ON ITS KNEES: An empty quay at Whitby, once one of our busiest fishing ports, reflects the decline the industry has experienced in recent years
THE region's fisherman are
struggling to make a living because
they say harsh restrictions
are severely limiting
what they can catch.
Europe's fishing industry is
run from Brussels, which dictates
what type of fish - and
how many - fishermen in all 27
countries of the EU can catch.
More and more restrictions
have come into force in the
past few years and critics say
they are bringing an already
under-pressure industry to its
knees.
In the North-East, many
fishermen have abandoned
their ships and a sizeable proportion
of the region's fleet is
now partly crewed by Filipino
fishermen because there are
not enough locals to go round.
Some fishermen are switching
to smaller vessels because
they are subjected to fewer
restrictions - but they can
only go out when the weather
allows.
Others have gone to work on
the North Sea oil rigs.
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Rocketing fuel costs are an
added burden, with 40 per cent
of the income of the region's
fishermen spent on fuel.
The strictest rules apply to
the catching of popular fish,
such as cod, hake and monkfish,
which Brussels believes
are being over-fished.
But while the industry disagrees,
the World Wildlife
Fund UK believes existing
quotas are dangerously generous
and has called for five
areas of the North Sea to be
permanently closed.
John Hall, skipper of the
60ft Whitby trawler, the Abbie
Lee, said: "It's very difficult at
the moment.
"The quotas and the days we
are allowed to fish mean it's a
real struggle - we are only allowed
to fish four days a week,
which isn't enough.
"It's the EU that sets the
quotas, but the Government is
supposed to be fighting for us
- so why aren't they?
"There are a lot more fish
stocks in the North Sea than
what the scientists say there
is."
Many of the region's fishermen
now catch langoustines
because there is a big export
market for them. They have
also been catching whiting,
but even this is being curtailed.
Ned Clark, chairman of the
National Federation of Fishermen's
Organisation's North-
East committee, said: "The
quotas have been cut for the
past three years and we were
threatened with an 80 per cent
cut this year, even though
there is no problem with the
stock.
"Every year we seem to be
faced with more restrictions,
and it's becoming more and
more difficult to make a boat
operate properly. Most of us
have been fishermen all our
lives and we don't want to do
anything else.
"We would hope that there
would be some scope for easing
restrictions in the future.
If they would just ease off and
give us a little break for a couple
of years so the industry
could stabilise."
Posted by: Mick, Darlington on 10:51am Fri 28 Mar 08
I'd have to say I'm more inclined to believe the scientists on this one about stocks. They should hopefully have an unbiased view of the levels whereas the fishing industry understandably can't. I don't pretend to know much about the industry but it looks to me that quotas serve to protect the trawlermen livelihoods as much as the environment.
I'd have to say I'm more inclined to believe the scientists on this one about stocks. They should hopefully have an unbiased view of the levels whereas the fishing industry understandably can't. I don't pretend to know much about the industry but it looks to me that quotas serve to protect the trawlermen livelihoods as much as the environment.
Posted by: JM, Northallerton on 12:54pm Fri 28 Mar 08
The CFP says you can catch fish type X but not Y or B, but you can catch a little bit of A. They all swim in the same water, so the result is more fish being discarded (dead) back into the sea that what is landed.
The CFP is ridiculous and illogical. Non-EU countries have far more effective conservation methods such as limiting days at sea and banning discards.
The only way forward is withdrawal from the CFP, but as that is not possible within the EU (due to the principle of the acquis communautaire, the body of accumulated EU law), we should withdraw from the EU (not just for that reason!).
Norway has rejected EU membership due to the EU requirement for all member states to hand over their fishing grounds as a 'common EU resource', and look at them now, one of the richest countries in Europe and with control of their well managed fishing grounds.
The CFP says you can catch fish type X but not Y or B, but you can catch a little bit of A. They all swim in the same water, so the result is more fish being discarded (dead) back into the sea that what is landed.
The CFP is ridiculous and illogical. Non-EU countries have far more effective conservation methods such as limiting days at sea and banning discards.
The only way forward is withdrawal from the CFP, but as that is not possible within the EU (due to the principle of the acquis communautaire, the body of accumulated EU law), we should withdraw from the EU (not just for that reason!).
Norway has rejected EU membership due to the EU requirement for all member states to hand over their fishing grounds as a 'common EU resource', and look at them now, one of the richest countries in Europe and with control of their well managed fishing grounds.
Posted by: j m, north sheilds on 1:33pm Fri 28 Mar 08
it say's that smaller fishing vessels have less restrictions! i'm affraid that is not so .enterying into the forth month of the year and the under ten meter quota is over half taken and the weather in the last three months has been unworkable.this sector will be finished first![bold]bold[/bold]
it say's that smaller fishing vessels have less restrictions! i'm affraid that is not so .enterying into the forth month of the year and the under ten meter quota is over half taken and the weather in the last three months has been unworkable.this sector will be finished first!
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