Loughs Agency Gníomhaireacht na Lochanna Factrie fur Loughs

Transcription

1 REGULATORY IMPACT ASSESSMENT ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OF THE FOYLE AREA AND CARLINGFORD AREA (LICENSING OF FISHING ENGINES) REGULATIONS 2001

2 Title of proposal The proposed Regulations will introduce the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area:- Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licensing of Fishing Engines) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 Purpose and intended effect The objective of this impact assessment is to inform policy on the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licensing of Fishing Engines) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 which will:- Amend the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licensing of Fishing Engines) Regulations 2001, and allow the following specific changes in regulation; (i) (ii) The omission of references to stake Nets and to Bag Nets and Fixed Draft and other nets used seaward of the seaward limit of Lough Foyle. Introduce a concessionary coarse fishing rod and line licence for a person holding a season coarse fishing rod and line licence issued by another authority or body on the island of Ireland.

3 (iii) To increase the costs of Loughs Agency fishing licences in line with 4% inflation and maintain harmonised licence prices with Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland. These regulatory changes will also require the following revocations and amendments; Revocation of the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licensing of Fishing Engines) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations The amendment of The Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licensing of Fishing Engines) Regulations 2001 by revocation of regulation 5, 7(3) and 8(3). The consultation document is available on the Loughs Agency website at. Background This Consultation Document sets out proposals by the Lough Agency for the introduction of a new regulation amending the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licensing of Fishing Engines) Regulations 2001 by prescribing new licence fees for 2009 with a price increase of 4% as an inflation linked rise. This price rise also maintains a harmonisation between Loughs Agency Licence fees and that of the Fisheries Conservancy Board (FCB) They also introduce a concessionary coarse fishing rod and line licence for a person holding a season coarse fishing rod and line licence issued by the

4 Fisheries Conservancy Board. This issue was raised by the Ulster Coarse Angling Federation who want to ensure equity of costs between Loughs Agency and Fisheries Conservancy Board licences for Coarse fishing. They also remove references to commercial salmon nets previously used beyond the seaward limit of Lough Foyle. This intervention is an administrative exercise to simply remove the licences price categories for those licences no longer in use. Rationale for regulatory intervention This Regulatory Impact Assessment is not for new regulatory intervention but a combination of regulatory amendments. These amendments are; Simple inflationary rise for fishing licences. Removal of redundant charges and fees with regulation. Addition of an endorsement for Coarse licences to ensure equality for coarse anglers. The consultation on the RIA will provide an opportunity for interested parties to make their own representations in respect of the potential impact of these proposals on stakeholders.

5 Consultation Within government Other Government Departments will be routinely consulted as part of the public consultation exercise. Public consultation A public consultation exercise with stakeholders will be undertaken. The proposed regulation has been screened for equality implications and there are no equality issues for any of the section 75 groups. Options Option 1: Option 2: Option 3: Do nothing. Other administrative steps Amend regulations Option (1) - Do nothing. If the Agency does not amend the regulations as outlined in the consultation document, it could face three consequences;

6 A failure to ensure fishing licences keep pace with inflation and the breaking of harmonisation with Fisheries Conservancy Board licence fees leading to income loss for the Agency and confusion for our customers. This option would also lead the Agency into confrontation with the Culture Arts and Leisure Minister who requested harmonisation of Loughs Agency and Fisheries Conservancy Board Licences after the review of recreational fishing. The continued confusion over the endorsement of coarse angling licence, which has been described as an equality issue by the Ulster Coarse Angling Federation. The continued regulatory lists of licence categories that no longer exist in the Foyle and Carlingford areas again leading to confusion by our customers. Option (2) - Other administrative steps. The option of making adjustments to the regulation by other administrative steps is not possible as the existing licence conditions and charges are set in regulation, which means they can only be changed by regulation. Option (3) - Amend regulations This option is the only possible way to bring in the changes to the fees and amendments to the regulations required.

7 Costs There will be no cost to small businesses. The only costs are the inflation linked cost increase for the licence fees, which in the current economic climate is only a modest increase. The endorsement provisions to the coarse angling licence will be a saving to anglers currently purchasing a game angling licence to have it endorsed and should be viewed positively by the angling fraternity. Sectors and groups affected The regulation will not directly affect any commercial interests in the Foyle and Carlingford area. The regulations once amended will show a modest price increase for angling licences. Summary and recommendation To introduce amendments to The Foyle Area And Carlingford Area (Licensing Of Fishing Engines) 2001

8 23. Declaration and publication I have read the Regulatory Impact Assessment and I am satisfied that the benefits justify the costs. Signed.... Date.