Fishy statistics

I am glad to see that Michael Gove acknowledges that we have “a thriving fishing industry”. It would be too much for him to mention the benefit of the Common Fisheries Policy in providing the funds for modernising the fleet and onshore facilities.

Nor would I expect him to mention the market regulations in getting enhanced returns for our shellfish or our most valuable mackerel fishery, no longer virtually given away to Russian factory ships or pet food producers.

Nor wouldilookf or praise for the scientific and enforcement authorities for enabling our fleet to fish in ‘foreign’ waters (Norway, Ireland and others) as well as securing the revival of stocks.

This happened despite ‘black fish’ and other over quota illegalities, as evidenced by the massive fines imposed a few years back on members of the mackerel catching and processing sectors .

I hope I am proved wrong and we do not find our chauvinism matched by countries to the north taking as much as they like from the mackerel shoals swimming through their waters before coming to ours.

LV MCEWAN St Albans Road, Edinburgh