Dimitri Rogoff, president of the Normandy Regional Fisheries Committee, has again highlighted the potential conflicts between UK and French scallopers operating in the Baie de Seine area off the Normandy coast – suggesting that the time might be right for new opposition.
‘Our UK colleagues have arrived in force,’ he said, commenting that those operating under the UK flag can work around the clock, every day of the week, while the French scallopers are limited to 2200kg per day, and three days at sea each week.
‘The French have chosen to controlled yields to meet the realities of the (local) market. The UK industry is export-oriented and has access to global markets through vertically-integrated entities such as Macduff which operates vessels and processes scallops.’
He questions the validity of the joint management zone that borders the French limits and the Baie de Seine itself with its strict protection measures, and commented that further measures, such as a 97mm ring size, limitations on vessel and gear size, and more, have all come to nothing.
‘We are the only ones (90%) exploiting this area and resource. While scallops are the number one species in France and the EU, this remains largely ignored as the artisanal fishermen who depend on this do not have the right representation in Brussels or Paris,’ Dmitri Rogoff said.
‘Although we have asked for tighter measures, apart from opening dates, nothing has changed,’ he said.
‘The time has come again to demonstrate our total opposition to these economic and social systems of production in the eastern Channel that are excessive, and may result in our business and way of life being eradicated.’
