Lack of respect could lead to breakwater trial fishing ban
Tuesday 1st September 2009, 11:30AM BST.
John Tostevin and son Max, 8, enjoy the fishing. However, Harbours could impose a six-month trial ban if the behaviour of several participants of the sport does not improve. (Picture by John O’Neill, 0833471)
UNSUPERVISED children should not be allowed to fish from the Castle Breakwater, according to anglers.
They said youngsters were the cause of many problems on the pier, which could lead to fishing there being banned.
Caretaker Mustway Bannar, 57, said some children lacked respect for others and that things were worse in the school holidays.
‘I’ve seen a child hooked in the eye because one of them was playing with a rod and somebody hit me on the head with one,’ he said.
‘Before you cast you have to consider where your line might go and take steps to avoid problems, but the kids don’t see it.’
Mr Bannar, who fishes at the Castle Breakwater once or twice a week, said Harbours could impose a six-month trial ban so that people might appreciate what they were missing.
Gardener Darren Le Maitre, 41, has been fishing from the breakwater most of his life.
‘The school holidays can be a problem down here as kids get together and show off,’ he said. ‘I don’t think parents should let their children come down here on their own.’
Mr Le Maitre said people fishing from one side of the breakwater needed to be aware of what might be coming around the corner but some were not.
‘I’d rather see anglers licensed than banned,’ he said. ‘It would be unfair to ban it when this has been a fishing spot for so many years and it’s a part of Guernsey life.’
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Mr Bannar can be excused lacking child rearing skills. However for the States of Guernsey to consider a ban instead of engaging an agent with social skills to encourage these children is reprehensible.
This attitude reminds me of the vicar that missed a golden opportunity. St Sampson Church became a meeting place for children when school finished. The vicar, concerned about the possibility of vandalism made the effort to go to the church just before schools finished and locked the doors.
I remember as a child being refused entry to a church service because I was wearing jeans. (St.Sampson Church). I never attended a church service again, in turn of course neither have my children.
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Oh dear, some janitor starts threatening islanders with Collective Punishment. Where do these jobsworths get off?
Licencing anglers? FFS, this island has gone to the dogs!
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I’m with Steven all the way;
These people who seem to complain daily about children are in reality causing children; in many cases to act as he seems to think.
Show a little compassion.
Give up an hour or two and show the Kids what it’s all about.
I fished there from man early school age. right up to marriage days.
I found it interesting to show kids; especially when you saw them struggling.
Just a word or two, not more; “You want any help son?” no bullying, like being the superior adult; come down to their level.by that I mean bend down and explain.
nothing worse, and in some cases terrifying to a smaller child that to look down at them; You; to a child look as if you just came down from the beanstalk.
Loosen up for goodness sake. They are our future.
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I can only imagine what sort of problems kids cause on the breakwater, but in my experience there are a fair few adults who struggle to cast in a considerate manner. Maybe the adults would be better off getting into a car and climbing down the cliffs on the south coast and leave the relative safety of the breakwater for the kids?
Many years ago (early 70′s) on a windy day I saw an adult who managed to hook his own ear after miscasting all the way round the light house!
But to top that what would Harbours do about the seagull who swallowed a sandeel in mid cast and the obvious fight and tangled lines that ensued.
Perhaps we should ban seagulls too?
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What a load of Ԭstorm in a teacup some people like to steer up,
‘It’s a load of bunkum’
The kids are better down there trying to fish than running amok all over the place.
But because some old grouse wants to have peace and quiet he makes up a story.
And as for the Condor, why not keep a mere 50 yds further out, I’ve noticed you come in rather close, thus putting passengers in danger, for what? win a couple minutes running time; keep doing that and those 3 sisters will get you.
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The States should impose a ban on miserable old fools trying to stop our kids from having a proper childhood.
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Went there the other day with my eight year old daughter, as a safe place for her to fish.
Believe me, it wasn’t kids that were the problem. They were happily fishing in the spaces left by loutish, foul-mouthed young “adults” (twenty-somethings, probably). As Eric rightly says, the younger kids are easily intimidated by these young men. I found the kids to be polite and show due respect to everyone. There were one or two novice adult anglers there too. Stong tides were making life difficult for everybody, including the crews of smaller craft coming and going through the harbour mouth.
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CD :- This ‘proper childhood’ includes deliberately casting 4 and 6oz lead weights at passengers standing on the deck of ferries I presume? What exactly are the ‘powers that be’ supposed to do, children have been seen deliberately casting at passing vessels. What happens if a passenger gets seriously injured or worse, and it’s discovered that complaints were made by professional Masters of vessels entering and leaving the Port and nothing was done?
The major contributors for maintaining the harbours are the Port Users Association members.
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CD
Ha Ha ha I’m with you on that one;
we used to have such a place, it was the town Hospital. soon that was relinquished so that the police had a better place, and those old ones was shoved out thus requiring more police.
So what happens if these Kids of today remember the treatment you wish to bestow upon them by these old dodgers?
They’ll get you you know. I’d lay low if I was you: they might take all your bait away, seeing as you are ‘Baiting them’
Oh in case you think I’m a youngster I might just say (Only at heart) hee hee
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