The state of our fishing industry...

[canUsmellthat]

Ok, poor Spiderman wants a topical subject so here goes...

The current state of the fishing industry, by all accounts, is in a shocking state of decline. North Sea oil reserves might represent the state of North Sea fisheries whilst farmland bird declines might be a good representation of Scotland’s prawn and scallop industry (perhaps.)

Let’s have a topical debate on Scotland’s fishing industry, should trawlers be banned and/or sent further out to sea? Should dredging be a thing of the past? What about the North Sea?

C’mon then people, get involved if you think you know anything about the commercial fishing industry, an industry that our small community is part of, I know some of you know something…

[spiderman]

Hi Custy, poor Spidey here. Thanks for kicking the chat off. Don't know anything at all about commercial fishing except that overfishing has left stocks in bad shape and so I assume that we need serious restraining measures to recover sustainability. I quite like the ideas (of Alastair McIntosh) that coastal waters (to 12 miles) should be held in trust for the local fishing communities by local or regional councils. This would ensure that the resource may not be sold to fishing corporations from outside the region. Local Authorities might implement the scheme in close co-operation with the relevant fishing communities. Quotas allocated to the fleets within the 12 mile coastal zone and the firths and Minches, might be allocated to the Councils and leased to bona fide fishermen in the area, according to strict criteria. The quotas would thus be ring-fenced to prevent their sale to non-local companies. The benefits of multipliers and linkages would thereby remain in the local economy. The Local Authorities would also be able, like the Fishery Committees in England (to a lesser degree), to determine local regulations in co-operation with local fishermen, and ensure that these are observed throughout the regional coastal zone. This would permit a solution to problems like the conflict between static and mobile gear, and would make it possible to limit or ban the use of certain methods like twin trawls, nephrops trawl brushes, and I or beam trawls. Maybe our new Scottish Parliament could move in this direction?

As a BOF, just wanted to help get the ball rolling!

[a nonny mouse]

Another BOF here. I don't know anything about commercial fishing, though after watching Trawlermen on BBC 1 I'll never complain about the price of fish again. I don't know how they stick the cold, the danger and the uncertainty of ever catching anything at all.

[canUsmellthat]

Well I attempted to take the standard up a notch but alas it didn't work. We have to give in to the fact that the good citizens of this site are nothing but plebs and laymen, with respect.

[Herby Dice]

Well I attempted to take the standard up a notch but alas it didn't work. We have to give in to the fact that the good citizens of this site are nothing but plebs and laymen, with respect.

Don't give up, Smelly. I am sure that loads of us would like to discuss the fate of the fishing industry, but my guess is that few of us have sufficient knowledge to make a valuable contribution. I certainly don't. Spidey made a pretty coherent response, though, perhaps it is a little early to abandon the conversation?

As a wee aside-let, laymen perhaps, but plebs? How you can append that with a "with respect" and keep a straight face....

[canUsmellthat]

With respect to those who took an interest! (It was also an attempt at humour). But congrats HD, you are no longer a pleb in my eyes.

[Seventhseil]

mmm as usual our "Great Britain" goverment has ignored the fishing industry for too long. Although it is still very important to Scotland with 70% of UK landings made in Scottish ports and it is a lifeline industry through out the Highlands and Islands.

As for fish stocks in the Noord Zee there is a school of thought that warming of the sea is driving the cod and haddock further north.....in the same way as spider crab are moving up the coast of Britain.

Banning certain types of fishing doesn't really work as either boats convert and put increased pressure on another fish stock or the fishery goes to a country who have less "scruples" about how they fish.

[canUsmellthat]

Does anybody think there should be a ban on all fishing vessels less than a mile from our coastlines?

I think more marine parks and tighter restrictions on landing sizes is the way forward. I also think that fishermen should pick up the tab of hiring conservation warriors to carry out much needed research in areas where fishing activities are going on. Too long have the commercial fishermen been raping our sea bed and I think they should be held accountable for their actions...

Does anyone agree with me?

[Keshet]

I think the tourists would miss the smelly fishermen and their oilskins and wellies look. After all we are surrounded by water- what s an island without a fisherman, And what would happen to the lifeboat crews - they cannot survive on yachties alone. What about oggy john - how would he survive without being able to sell his crab sarnies. One window cleaner on the island is more than enough.

And as for marine parks - pphh!!! what is this, that we have pretty unnatural scenic stuff that is not in keeping with the west coast. Keep this idea for your lake districts. Scotland was built on its fishing industry and so it should remain for those who enjoy being tossed about on the high seas and risking life and limb to put a haddock in the old fish supper.

Life on the ocean waves -
Harbourseil might wish to comment however.....

[Seil Blubber]

There are no fish left because me and my cousins Clubber, Harbour and Elephant are eating them all . . .

[Seil Sally]

I see this thread melted !!! Shame! - perhaps certain contributors shouldn't be so condescending !!!

[Minimum]

Has anyone asked the fish?

[Pentlandpirate]

And just today they announce that they should limit the cod catch in 2008 to HALF what it was in 2006, see
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/nor ... 045589.stm

Is fishing in the UK going to be limited to fish farming and harvesting shell fish?

[Seil Sally]

Rather than some people leaving the industry, couldn't all the boats simply take some time off - not all at once obviously!! ?

[Pentlandpirate]

SS...........that's a nice idea. Are you also going to give them money so that they can afford to take these unpaid 'holidays'? Even fishermen have mortgages, families, children to feed and clothe, and aspirations for a reasonable standard of living

[Me?]

Fishermen have feelings too!!!!!

[Minimum]

So do fish.

[Seventhseil]

Not according to the sport fishing crowd....

[Eric the Viking]

Well observed Seventh

Angling's a blood sport - So what?

Doesn't seem to bother the 'animal lovers' on the forum.

Take Kilmore fishery for example - certain forum members seem more concerned about the lettuce levels in the cuddly rodent enclosure than the fact patrons pay cash to jab trout with sharp hooks.

However - if you accept the fact that fish is still the one component of our diet that is actually 'hunted' for in this modern world of ours - then what's the problem with angling?

[Seventhseil]

No problem with angling.......as a fellow student of Alesund highschool and Trondhiem University I feel your unplsnt rmrks abt mi spelin deepli hurtin mrs eric...