Sir, Frank Pope’s analysis (April 23) of the current situation in Europe’s fishing industry makes many valid points towards the unregulated manufacture and sale of fishing nets. This is the fundamental factor causing the overfishing problem. While the mesh size of nets continues to be decided by fishermen and not determined by marine scientists, and regulated by politicians, we will see the demise of the entire fishing industry within the next decade.
Research experiments carried out at the Marine Research Laboratories in Aberdeen showed that the ideal minimum size of mesh for trawl nets, used as the cod ends, was about 100mm. Underwater film showed mature fish being caught while immature fish slipped unharmed through that mesh size to mature for another year or more. It is told that skippers and politicians choosing to ignore scientific advice are entirely responsible for the present situation in the North Sea and other fishing grounds in Europe.
