Inshore thing
I refer to the Perspective article on fisheries and Brexit by Kenny Macaskill (22 March). Mr Macaskill’s argument that Brexit will be a disappointment for fishermen is probably, and sadly, correct. The great majority of the fish that Scottish vessels land is exported, in large part to the EU. So Brexit poses a substantial risk to the fishing industry by making access to key markets more difficult.
Furthermore, Brexit cannot bring an end to the sharing of our fish stocks with vessels from other nations: this principle is underpinned by UN legislation –not just by the EU’S Common Fisheries Policy. So, unless we exit the UN too, we will have to carry on sharing our waters.
However, more positively, Brexit does create an opportunity for a modernisation of Scottish fisheries policy. But rather than focus on the minority of Scottish boats which fish the deep seas, the Scottish Government should centre its thoughts on the small boats that fish our inshore waters – the great majority of which are shellfish creelers. These vessels make up some two thirds of the Scottish fleet. Time and again these largely owner-operated, sustainable fishing enterprises have been marginalised by legislators who appear to have an eye only for the big offshore sector. It is high time that Mr Macaskill’s colleague Fergus Ewing, as the minister responsible for fisheries, made good on Nicola Sturgeon’s promise in the 2016 Programme for Government to develop a new Inshore Fisheries Bill. This could ensure that, for the first time, modern management measures will be in place to provide the bulk of our fishermen with a secure long term future. CHARLES MILLAR
Executive Director Sustainable Inshore Fisheries
Trust Rose Street Edinburgh However the UK Government may feel it wants to protect the financial services industry, it is clear that once our fishing stocks are depleted, we can not eat money.
The so-called EU transition period agreement exposes UK fishing stocks to further hazard and predation when we will have even less control than at present. If and when we finally get back control of our waters, there may be very little left. ELIZABETH MARSHALL Western Harbour Midway
Edinburgh