Apologies for “going missing” for the last couple of issues but Tackle and Guns had some space problems and I lamentably failed to meet a copy deadline. This column will now be bi-monthly so hopefully I will still be able to keep T&G readers up to speed with developments in Parliament which affect shooting and fishing.

The long awaited Marine Bill is making its way through the House of Lords, but so far, progress has been painfully slow. There appears to be little controversy over the major points of principle like the establishment of Marine Conservation Zones and the new Marine Management Organisation. We are hoping that the Bill will be with the Commons by Easter. I’m pressing for a speedy passage through the Commons so that it can complete all its stages prior to the summer Parliamentary recess.

In addition to the measures to improve and protect sea-fisheries the Marine Bill is also the prime vehicle for introducing the recommendations of the 2001 Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries review and the means by which new national catch and release by-laws for coarse fishing in rivers will be introduced. The taking of coarse fish, mainly by Eastern Europeans but not exclusively, has become a contentious issue in recent years and our current legislative framework is simply inadequate to ensure regular, successful prosecutions.

Staying with recreational sea-angling, I have written to fisheries Minister Huw Irranca-Davies asking him to publicly challenge those who have sought to interpret the Article 47 draft E.U. regulations in a way that would impose quotas on sea anglers’ catches. There is clearly no intention in Brussels to bring recreational sea angling under the terms of the Common Fisheries Policy as Commissioner Joe Borg has already made clear. However, a strong statement from the UK government would do much to calm sea anglers’ fears.

I’m delighted that National Shooting Week (NSW) will take place again this year from 23^rd-31 May. When Rob Gray from the Countryside Alliance asked for my support for this new project back in 2006, I was only too happy to help because it is so important to demystify firearms and show the general public that responsible shooting is safe and accessible to all. Happily this successful initiative is supported by all the organisations that belong to the British Shooting Sports Council. Now more than 200 public open days across the country are laid on each year by forward-thinking grounds and clubs, enabling the public to try many different types of shooting. This is fantastic but many more should be doing it because if the shooting community doesn’t promote the sport to the public why should politicians bother? I commend Tackle and Guns for supporting the Week from the outset and for setting up a special NSW award.

Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe attended last year’s launch event at Bisley and praised this countrywide attempt by shooting to engage with the public in a responsible way. I’m certainly planning to attend some of the NSW events myself and I’m sure that there will be further ministerial endorsement this year as well. I would urge everyone in the trade to back this National Shooting Week by supporting your local events. You can also go to: www.nationalshootingweek.co.uk for more information.