Scallop dredging

[Eric the Viking]

Yeah, like whatever, Shankers

[Pentlandpirate]

"fishermen make no input into their crop"

It's a fair point. Look at how farmers tend their land to ensure the soil supports crops in the future and compare that with fishermen who farm the seas and continually take a crop, doing little to help sustain future crops.

[Eric the Viking]

At first glance Pentland most people would agree with you but if you think about it fishing isn't farming - the marine equivalent to farming is aquaculture - fishing is in effect akin to hunting, or with particular reference to creel fishing it's terrestriasl equivalent would be humane trapping.

If you would for a minute consider the anaogy of numerous large mesh wire cage traps dropped from the sky randomly over Seil all baited with lettuce leaves or carrots. No doubt many large, fat rabbits would be tempted - the smaller, younger rabbits however would be able to make good their escape through the mesh.

Creel fishing is not that different. Having overcropped a specific area the CPU ( catch per unit effort) will decrease to an extent that does not make it economically viable to continue fishing there and the fisherman will move to another area.. That doesn't mean the stock is in crisis - infact quite the reverse. It's pretty basic biology really, simple population dynamics, the growth and recruitment is enhanced by the removal of the larger individuals which reduces the interspecific competition which inturn leads to a healthy, thriving population of juveniles which in return become adults and fishing becomes viable again.

[Seventhseil]

I have never really understood why people have such a problem with fishermen who try to make their business viable...... any other business does the same.

[canUsmellthat]

Fishermen have to get a mfv, crew, fuel, gear, electrical equipment and a boat-load of other expensive paraphernalia to do their job...a farmer falling off his tractor does not hold the same consequences as a fisherman falling off his boat...quite...

[DiscoClint]

I'm hearing a lot of comments about how "fisherman give no input", "just take", "no return" etc. etc.

Are these casual observations, suggestions that we should all stop eating seafood, or suggestions that fishermen should be seeding the ocean? Does someone have any kind of idea about how to "give back" somehow? Perhaps nursing all the eggs from prawns until they reach weaning age? Growing them in fish tanks on boats, returning them to sea for a year and then catching them again? What the hell are fishermen supposed to do? Or is it farmed food that you are suggesting is the way forward? Something that many environmentalists say are are particularly bad due to the disease, crap and old food meal surrounding the farm?

I liked Eric's analogy about hunters, trappers etc. Similar also in that the catch which is too small to eat is returned, goes through the trawl net, or creel netting, thus selecting for larger size sea creatures anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I think stricter controls should be put in place for unsustainable fishing. However, there is absolutely no way that we are all going to eat only diver caught clams......unless, of course, like the fishermen (supposedly), you are lucky enough to have a lot of money.

[DiscoClint]

Discoclint (sp) will approve as a pagan, with pagan morals; I've locked up my virgin daughter by the way, Clint (sp)

Spelling is all good, thanks, Shanks.

Fear not for your virgin daughter in the midst of pagans. Morals are not taught by religion, but by peers, religious or not.

[longshanks]

Spelling is all good, thanks, Shanks.

Oh yeah ? They're very close together on the keyboard. You got big thumbs, Clint (sp), my friend?

Long Fingers (holidays in Scunthorpe by choice)

[khartoumteddy]

[quote]local pheasants recently started hatching. Not to everyone's taste but the chicks (de-fluffed and fried in garlic infused breadcrumbs in virgin Tuscan olive oil) make delicious eating, bones and all. Very easy to catch, scare off the hen pheasant and scoop them up by the handfull[/quote]Properly done like hedgehog if baked in clay de fluffing isnt necessary .
[quote]No doubt Erica will whinge about this post but I'm sure Discoclint (sp) will approve as a pagan, with pagan morals; I've locked up my virgin daughter by the way, Clint (sp)[/quote]

Sorry Shanks but virgin daughters( even at 60 ish) ; although im not sure about seasonal stuffing thereof; should be freed as well

TEDDY

[khartoumteddy]

Sorry Mr McBooker
Are you the book prize guy;
The food group
or The 60s recording Star
I dont read the Guarinad or whatever

Teddy

[ChristopherBooker]

Are you the book prize guy;
The food group
or The 60s recording Star

None of the above I am afraid. Currently a journalist and professional climate change sceptic, but really I have made a career for myself denouncing various alleged 'facts' such as the 'theory' of evolution, the dangers of white asbestos and other bogeymen foisted on our collective psyche in order to control us.

Chris Booker

[canUsmellthat]

KT, do you go by any other name on this forum???

[Pentlandpirate]

KT, do you go by any other name on this forum???

I think KT hs, it can be said, his/her own unique style that suggests they do do got under another ID...unless it is a very clever disguise.

However I have my suspicions about other 'new' members such as Christopher Booker, Disco Clint, etc, etc.

[canUsmellthat]

It's just that Longshanks isn't around just now and suddenly KT starts posting more than usual, referring to certain users in a similar kind of way...

[khartoumteddy]

KT is KT
and no one else

I IS WHAT IS


Teddy

[DiscoClint]

I can only write for myself, but I am my own man, man. I don't think other people are putting words in my mouth, but saying that, I don't really know who influences my thoughts. Possible (probable?) that Megan Fox influences them in some way.

Believe me, there is one and only one, DiscoClint (sp)

[khartoumteddy]

Sorry Clint

must admit to ms fox lives up to her name but not really my type two distinct advantages
Cherokee Irish and drop dead gorgeous

butUnfortunately

cancelled out by the French American bit

Whats wrong with Rhona Cameron

Teddy

[Sandy MacSeil]

Getting back to the original point, I think that in a hundred years there'll be damn all fish and shellfish left in the sea, thanks to the opportunistic thankless greed of todays' (local and national and international) fishermen. Maybe a few fish of each species on show in aquaria for our children and grandchildren to gawk at as out-of-date oddities. But point me to a Seil fisherman who has spared a half-braincell's thought for the sustainability of the seafood population and who hasn't overfished, overcharged, sent it all abroad, bought and built immodest properties and generally proved himself to be a thoughtless irresponsible blight on the local marine and social ecosystems. Not one sells locally. We just have a convoy of overwide vans tormenting us on our single-track road transferring our local shellfish as fast and irresponsibly as possible to countries overseas without thought for anything but self and profit. A scurge on our community. Get rid of these parasites!

[canUsmellthat]

Not a fish/ shellfish lover then...

[khartoumteddy]

Sandy has a point however I dont think we will be lucky enough to have any sustainable fishing industry
in 20 years let alone 50

All the shellfish will have gone to McBookers in the sky
The Green Onions will be well and truly cooked
and you wont be able to buy a scallop even on E-Bookers
or in the T&T
.
Pentland Pirates will be raiding Prawn Trawlers
and Mona Moaning a Lott More
We will remember fondly the olden days
When B&B had a road to leave potholes in
:English Flag :jack
and we all had a pot to P in

Teddy