Noisy protest over fishing cuts

The protesting fishermen made their way upstream

Almost 1,000 fishermen from around the UK have taken part in a protest on the River Tyne at plans to drastically reduce cod fishing in the North Sea.

A flotilla of 70 boats arrived at the mouth of the Tyne on Wednesday to protest over European Union proposals for an 80% cut in cod fishing.

The plan follows a warning from scientists that over-fishing has led to a serious depletion of cod, haddock and whiting and that zero quotas are needed to safeguard the future of these species.

Fishermen say this will put them out of business and they set off hundreds of flares to mark the number of jobs they say are threatened by the proposed quotas.

We're not against conservation but it's over-dramatic to say cod is on the verge of extinction.

Dennis Clark
Fisherman

The protest was part of a European-wide day of action by fishermen, including a similar protest by French trawlermen at the port of Boulogne.

But Prime Minister Tony Blair has ruled out withdrawing from the European Common Fisheries Policy, saying that to do so would be a "disaster" for the UK.

He was responding to a question in the Commons from the Tory MP Ann Winterton.

Dennis Clark, regional organiser for the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, said the protest had gone well with about 900 crewmen taking part.

The 50-year-old skipper, who is based in North Shields, Tyneside, said members did not disagree with conservation measures but said there were far fewer boats fishing these days and stocks were recovering.

Fishermen dispute EU claims of declining stocks

He said: "We're not against conservation but it's over-dramatic to say cod is on the verge of extinction.

"The cod stocks might be down but the haddock stock is the best I've seen in 30 years and they want us to stop fishing those as well.

"It's become a political football and the decisions are not being made on the facts."

More vessels from North Sea ports had been expected to join the Tyneside flotilla, but poor weather kept them in harbour.

The boats fired red flares into the air at the mouth of the Tyne, then set off several miles upstream to the "blinking eye" Millennium Bridge.

Fisherman Steven Moss, 41, made the eight mile trip in heavy seas from Blyth, Northumberland down to the North Shields Fish quay.

He said cuts had already been introduced and should be allowed to come into effect to see how cod levels were affected.

Drastic action

"There are too many cuts too quickly and we are not getting the chance to catch up. We need to keep everything as it is," he said.

"The future doesn't look good but this is all I know and all I want to do."

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council meets in Brussels next Monday to set the fish quotas for next year.

Cod stocks are estimated to be within 12 months of a total collapse if drastic action is not taken.

EU fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler acknowledged in an open letter to the fishing industry that livelihoods are at stake.

He blamed inadequate management of fish stocks, lack of government monitoring of fish catches and too much intensive fishing for too few fish for the current plight.

Mr Fischler said: "There is no getting away from the need to be far-sighted and responsible in reforming the common fisheries policy in such a way as to break out of the downward spiral in our fishing industry.

Franz Fischler proposes drastic cuts

"It would be very unfair to put all the blame on you, the fishermen, for the problems that have been building up in recent years."

Facing his weekly question time, the Prime Minister said "The abolition of the Common Fisheries Policy... is not the answer to this problem.

"It would be a disaster if we withdrew ... because it would mean that other countries would have the freedom to fish without restriction for fish migrating into our waters.

"As a result we would end up finding we were in a worse position.

"The plain fact is - as the recent scientific report found - there is a huge problem with fishing stocks because they have been depleted at a rapid rate."

According to figures from the Scottish Executive, 18 out of the 21 commercial species in the North Sea are now beyond safe biological limits.

But the fishermen reject the scientists' findings.

Recovery package

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is among those groups advocating a temporary closure of the fishing grounds in the North Sea as the only way to allow stocks to recover and save the UK fleet.

But the WWF is also calling on the Treasury to assist fishing communities during the shut down.

For the past 15 years, political pressure has led to quotas being set at an average of 30% above the recommendations made by the International Council on the Exploration of the Seas (Ices).

Although some measures have been put in place to take the pressure off fish stocks in Britain, such as increased mesh sizes and funded decommissioning of the fleet, they have not been enough.

The WWF says any temporary closure has to be part of a broader recovery package that supports the fishing industry.

Have you been affected by this issue?

Your reaction.

Other EU states have continued to expand their fleets

Steve, Lowestoft, England

There is only one solution for the UK fishermen - we must withdraw from the EU's Common Fisheries Policy. Under this discredited scheme, other EU states have continued to expand their fleets (with subsidy), fishery protection is virtually non-existent at their home ports, and there is no mention, in the current proposals, of stopping the Danes lifting thousand of tonnes of sand-eels (cod's basic feed stock) which they turn into animal feed.
Steve, Lowestoft, England

I am a recreational fisherman. I live near the coast and fish once a week and have done so for many years. Believe me when I say there are very few sizable fish left in the seas around this country. Modern fishing vessels are so efficient that the current fleet cannot be sustained for much longer. Sorry commercials the good times are over, you've killed the goose.
Eddy Gray

Factory ships were subsidised with inappropriate nets

Simon McDonald, UK

Political interference probably created this situation when factory ships were subsidised with inappropriate nets. Why not learn from the New Zealand "set-a-side" policy which is reported to be a success.
Simon McDonald, UK

Coming from Lowestoft, a major fishing port in the past, I understand the frustrations of fishermen. However, my grandfather, who was a fisherman had a relevant saying "throw away the Roe and you throw away the future". Surely by cutting the quotas now we protect future generations of fishermen.
Chris Newman, UK

Preserving future fish stocks is important, but then so is the future of small fishing communities. If Brussels goes ahead with an 80% cut, then it must financially support the communities it affects.
Helen, UK

The cuts are necessary

Stephanie, UK

I understand the fishermen's anger, but you only have to look at Newfoundland in Canada to see what happens when the cuts come too late. The cod fishery off the Grand Banks has been closed for over ten years and the fish haven't come back. Communities have been devastated by the closure that has lasted much longer than many expected. Governments owe it to fishing communities to offer financial support to those who will lose work through new quotas, but the cuts are necessary if we are to have a fishery at all in 10-20 years time.
Stephanie, UK

It is a terrible shame that fishermen will be put out of business and a way of life will disappear. However it is unacceptable to treat the ocean as an infinite resource. We must stop environmentally damaging fishing practices and heed the advice of scientists to manage our fish stocks efficiently. We must learn to farm and manage fish better, or substitute fish in our diets with other protein.
Julian Allen-Ellis, UK

Heron stocks may be high in the North Sea. However, fishermen have not spent years researching the global patterns of biodiversity, they should listen to the advice of the scientists in order to secure the future of the fishing industry. When I was a 'bairn' in North Shields there was about twice the number of fishing boats on the Tyne as there is now.
Steven Wraith, UK