Comments on: The problem with world fisheries is nobody sticks up for the fish http://thusmagazine.com/2009/04/the-problem-with-world-fisheries-is-nobody-sticks-up-for-the-fish/ because it does not have to be that way Tue, 17 May 2011 10:42:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: steve http://thusmagazine.com/2009/04/the-problem-with-world-fisheries-is-nobody-sticks-up-for-the-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-207 steve Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:49:14 +0000 http://thusmagazine.com/?p=2991#comment-207 A further word on your 'gambas' - the langoustine fishery in the Clyde on the west coast of Scotland is probably the most destructive fishery there is in our waters. Each year somewhere between 30 and 50 million fish weighing on average 3 ounces are killed as discards by this fleet. The Clyde used to be a world class fishery but following years of political ineptitude, fisheries mismanagement and malpractice, there are no fish of any size left. The 'gambas' you enjoyed probably came from the only MSC certified langoustine stock in Scottish waters, ironically these cannot be found to eat in Scotland as all are exported. Setaside, ongoing subsidies etc are NOT the answer - only reduction in total effort will work, revert to less powerful artisanal boats, limit the number of vessels or the 'effort' available to an entire fleet. It only took politicians and commercial fishermen a little over 20 years to effectively deplete all fish stocks in the Clyde. It's what's happening the world over in a microcosm. Prawns today, gone tomorrow. BTW - there are people who try and stick up for the fish - www.ssacn.org A further word on your ‘gambas’ – the langoustine fishery in the Clyde on the west coast of Scotland is probably the most destructive fishery there is in our waters. Each year somewhere between 30 and 50 million fish weighing on average 3 ounces are killed as discards by this fleet.

The Clyde used to be a world class fishery but following years of political ineptitude, fisheries mismanagement and malpractice, there are no fish of any size left.

The ‘gambas’ you enjoyed probably came from the only MSC certified langoustine stock in Scottish waters, ironically these cannot be found to eat in Scotland as all are exported.

Setaside, ongoing subsidies etc are NOT the answer – only reduction in total effort will work, revert to less powerful artisanal boats, limit the number of vessels or the ‘effort’ available to an entire fleet.

It only took politicians and commercial fishermen a little over 20 years to effectively deplete all fish stocks in the Clyde. It’s what’s happening the world over in a microcosm.

Prawns today, gone tomorrow.

BTW – there are people who try and stick up for the fish – http://www.ssacn.org

]]> By: John Kelly http://thusmagazine.com/2009/04/the-problem-with-world-fisheries-is-nobody-sticks-up-for-the-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-206 John Kelly Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:44:02 +0000 http://thusmagazine.com/?p=2991#comment-206 Agreed, Hazel. It is ironic and predictable that instead of learning lessons from Newfoundland we have blindly repeated the tragedy elsewhere. The British fishing fleet was far bigger (and more profitable) in numbers of vessels, people employed etc. 40 years ago, yet white fish stocks were relatively much more healthy. In my opinion, factory trawlers are the main cause of the problem. It's so obvious it's painful. John Agreed, Hazel. It is ironic and predictable that instead of learning lessons from Newfoundland we have blindly repeated the tragedy elsewhere. The British fishing fleet was far bigger (and more profitable) in numbers of vessels, people employed etc. 40 years ago, yet white fish stocks were relatively much more healthy. In my opinion, factory trawlers are the main cause of the problem. It’s so obvious it’s painful. John

]]> By: hazel strouts http://thusmagazine.com/2009/04/the-problem-with-world-fisheries-is-nobody-sticks-up-for-the-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-205 hazel strouts Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:14:58 +0000 http://thusmagazine.com/?p=2991#comment-205 Fisheries. What about Newfoundland? Now there's an awful future lying in wait for European fishermen. And an awful lesson in how the crisis is not resolved but simply shuffled off to a different arena. Newfoundland was only settled because of the fish off its shores. It is a rock. (Now it has oil as well off shore, but that is another story.) The rock doesn't have enough soil on it for agriculture. There's not much choice as to occupation. Now that the cod stocks have been hoovered up, mainly by the Europeans (read Spanish), the Newfoundland fishermen have been out of work for decades. The federal government is frantically trying to find ways of diversifying the economy. The main thought is "small business growth". i.e encourage people to dream something up and employ themselves. Meanwhile, though the fisheries on the Grand Banks may have virtually closed, the big factory ships which did the damage in the first place, have simply moved off to the west coast of Africa. Now it is the turn of the Mauretanians to find their fish stocks gone. Who is going to pay them to diversify? The EU is doing a Nelson and refusing to see the problem, only unlike Nelson, they aren't going to win this won. The whole world will loose because there'll be no more fish. While the little guys are on strike, the big guys are over the horizon - still vacuuming. Quite right THUS. Fisheries. What about Newfoundland? Now there’s an awful future lying in wait for European fishermen. And an awful lesson in how the crisis is not resolved but simply shuffled off to a different arena. Newfoundland was only settled because of the fish off its shores. It is a rock. (Now it has oil as well off shore, but that is another story.) The rock doesn’t have enough soil on it for agriculture. There’s not much choice as to occupation. Now that the cod stocks have been hoovered up, mainly by the Europeans (read Spanish), the Newfoundland fishermen have been out of work for decades. The federal government is frantically trying to find ways of diversifying the economy. The main thought is “small business growth”. i.e encourage people to dream something up and employ themselves. Meanwhile, though the fisheries on the Grand Banks may have virtually closed, the big factory ships which did the damage in the first place, have simply moved off to the west coast of Africa. Now it is the turn of the Mauretanians to find their fish stocks gone. Who is going to pay them to diversify? The EU is doing a Nelson and refusing to see the problem, only unlike Nelson, they aren’t going to win this won. The whole world will loose because there’ll be no more fish. While the little guys are on strike, the big guys are over the horizon – still vacuuming. Quite right THUS.

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