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The canton’s fishing companies took a position on Saturday on thirty proposals for modification of the fishing regulations.
Among the canton’s proposals: a ban on the use of live fish as bait, already in force on Friborg rivers but not in lakes. © Alain Wicht-archives
Published on 05.05.2024
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Meeting on Saturday in Charmey during their federation assembly, the canton’s fishing societies took a position on thirty proposals for modification of the regulations on fishing. The objective is to simplify the regulations. “The role of the State is to propose sustainable management. We want to guarantee fishing but also find a solution so that it works best in the long term,” underlined Manuel Pompini, fisheries inspector and head of the aquatic fauna area.
Sonar fishing in the crosshairs
Among the canton’s proposals: a ban on the use of live fish as bait, already in force on Friborg rivers but not in lakes. An exemption from the federal ban allows this type of bait to be authorized for fishing for predators in places with heavy vegetation where capture is otherwise impossible. For Manuel Pompini, “this position is no longer defensible today” while spawning grounds are being set up in Friborg lakes, precisely due to lack of vegetation.
“We want to guarantee fishing but also find a solution so that it works best in the long term”
Manuel Pompini
A majority of fishing companies spoke out against the extension of this ban to Friborg lakes as well as against the ban on Live Sonar, a latest generation fishfinder. This second ban was proposed in order to prevent the number of catches from becoming disproportionate. For the fisheries inspector, however, banning a specific type of sonar would be difficult to apply because it was “impossible to control”.
The costs of rehabilitating the Estavayer-le-Lac fish farm “are much higher than estimated”
Didier Castella
All of these proposals will be debated in an advisory commission before the final decision of the Council of State. “Divergences may exist,” indicated Didier Castella while emphasizing that “the modification of these regulations is an excellent example of constructive collaboration between the federation and the Service (forests and nature, editor’s note).” As for the Estavayer-le-Lac fish farming file, it will soon be sent to parliament. The result of the working group on the rehabilitation of the installation is worrying, indicated the State Councilor: “The costs are much higher than estimated, without any gain in production. It will be up to the deputies to decide.”
