Ryedale | Archive | 2003 | August | 06
From the Gazette & Herald, first published Wednesday 6th Aug 2003.
THE new Fisheries Minister, Ben Bradshaw, heard some harsh words from the leaders of Scarborough's fishing industry when he made a fact-finding visit to the Yorkshire coast.
Mr Bradshaw met fishermen from Scarborough and Whitby in early morning visits to the two harbours and also saw the new sea training school in action.
He was warned by Fred Normandale, chairman of Scarborough Inshore Fishermen's Society, that the northern fleet could soon be wiped out entirely as a result of a conflict of views between the industry and scientists.
"There is so much to lose because not only will fishermen and their families suffer but so will many other people onshore whose jobs depend on the industry."
At Whitby, Dave Winspear, of Alliance Fish Company, said: "I think Mr Bradshaw seemed enthusiastic and keen to understand the problems."
The minister saw some 2.6 tonnes of cod and haddock landed. He was told by the fishermen that the scientists from the International Council of the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) that they did not agree with their view that drastic action is needed to curb fishing.
Mr Normandale said that with so few fishing boats surviving on the Yorkshire Coast, it was wrong to say they were responsible for any decline in fish stocks.
The fishermen urged Mr Bradshaw to persuade the European Commission to rethink reducing landing quotas because of the damage which would be caused to the centuries-old fishing industry. Mr Winspear said: "One of the main causes of poor fish stocks in the past has been industrial fishing by foreign trawlers."
Mr Bradshaw said: "There is a gulf between the scientists and the fishermen, which it is vital to bridge."
He said a £1m research project was planned in an attempt to find common ground.
"The gulf is whether there is a problem with fishing stocks in the North Sea. The scientists say there is a major and serious problem and, if we do not have control measures, that stock will be destroyed forever. The fishermen are telling me that they have caught more cod this year than ever."
Mr Normandale said: "We are pleased the minister listened to our fears and we are cautiously optimistic about the future as a result."
Updated: 11:06 Wednesday, August 06, 2003
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