Following on from the overwhelming success of Fishing into the Future’s first industry training workshop in 2017, the charity delivered its second training session aimed at inshore fishermen on the 6-8th March, at Dartington Hall in Devon: entitled ‘an Introduction to Sustainable Fishing.’
Scientists at University of California, Irvine predict that the world’s fisheries will be, on average, 20% less productive in the year 2300, with those in the North Atlantic down nearly 60% and those in much of the western Pacific experiencing declines of more than 50% as warming-induced plankton growth near Antarctica will impair the marine food chain.
Statements by environment secretary Michael Gove and Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and chancellor Philip Hammond on the need for the UK to leave the Common Fisheries Policy have been welcomed by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation.
Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association chief scientist Dr Steven Mackinson, and colleagues from the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), have published a scientific paper highlighting the sustainability issues faced when balancing pressures between maximising sustainable catch yields and ensuring effective fish stock conservation.
Reacting to the EU’s draft guidelines for trade talks, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong stated that there cannot be ‘fairer shares’ for fishing communities if existing reciprocal access is maintained.
As the seventh anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that hit the coast of Japan on 11th March 2011 approaches, a group of fishermen has been working to revive one of Tohoku's key industries. The most powerful earthquake ever to hit Japan resulted in gigantic tsunami waves that tore coastal towns and villages apart, carrying ships inland and washing debris out to sea.
The NFFO has highlighted the problem of the distorting effect that devolution is having on UK fisheries management, claiming that the issue is having a distorting effect with fisheries management decisions being compromised by politics. The NFFO states that the fishing industry cannot thrive until fisheries management is depoliticised.
The MMO has announced it has suspended a marine licence for dredging and disposal of materials off the coast of Devon.
Fishing businesses in the Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic Sea are making record profits, thanks to a solid recovery of stocks such North Sea cod. According to the European Commission, this is a sign that the CFP focus on sustainable fishing is paying off.
The announcement yesterday by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) that the fisheries agreement concluded between the EU and Morocco is not applicable to Western Sahara and to its adjacent waters has come as a blow to European operators, as around 94% of the catches under the agreement take place in those waters, According to Europêche, this decision disregards the importance of the agreement for the fisheries sector.
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