Tories call for Clyde commercial fishing ban to be scrapped

Scottish Conservatives are calling for a “heavy-handed” ban on commercial fishing in the Clyde to be scrapped, citing fears it will impact fleets and future sustainability.

MSPS on the Scottish Parliament’s Ruralaffairs and Islands Committee are due to hear evidence today on the continuation of a special order outlawing fishing within a designated area of the Clyde during spawning to protect cod populations.

The ban, first set up in 2002, had allowed certain fishing vessels – including trawlers, dredgers and creelers, targeting catches such as scallops and prawns – to carry on operating within the zone, dubbed the Cod Box.

But in 2022 the ban was extended, prohibiting all types of fishing in a slightly smaller area from midfebruary until the end of April each season.

Now, as the order is reviewed for 2024-2026, Scottish Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton is raising a motion to have it annulled.

“The latest plans by the Snpgreen coalition for fishing on the Clyde are ridiculously heavy-handed,” she said. “They threaten the future sustainability of the industry on the Clyde, and it appears as though ministers have failed to learn any lessons from their previous mistakes when they curtailed fishing activity.

“The influence of the extremist Greens is clear for all to see among the SNP on fishing issues, and it appears those who will be affected have been left in the dark.

“I would urge fellow MSPS on the committee to back my plans to scrap these plans and ensure the future viability of fishing on the Clyde.”

Members of the Clyde Fishermen’s Association (CFA) were instrumental in establishing the initial Clyde Cod Box 20 years ago, but feel the closures are not working in their current form.

CFA executive secretary Elaine Whyte said: “In fact, we feel such closures often cause longer-term concerns for sustainability, such as displacement of local small-scale fishing into concentrated areas outwith restricted areas, and often result in more nomadic and heavier honeypot fishing when the area is

opened – which could be counterproductive.”

She stressed that the CFA is open to working with government and academics on “well planned, co-developed science” and remained committed to working through inshore fisheries groups “to help develop local sustainable management measures”.

Meanwhile, campaigners insist bottom-trawling and dredging should continue to be prohibited in the Clyde

Cod Box, but less damaging methods could be allowed.

Hayley Wolcott from marine environment coalition Our Seas, said: “We urgently need improved management of bottom trawling and dredging in the Firth of Clyde’s cod spawning habitats and especially so during the spawning season.

“The already depleted Clyde cod population will have no chance of recovery if trawling and dredging are allowed to circumvent the current restrictions. The government now has an opportunity to show its commitment to tailored spatial management by giving access to lowimpact fisheries, such as creeling and diving, that have no material impacts on cod and are compatible with environmental recovery.”

Our Seas is also calling for a wider ban, which would see trawling and dredging banned from inshore waters up to three miles from the Scottish coastline.