COMPETITIONS AND COMPETITION RULES
For the purpose of identification the competitions are divided into three categories, A, B and C. The importance of one competition against another is not intended and should not be construed.
Category A: FIPS-M World Boat and Shore Championships
Category B: NIFSA Annual League ALL disciplines.
Successful anglers to fish future world and home nations teams will be picked from the top ten anglers. First 5 anglers shall participate in world competitions, the next 5 anglers shall participate in the home nations. Anglers 11 and 12 shall be team subs
The prizes for the Master Angler Boat Lure Kayak and Shore Championships will be decided by the Central Committee.
With each angling discipline a focal member will be responsible for the smooth running of the league.
GENERAL COMPETITION REGULATIONS
1. All competitions fished under the rules of NIFSA shall be run on a conservation basis. Every effort must be made to ensure all fish, with the exception of those to be retained for culinary use, or considered to comply with record or specimen regulations are returned alive. In boat competitions the 'Card' system will apply. Fish are allocated points on capture and are marked on a score sheet by the Steward and returned alive. The number of points awarded per fish to be decided by the organising body. A further 11 points per species will also be awarded. A minimum size of 15cm to apply. In the event of a tie, the greatest number of fish shall decide. In the event of a second tie, the greatest number of fish with the highest points shall decide. 1A Kayak rules for league to be set 1B Lure rules for league to be set
2. All competitors must be members of NIFSA unless NIFSA has organised and is running an open competition, in which case the visiting angler must pay an additional £5 to cover insurance
3. Trophies presented, as awards in all NIFSA competitions must be returned in a satisfactory condition. Any damage or loss incurred after receipt of a trophy and prior to its return shall be the responsibility of the holder, or his/her club at the time.
4. Protests made by any competitor shall be lodged with the disciplines point of contact member within 15 minutes of return to check-in. The protest shall be in writing, signed by the competitor protesting and a fellow competitor as witness and by the officer to whom it is made.
5. NIFSA reserves the right to refuse entry to anybody it deems will bring NIFSA into disrepute.
6. Under no circumstances shall a competitor hold NIFSA, its Competition Committees or any of its members, officials or authorised personnel, responsible for any accident, loss or damage, which he/she may sustain.
7. No minimum sizes to apply with the following exceptions. Conger Eel: Points shall be decided by the organising body and shall be awarded on the following basis - under 20 cm, over 20 cm, under 35 cm and over 35 cm. Lesser Spotted Dog Fish: The first two to be measured in shore events. Set points will be awarded to all Dog Fish including those measured. In either of the above systems the organising body may apply quotas for any number of species and may decide any species ineligible.
8. The following minimum sizes to apply to fish to be retained for culinary use: Coalfish/Pollock – 30 cm, Cod - 40 cm, Conger Eel - 80 cm, Flatfish – 25 cm, Haddock – 30 cm, Ling – 60 cm, Thornback Ray – 45 cm wingspan. Blonde Ray – 45 cm wingspan. In order to ensure the protection and conservation of sea fish, all members of NIFSA must observe these measurements.
9. Angling shall be by rod and line and only one rod with reel and line may be used by a competitor. The paternoster or ledger, trace or other tackle attached thereto shall not have more than three hooks or artificial lures or baits, and only one set of tackle may be in use at the same time. No bait or fish attractants may be introduced to the water prior to the start of Category A and B Competitions. A treble hook counts as three hooks.
10. The rules governing a particular competition may be framed so as to prohibit the use of either artificial lures or baits, at the discretion of the NIFSA.
BOAT COMPETITIONS
11. All Boat Competitions run under the auspices of the NIFSA are subject to regulations and/or guidelines that will be reviewed annually.
12. In boat competitions only, terminal tackle baited or unabated, is deemed to be in use once it is outside the angler's bag or box, A competitor may have a reserve rod, but this shall not be assembled unless the rod in use is disabled, or has previously been dismounted.
13. Boats must be clearly numbered and positions therein shall be drawn for. No competitor may change or be changed to any other boat or position inferior to the boat or position wherein he/she has already been drawn, unless by the agreement of the competitor and the officials controlling the competition. In certain circumstances and where it is considered necessary, the organising body may, at its discretion and with the agreement of the competitor move him/her from one boat to another.
14. In the interest of safety, any form of overhead casting from within the boat shall be barred. Where up tide casting is permitted, the cast must be made from outside the boat.
15. All boat competitions run under NIFSA rules shall have a lines down and lines up time with an immediate return to harbour. In the event of an angler hooking a fish at lines up time, the required time should be allowed to play the fish. The remainder of the anglers on board must take their lines out of the water.
16. A competitor, steward or boatman, if called upon to do so, may assist to unhook a fish caught by another competitor.
17. A fish hooked in the mouth by two or more anglers is ineligible.
18. Entry forms properly completed and signed by the competitor will be processed and accompanied by the entry fee and boat charges, must be sent to the nominated person of the promoting body by the specified closing date. Late entries may be accepted in special circumstances, but shall only be allocated places when all competitors who have complied with entry requirements have been catered for.
19. All boats must carry the safety equipment as laid down by the NIFSA. Each angler shall be responsible for providing his/her own life saving appliance.
20. NIFSA requires all boats taking part in their competitions to be equipped with rubbish collection facilities.
21. NIFSA takes no liability for boats or other property loaned or hired to it for competitions. Clubs loan or hire the property at their own risk. To protect their rights and interests and to care for their property, they themselves shall appoint a Steward for each boat so loaned or hired. Boats privately chartered by an angler or anglers cannot take part in NIFSA competitions unless otherwise specifically stated by the committee.
SHORE COMPETITIONS
22. In shore competitions the 'Measurement' system will apply, minimum fish size for shore competitions is 18cm unless previously stated. All fish are rounded down. Fish are measured by the Steward (who may be an angler on an adjacent peg) and allocated points on a score sheet according to their length and returned alive. In the event of a tie, the greatest number of fish shall decide. In the event of a second tie, the single longest fish shall decide.
23. In all shore angling competitions the area to be fished shall be marked or staked and numbered by the competition committee prior to draw taking place. Numbered 1 up from left to right facing water. Competitors shall draw for places, which shall be a minimum of 12 metres apart. Any competitor fishing other than his/her allocated place will be disqualified. In certain circumstances, the committee may permit exceptions.
24. In all competitions, where a draw for positions takes place, only one entry per person will be permitted. Where a poor position is drawn, the angler may not draw again whether he/she pays a second fee.
25. In the interests of safety, if an angler wades out to cast, he/she must return immediately to the shore.
26. In shore competitions, every competitor must report back to the check-in area, or have a fellow competitor do so on his/her behalf.
Finance
All members must be fully paid up to NIFSA before participating in any competition or activity within NIFSA.
NIFSA Discipline rules and laws
These byelaws are basically to cover incidents that because of the nature of the sport of sea angling are not easily defined by definition. Procedures set out will be applied to any matter deemed by any Member of NIFSA to warrant a complaint or protest. Taking into account the need for Natural Justice.
1. Every complaint must be in writing and signed. Complaints based on hearsay will not be entertained. The person or persons who sign the complaint must be prepared to give a direct account of the circumstances leading to the complaint.
2. Complaints would normally be in relation to unsavoury conduct likely to bring the NIFSA into disrepute, irregularities in relation to members, organisation of competitions and breaches of safety standards. Common sense should prevail.
3. Protests come under Competition Rule 23 which could lead to disqualifying of a
competitor, or in certain circumstances more serious consequences.
4. A Member of NIFSA may make a complaint directly to the organising member or
Committee member.
5. All complaints shall be acknowledged in writing to the complainant with an indication of the date of the meeting at which the matter complained of will be discussed. The committee, on receiving the complaint will decide by majority decision if there is a case for any action. Common sense should prevail and where action is warranted the body who receives the complaint shall decide if the matter complained of is (a) Technical, (b) Trivial, (c) Serious, (d), Very Serious.
6. Where the finding is Technical the necessary steps shall be taken to rectify the matter and the complainant notified accordingly.
7. If the finding is Trivial the complainant will be notified of the finding. The matter complained of will be brought to the notice of the offending person or body. If deemed necessary.
8. When the finding is (a) Serious, (b) Very serious, the person or body making the complaint will be requested to come before the committee, with a view to confirming without equivocation that the substance of complaint is sustainable. It shall be pointed out to the complainant that a copy of the complaint will have to be forwarded to the member against whom the complaint has been made and thereafter be perused to whatever level of authority. If the complainant indicates they want to proceed. The complainant will be informed that a face-to-face hearing of the matter complained of will be held. The member against whom the complaint has been made will be notified and a copy of the complaint forwarded to them. A suitable date will be arranged.
9. All the members of the committee that received the complaint and who decided the initial finding will be entitled to attend, the committee will decide beforehand on three members to act as enquirers. The member against whom the complaint has been made will be so notified.
10. The member against whom the complaint has been made shall be entitled to whatever
Representation they wish or deem necessary at their own expense.
11. The committee conducting the hearing shall be entitled to call any witness that may be in
a position to give light to the issue.
12. The member against whom the complaint has been made shall be entitled to call any
witness that may be in a position to give light to the matter.
13. At the conclusion of the hearing the committee conducting the enquiry shall meet in private session to discuss all the evidence presented, take into account mitigating circumstances that may have come to light and then vote on to either uphold or reject the complaint.
14. In view of the fact that at this point in time there is no precedent for correct procedural
penalties it will be a matter for the committee holding the enquiry.
15. Protests will be dealt with promptly and at the time as far as possible as the subject 16. A competitor who protests to a practice of infringement of a Competition Rule by another competitor should bring the infringement to the notice of the steward, who will note the time and name of the protester. The protester must be prepared to complete the Approved Form at the termination of the event. The steward at the time the infringement is brought to his/her notice will ensure that the practice or infringement is discontinued.
17. All Sea Angling Competitors are expected to know and understand the rules of fair play. The angler who is the subject of a protest may dispute the issue. If the steward is of the opinion that there is an unfair practice, or an infringement of the rules taking place the angler shall desist. If the angler insist that what he/she is doing is legal and continues the practice or to infringe a rule. The steward will inform the competitor that he or she could be disqualified, when the matter is considered after the event.
18. A competitor who under the above byelaws is disqualified or has been the subject of a protest should understand that his or her character, integrity or reputation has not been impugned. The implementation of the rule is similar in many ways to “Sending Off” or A “Foul” in football.
19. Any protest or matter in connection with an angling event not dealt with on the day or
days of the event shall be pursued as a complaint.
20. These byelaws have as their aim to prevent the spread of disaffection within the NIFSA
and it’s members.
Safety at Sea during competitions
● Every sea angling competition or festival shall have a nominated person whose sole responsibility will be to ensure that these safety regulations are adhered to. This nominated person will be shore based throughout the event.
● Competitions /festivals shall only be held under the following:
1. Must be held during the period 1st of April to the 31st of October. 2. In daylight hours. 3. In fine weather and with good visibility. 4. Wind speed less than 25 knots. 5. Wave lengths of less than 2 metres. 6. Not more than three miles from land and fifteen miles from departure point. 7. All boats to operate within a designated area, as defined by the organisers.
● The nominated person shall obtain a localised weather forecast covering the intended area of operation on the day the competition /festival is to take place.
● numbers of sea anglers per boat shall not exceed the number deemed to be safe by the skipper of each boat and shall in no case exceed twelve.
● All boats taking part in any competition/festival shall be equipped with a marine radio equipment to facilitate communication between the boats themselves and the Coast Guard (CG). Note: A mobile phone is not an alternative for a marine radio. Adequate and in-date flares. Anchors with sufficient length of rope and chain. Fire fighting equipment. Adequate bailing facilities. A second means of propulsion. Lifebuoys.
● All sea anglers must wear a Buoyancy aid or a Personnel Floatation Device (PFD) of minimum 150 N at all times while aboard the boat. Floatation suits are not an alternative as they only have a 50 N capacity. Note: Recommendation from the Department of the Marine requires a PFD to the standard of EN 396, so if you a intending on buying a new PED try and get one to this standard.
● All such safety boats shall be suitable and equipped for the purposes for which they are intended, bearing in mind the need for speed, sea-keeping, communications, visibility and means of recovery of persons from the water. Safety boat should be crewed with sufficient and experienced personnel. The role and use of the safety boat shall be fully explained to and understood by all those involved. Procedures to be used in any emergency situation, shall be clearly established in advance between the nominated person and the crews of the safety boat and the crews of the sea angling boat.
The nominated person shall give prior notification to the CG in good time, giving the date and the area of fishing of any sea angling competition / festival. This notification shall include the names of all the boats participating and the number of persons on each boat. The nominated person shall agree a reporting procedure with the CG including contact arrangements between the CG and the nominated person.
The nominated person shall maintain a written record of the names of all the boats participating in the competition/festival and the names of the persons on board each boat. Record the return of all boats and any incident connected with safety. The nominated person shall submit a report on the competition/festival to the Secretary of NIFSA
Any competition/festival organiser(s), boat owner or sea angler failing to comply with the directions of the nominated person shall be held in breach of the regulations. The nominated person shall have the authority to disqualify the boat, call off the competition/ festival or disqualify the angler. Any such incidents shall be notified to the committee.