Fishing issues debated at Westminster

A debate recently in Westminster, secured by Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael, saw a wide variety of views expressed, and some genuine discussion between MPs. Nineteen MPs made speeches, with a number of others raising points that went well beyond the clichés of MPs looking for soundbites to gain brownie points from fishermen within their own constituencies.

Issues raised with the minister included spatial squeeze, the TACs for 2025, the TCA, crewing, concerns about the MCA and sustainability.

Opening the debate, Alistair Carmichael said that there were four issues he would like the minister to provide answers to MPs on: the 2025 agreement with EU and Norway, the TCA with the EU, the challenges of spatial squeeze, and the ongoing crewing crisis facing the industry.

On the annual TAC negotiations, he said: “We are still looking at year to year negotiations – it’s a crazy way to run an industry. What minister would tell Tesco, on a yearly basis, what level of business they are allowed to do?”

The difficulty with ICES advice, Alistair Carmichael said, was compounded by reliance on outdated and precautionary scientific advice. “In Scotland, our fisheries science has been salami-sliced to extinction.”

He also raised the two incidents of Spanish vessels threatening Shetland boats. “The Pesorsa Dos was recently fined around €400,000 for incidents in the Irish EEZ, in a similar incident to the one we saw in Shetland. I’d suggest that this will do more to dissuade the vessel owners than handwringing by UK politicians.”

Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross was one of a number who urged the minister to ensure that negotiations with the EU saw a better outcome for UK fishermen. “EU vessels catch six times the value of seafood in our waters, than we do in theirs. We must prioritise the industry and not sacrifice the fishing sector for other agreements with the EU.”

Barry Gardiner, a London MP, raised his concerns about overfishing, and about the political reasons for setting quotas above ICES recommendations. Fishermen, he suggested, couldn’t simply blame climate issues for declining stocks; catching too many fish was also a reason.

“Half of quotas set last year were above sustainable levels, in spite of the fact that both UK and international laws are in place forbidding this,” he said. “Six stocks were advised as zero catch. We can’t have a thriving industry without a thriving marine environment. No amount of support can help an industry if there is no fish.”

The MP also asked Daniel Zeichner (pictured above) to discuss with the transport minister the difficulties for small boats of the ‘lottery’ of MCA inspections, which he said were responsible for putting some small boats out of business.

Torcuil Crichton, representing the Western Isles, raised issues both with bluefin tuna licences – none were issued for the Western Isles fleet this year, despite a healthy local bluefin population – and with spurdog, in particular the maximum landing size, which is an issue around the UK.

The new shadow fishing minister Neil Hudson told MPs that the previous government had secured significant extra quota for the industry during Brexit negotiations, after having heard MPs from across the political divide criticise the agreement, saying that fishermen had been ‘betrayed’ by the current TCA.

Fisheries minister Daniel Zeichner opened his remarks by reminding MPs that ‘my job title is actually minister for food security – and this is apt for a minister responsible for fisheries’.

He told MPs that the TCA negotiations will see EU access to UK waters on the table. “This is significant. We are determined to protect our fishers, and the marine environment.

“It is myself who will speak up for UK fishermen at these discussions.

“The ongoing negotiations in Oslo with Norway and the EU for 2025 will be telling. We are determined to involve the industry in this, including presenting industry suggestions for quota exchanges to these discussions.

“We can now negotiate as an independent coastal state, including for pelagic species. We will continue to look at pushing for long-term sustainable management – we see the deal with Faroe and Norway in June as a stepping stone to sustainable management of mackerel.”

He also told MPs that whilst touring inshore ports he had been ‘very struck by issues raised by fishermen I have met about MCA inspections’ and the impact this is having on their livelihoods.

“I recognise just how tough this industry is,” he concluded, “both in terms of the work involved, but also how tough they are finding it right now. We are determined to help.”

This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.50 here.

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