Crisis talks over economic disaster facing fishing industry 27/7/12
Urgent talks are taking place today in a bid to save the Western Isles fishing industry from economic disaster.
The Minch was due to be closed to local prawn trawlers after a blitz by east coast boats.
An alternative move to ban many in the local fleet from fishing half the time is almost as bad say affected fishermen because it will badly hit fishermens’ livelihoods and force boats to tie up for long spells.
In addition, it will cut the amount of prawns supplied to island factories in Barra and Goat Island, Stornoway. Nearly 100 staff are employed between Barratlantic and Youngs.
Due to poor catches in the North Sea, large vessels from the east coast worked the
Minch grounds for the past three months causing the crisis by swallowing up the time-
In their wake, island fishermen have to suffer the consequences of curbed fishing over this coming winter in an attempt to avoid closing the Minch totally.
In its response the Western Isles Fishermen’s Association (WIFA) are demanding genuine concessions from the Scottish Government to allow the west coast fleet to continue fishing over the winter.
Though this would breach the normal fishery allowances fishermen say this could be paid back by taking in new rules against very large boats and those which don’t normally fish the area.
WIFA secretary Duncan Macinnes Secretary Duncan Macinnes has been in prolonged telephone talks with Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead over the crisis.
The WIFA has told the government: "It would be morally wrong to impose severe restrictions on vessels that have not altered their fishing pattern to satisfy a Cod Recovery Plan that is fundamentally flawed and unless challenged will destroy traditional coastal fishing communities."
Prawn fishermen will be badly hit