Scottish fishermen have met with fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead to highlight serious problems currently facing the west coast fishing industry.
Following the meeting in Mallaig, Mallaig John Hermse, North-West Fishermen’s Association secretary, said: “One of the biggest concerns raised was the real lack of fishing opportunity available due to the ‘emergency’ management measures that have been in place since 2009.
"These totally unwarranted measures unfairly preclude our fishermen from diversifying into the sustainable harvesting of other species such as squid and queen scallops, and causes discards of dogfish.”
The fishermen also asked the minister for support to initiate research and sea-going trials into the viability of a west coast squid fishery. It is a high value species, which they believe has real potential as a local fishery.
The meeting also discussed creel management – including the limitation on the number of pots fishermen can set. Hermse said a government report on this is due to be released shortly.
“Marketing was a key issue at the talks and we welcomed the minister’s recognition that there is still plenty of scope to create a wider market for Scottish caught prawns. We told the minister that much more could be done to generate positive marketing messages on the vast array of quality seafood that is harvested around our shores and urged him to consider committing more resources towards this.
“The issue of offshore renewable energy was also on the agenda. We are supportive of marine renewable energy projects – but not if they displace fishermen from their traditional fishing grounds.”
Bertie Armstrong, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive, said: “The problems facing the west coast fishing industry are particularly acute. The market for prawns, crab and lobster is not particularly strong because of the recession and the scallop sector is facing the continual threat of being displaced from traditional fishing grounds because of the rapid growth in Marine Protected Areas.”
