No wonder there’s no fish in the sea!

Once we had lost the cod fishery on Canada's east coast, we came to realize that we just can't keep fishing forever, regardless of the size of the boat. We need a lot more work on farmed fish. What we're doing now would be like McDonalds hunting wild buffalo for the Big Mac.
 
But we are trying sustainable commercial fishing from the british coastline. We abide by the quotas that are given to us. What is the point when these guys come swoop up by the thousand of tonnes and devastate the sea bottom bloody regardless of the consequences! ������
 
Equivalent of dragging a net across the Serengeti, scooping up zebras, lions, elephants, etc. etc. just to catch some cows. Sustainable fishing has a definite role in the future but really most of us just need to switch to a plant based diet sooner rather than later and eat meat/fish sparingly, if at all.
 
But we are trying sustainable commercial fishing from the british coastline. We abide by the quotas that are given to us. What is the point when these guys come swoop up by the thousand of tonnes and devastate the sea bottom bloody regardless of the consequences! ������

They are bound by quota too when in EU waters, trouble is that so many British quota owners have sold their rights to them.
 
It is unlikely that the EU will do anything about trawling .It won't bring any votes and the fishing lobbyists are strong on influence
The only way is for us consumers not to eat fish. Have done this for many years with no problems.
 
It is unlikely that the EU will do anything about trawling .It won't bring any votes and the fishing lobbyists are strong on influence
The only way is for us consumers not to eat fish. Have done this for many years with no problems.


Tell that to the Spanish. Isn’t that where most of our fish goes?
 
These big trawlers will often fish in international waters. The Chinese are doing it on a global scale with large fleets of giant trawlers fed by tanker supply ships and where the catch is removed by even bigger freezer factory ships and taken back to the motherland.
 
They are bound by quota too when in EU waters, trouble is that so many British quota owners have sold their rights to them.

If one sells a quota, it is still a "quota" whoever fishes for it. Quotas are transferred all over the world. Provided the quotas are used legally & not over fished, then if it is taken by a Portuguese, Spanish, or UK fisherman, makes no difference. The effect on the stock of fish is still the same, good or bad.

Comments on the thread are made about the wealth of the owners of the quotas. Does it matter that the owners are in the rich list? The boats are leased to skippers who probably could never afford the investment to buy and maintain one themselves.
The skippers and crews still have work to do. The fish do not catch themselves & the owners of the syndicates do not do the fishing. They are investors.

There was a programe on TV about Scottish fishermen & I spoke to a Newlyn fisherman about one of the featured prawn fishermen. Turns out he is the chairman of a fishing association. The Newlyn man told me that he (the Chairman) was just having his boat refurbished at a cost of £1.5M. How many small fishermen could afford that. That is why the boats are owned by wealthy syndicates.
When I was in Eyemouth a few years ago a new fishing boat was being launched at a cost of £5M. It was sold to a firm in Portugal.
Do not criticise the wealth of the owners. The industry needs their money.

However, by all means criticise dishonesty & unfair practice
 
Yes it does matter if quotas are sold, as that removes jobs, income and boats from british fishermen.
It is not illegal, but it is not right.

But it was the British fishermen that sold them in the first place, so how can they complain? Not all quotas are sold abroad. It should also be remembered that under EU law UK companies can buy foreign quotas.
 
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Always seemed to me that quotas are an ideal tool for bureaucrats as there is lotsof ad inistration involved. But they do a lousy job of protecting fish stocks.
But what else do you expect from the EU?
 
But it was the British fishermen that sold them in the first place, so how can they complain? Not all quotas are sold abroad. It should also be remembered that under EU law UK companies can buy foreign quotas.


No no, you're off message, it's all the EU's fault for the UK giving them the rights in the first place. :rolleyes:

Unfortunately, there are too many fishermen and not enough fish (in and around Europe, not necessarily the EU) and until some more drastic steps are taken (Like a Frigate sinking a trawler or two and more extensive conservation zones to replenish stocks) nothing is going to change. We've simply over-fished.

Of course...if we enforced current conservation zones, I wonder if we'd be in this situation at all :|.
 
No no, you're off message, it's all the EU's fault for the UK giving them the rights in the first place. :rolleyes:

Unfortunately, there are too many fishermen and not enough fish (in and around Europe, not necessarily the EU) and until some more drastic steps are taken (Like a Frigate sinking a trawler or two and more extensive conservation zones to replenish stocks) nothing is going to change. We've simply over-fished.

Of course...if we enforced current conservation zones, I wonder if we'd be in this situation at all :|.

And where is this frigate ?
 
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