UK fisheries study 'rubbish': industry

Fishing industry leaders deemed a new report that claims that UK fisheries have declined by 94 per cent over the past 120 years “rubbish.”

The study, conducted by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and York University, said “extraordinary” declines in species like cod, haddock and plaice had been masked by fleet developments that allow vessels to trawl further, deeper and quicker. MCS said its analysis of fish landing records spanning back to the 1880s proved that tighter quota cuts are needed.

These claims came as European ministers met for two days of informal negotiations on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in Vigo, Spain.

John Buchan, skipper of the Peterhead-registered Ocean Venture II, called the findings “absolute rubbish” and defied the scientists to join him on the vessel to see firsthand how stocks had recovered in recent years, reports The Press and Journal.

John Hermse of the Mallaig and North West Fishermen’s Association said the study’s authors ignored balanced research to meet their particular needs.

“It’s all very well emphasizing ‘the urgent need for action’ but the authors would do well to look at what's happening in today's marine environment, rather than dredging up dodgy data from the past,” said Philip MacMullen, Head of Environmental Responsibility at industry body Seafish.

“This is an industry which has transformed itself since the mid-1990s, as acknowledged by many stakeholders across the spectrum, from government to NGOs,” he added.

Halibut and haddock stocks have dipped by more than 99 per cent, hake and ling by more than 95 per cent and cod by 87 per cent, according to the data.

“Over a century of intensive trawl fishing has severely depleted UK seas of bottom-living fish like halibut, turbot, haddock and plaice,” said Simon Brockington, head of conservation at the MCS. “The reform of the CFP needs to set recovery targets much more ambitious than they currently are.”

This makes clear that fisheries are in a far worse shape than anyone had believed, said Professor Callum Roberts of York University’s environment department.

But Mallaig and North West Fishermen’s Association secretary John Hermse assured no one would take the report seriously.

“Scottish fishermen are applauded across Europe for the efforts they have put in over the past 10-15 years to improve sustainability and selectivity,” he told.

MacMullen said the report’s authors neglected to consider important data, like the effect of the Cod Wars, natural stock fluctuations and the accuracy of landings figures, and that consequently their  findings are “tenuous at best.”

He also rebuked their failure to incorporate more recent initiatives,- such as new long-term management plans, limits on days at sea, selective fishing gears, voluntary closures of fishing grounds and decommissioning, which has resulted in a 70 per cent cut in the amount of white-fish boats in the past 10 years.

Related article:

- Study: 94 pct of UK fisheries gone

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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