The British Record (Rod Caught) Fish Committee -(BRFC) are the official organisation taking responsibility for all angling fish records within the United kingdom, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, collectively known as the "British Records". Since 2009 the BRFC have been part of the Angling Trust
Committee
The committee is composed of volunteers, including specialists in marine and specialist in freshwater fish, all with specialist knowledge of angling and the natural world and experience working with a background of various organisations, such as the scientific advisors to the Environment Agency and the Natural History Museum, angling organisations such as (SFSA)- Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers. The committee will inspect each claim and adjudicate on its credibility before publishing a list of British Record Fish at regular intervals.
History and controversy
Formed in 1968, one of the first and most noted decision was to purge the existing British Record list at the time, to virtually start from scratch, only allowing records that could be verified with photographic evidence, witnesses, tested weighing scales, correct species identification, and other evidential factors. Amongst the casualties were the barbel record of 14lb 6oz shared by Tryon, Wallis and Wheeler, the 10lb 8oz Chub of Dr.J.A Cameron, the 4lb 11oz Crucian carp of H.C. Hinson, the 1lb 8oz 5dr Dace caught by R.W.Humphrey in 1932, a 4lb 8oz Silver bream by C.R. Rhind, but most famously of all the 47lb 11oz Loch Lomond Pike caught by T.Morgan in 1945, due to not having a photograph of the fish. The second controversial event was when the BRFC refused to accept Chris Yates 51lb 8oz carp record in 1980 because at the time the fishes body needed to be provided as evidence, and Chris had returned the carp to the water alive and well. Following this controversial and monumental decision, the rule to provide dead fish as evidence was rescinded.
In December 2016, The Angling Times reported that the carp "Big Rig" had been rejected as a record on the basis that it had been cultivated, as in been fed to a record weight before being released into the venue where it was finally caught. This was the first time the BRFC had rejected a record course fish on the grounds of it being cultivated. The carp had been caught at 69lb 13oz by Tom Doherty on 26 Sept 2016 at The Avenue, RH Fisheries in Shropshire and was subsequently caught again later by Robby Harrison at the largest weight for a carp caught in British waters of 71lb 4oz on 23 Oct 2016, of which also was never to be confirmed as an official British record.
Reasons why a record fish claim may be rejected
- 1. Fish not caught by fair angling method of using rod and line fish hooked in the mouth by baited hook or lure.
- 2. Captured with assistance, fish must be played and caught by one person only.
- 3. Caught outside of the fishing season. * Note 1.
- 4. Caught in an area where fishing is not permitted. * Note 2.
- 5. Inaccurate scales (although they can be tested later and the weight re-adjusted).
- 6. No photograph (as proof).
- 7. Photo-graphical evidence is of too poor quality and fails to assist investigation.
- 8. Photograph does not include an identifiable object for size/perspective comparison.
- 9. Witnesses not credible (i.e. family or friends).
- 10. Incorrect species (some fish are susceptible to hybridization).
- 11. Abnormal growth due to disease or other factors.
- 12. Alien species not naturalized as Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 ,Section 30 (for England and Wales) or the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.
- 13. Recently imported fish (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981).
- 14. Endangered and protected species (such as European Sturgeon, Powan, Allis shad or vendace.
- 15. Freshwater species not already on the record list, such as Spined loach(Cobitis taenia) or Ninespine stickleback /Ten-spined stickleback(Pungitius pungitius).
- 16. Cultivated as in “grown to record weight using an artificial feeding scheme, before being released into the venue of captureâ€.
[Note 1: Even if closed season is no longer applicable today, an unfair advantage was gained at that time.] [Note 2: It is only fair that records are only accepted if caught at a venue where it would be possible for any member of the public can seek approval for fishing.]
Fish Records
For a list of current and past fish records see: Angling records in the UK. A majority, though not all of these records have been recognized by the BRFC.
External links
- Angling trust website BRFC page
References
