FIFTY YEARS AGO Thursday April 20, 1972

Five-year plan for fishing fleet

A £3.3 million programme over the next five years to increase fishing fleets in the Highlands and Islands by 250 vessels was put forward this week.

This is the substance of recommendations by the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB) which are at present being considered by the government.

The board hopes to get a decision in the course of the next few months. The recommendations arise from a report commissioned last July by the board from Mr William Russell, a former assistant secretary to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

His remit was to study the social and economic impact of investment in the fisheries of the Highlands and Islands.

The report published this week includes a survey by Mr MP Jackson on the situation in and around Campbeltown.

Campbeltown, says the report, was included as a classic example of urban decline resulting from the failure of primary industries.

Shipbuilding, herring fishing and coal mining had each slumped to the point where, in the 1960s, there was a real crisis of confidence in the future viability of the town.

The revival of the shipyard and the switch from herring to more reliable nephrop and white fishing, both with HIDB support, suggested some degree of stabilisation of the situation by 1971.

The herring slump in the ’50s badly affected the Campbeltown fishermen, both financially and in morale.

The uncertainties arising from possible effects of Common Market membership on inshore

In 2012: Donna McCrimmon was presented with a basket of flowers from Fallon Dunlop at the opening of Argyll Bowling Club’s green for the new season on Saturday. Donna, the daughter of President Donny McCrimmon, had the honour of throwing the first jack.