Tag Archives: Clyde Fishermen’s Association
Scottish fishermen launch survey of North Sea fish stocks to tackle government’s ‘poor science’
Scottish fishermen have revealed plans to fund additional surveys of North Sea white fish stocks in a bid to tackle the Scottish Government’s ‘poor science’. The Shetland Fishermen’s Association and the Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association are organizing “rigorous, transparent studies of key fish stocks that are fit for purpose”. The groups, which account for more than 80% of the UK’s white fish catches, criticized the Scottish Government for following “poor science” in its recent decision to close the Clyde cod-box, which led to its plans to fund its own scientific research into the North Sea. >click to read< 11:37
Firth of Clyde: Fishermen hit out at new measures aimed at protecting cod stocks
Exemptions allowing langoustine trawlers, creels and scallop dredgers to use the area during spawning season will be ended. The Clyde Fishermen’s Association says the move will have “a horrific impact”, but the government says it needs to act now to protect cod stocks. For 20 years, measures to protect spawning cod in the Firth of Clyde have been in place through an annual 11-week closure between February 14 and April 30. >click to read< 10:20
Fishermen slam ‘soul-destroying’ decision to end Clyde fishing exemption
Fishermen have slammed the Scottish Government’s ‘soul-destroying’ decision to introduce new cod stock protection measures in the Firth of Clyde. The government is ending an exemption letting creel and scallop dredgers and langoustine trawlers use the area during the approaching spawn season. For more than two decades, measures were in place to protect spawning cod in the Firth of Clyde, with the area being closed off for 11 weeks between 14 February and 30 April. The group said that the “total loss of income” would affect many small family boats for months, which is a burden to the fishing communities following Brexit and the pandemic. >click to read< 09:11
Brexit: Will Scottish fishing boats move to Northern Ireland?
Most of the fishing that takes place close to the west coast of Scotland is for shellfish, and most of the catch is exported to Europe. But an industry that is already struggling because demand has dried up during the Covid-19 pandemic is now facing the prospect of no trade deal between the UK and the EU. That would lead to tariffs (or taxes) on goods traded between them – making the produce of some Scottish fishermen too expensive for European customers. Whatever happens in the final weeks of post-Brexit trade talks, Northern Ireland will have easier access to the EU economy next year than the rest of the UK. Could some Scottish fishermen continue to fish in the same waters, but re-register their boats in Northern Ireland? >click to read< 09:17
Seabed search in Loch Fyne for lost fishermen
Fresh efforts have been made to locate the bodies of two fishermen lost in a sinking on Loch Fyne. Their vessel, the Nancy Glen, sank on 18 January. One member of the crew was rescued by a passing boat but Przemek Krawczyk and Duncan MacDougall, who both lived in Tarbert, were lost. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) were surveying the site to decide if the wreck can be raised. A candle was lit for the lost men at a ceremony in Tarbert on Saturday. Elaine Whyte of the Clyde Fishermen’s Association said the situation had been hard on the families of the fishermen. >click to read< 22:20
Fishermen say communities will ‘die’ if new regulations come into force
Fishermen have warned their industry could be ruined and communities will die if planned regulation goes ahead. The Clyde Fishermen’s Association has said the viability of fishing in the firth would be undermined by changes to regulations governing marine protected areas (MPA), leading to economic collapse in the towns and villages dominated by fishing. The change to the regulations means fishing vessels could be restricted from certain areas, including south of Arran and the Sound of Jura, for environmental reasons. Read the article here 08:40
