing
- Article 2
Article L. 431âeuros6 of the French Environment Code is supplemented by the following paragraph:
"The breeding, capture and marketing of vertebrate animals, cephalopods and decapods for use as live bait for fishing are prohibited
- Article 3
Après l'article L. 921âeuros7 du code rural et de la pêche maritime, il est inséréré un article L. 921âeuros7âeuros1 ainsi rédigé :
 " Art. L. 921âeuros7âeuros1. âeuros The breeding, capture and marketing of vertebrate animals, cephalopods and decapods for the purpose of being used as live bait for sea fishing are prohibited. Â"
The full text of the bill can be found at here .
Let's hope that the world of recreational fishing and its representatives take action to prevent us from being forbidden to practice our passion...
