Scallop ban puts 'jobs at risk'

By Elin Gwilym
BBC Wales news

Fisherman Mark Roberts says other businesses rely on his boat

Fishermen say a temporary ban on scallop fishing in Welsh waters is putting their livelihoods at risk.

The scallop season was due to start this month but the assembly government has imposed a ban while it draws up new regulations to protect the environment.

Some fishermen are travelling further afield to dredge but those with small boats are unable to work over winter.

The assembly government said the new regulations would mean fewer boats and lessen the impact of the dredging.

Mark Roberts, from Nefyn in Gwynedd, who employs four people on his boat Harmoni, said it was not just fishermen who would lose out.

He said: "Five families rely on this boat - it's not just us, there are another 20 in Wales.

For marine environments, dredging means everything is destroyed and the whole seabed is modified Diver Paul Kay

"On top of that there are the engineering firms and the processing plants who will all lose out because of this ban."

Dredging for scallops is controversial and many environmentalists want the practice outlawed altogether.

Paul Kay, who is a diver and underwater photographer, said he had seen for himself the damage dredgers could cause.

"Imagine a meadow full of wildflowers and grass, and then you drag a plough through it," he said.

"For marine environments, dredging means everything is destroyed and the whole seabed is modified."

The assembly government said regulations had to be tightened because there was a 15-fold increase in scallop dredging in Cardigan Bay.

It said it had a legal obligation under European law to protect the marine environment of the bay and is working on a new measure to achieve a sustainable scallop fishery in Wales.

Fisherman Mark Roberts says the temporary ban on scallop fishing will hit those who rely on his business.

But Dr Greta Hughes, senior fisheries officer in north Wales, described the decision to impose an outright ban as "draconian".

"It seems to me a little extreme to impose on outright ban. Those with bigger boats can go elsewhere but it's left many smaller boats with no work," said Dr Hughes.

Fishermen hope a compromise will be found soon that will protect the marine environment and their livelihoods.

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said new regulations would be in place by spring. Those regulations will limit dredge numbers and reduce the season.