According to the report the main reason behind this sacrifice is an invasion of Scottish scallop fishing boats which want to drag the seabed for their catch. The report mentioned that the area, eight miles off the coast, east of Hornsea, is outside the territorial waters limit meaning there is little the Bridlington fishermen can do to stop it but their fear was the scallop fishermen would arrive and destroy thousands of pounds of valuable fishing gear.
After meeting with the boat owners Bridlington’s fishermen have agreed to remove tons of gear inland for up to a month, by which time the scallopers should have moved on. Gary Hodgson, vice chairman of the Flamborough and Bridlington Fisherman’s Association, told that the sacrificed area is part of their prime lobster potting grounds. He informed that nearly 30 boats have now moved their gear, it is causing us disruption, but we are working with the Scottish skippers.
The Bridlington potters will have to move but have concerns about the effect on their lobster potting grounds. Scallop fishermen are sometimes described as being like gypsies of the sea. They spend their time moving from fishing area to fishing area around the coast. They catch scallops by dragging a rake-like trawl over the seabed to scoop up the shells.
