News / Local boats forced off fishing grounds
LOCAL fishermen are calling on Marine Scotland to help negotiate a compromise deal with Spanish fishermen over access to fishing grounds off Shetland.
Simon Collins of the Shetland Fishermen’s Association said large Spanish-owned but UK-registered fishing vessels are obstructing local boats fishing their traditional grounds.
Isles MSP Tavish Scott added that the Spanish fishing boats were acting aggressively in waters very close to the Shetland coastline.
The vessels, such as the Tahume, the Brisan and the Magan D, are targeting valuable monkfish by shooting miles of gillnets, also described as tangle nets.
The nets could be up to 35 miles long forming a wall of netting on the seabed. It prevents local bottom trawlers from using its gear in the same area,
Collins stressed the fishing boats, using UK quota, were not doing anything illegal and added that a voluntary code of practice, negotiated in 2013, fell through at the very last minute.
“The present situation cannot continue,” Collins said. “It is completely unacceptable for a handful of vessels owned and operated from outside Scotland to drive our fleet off grounds we have fished for generations.
“The Scottish Government played a very creditable part in brokering a voluntary agreement that could have avoided conflict, but unfortunately now needs to take a tougher line, either on its own or in partnership with the UK authorities.”
Marine Scotland only has jurisdiction for the area up to 12 miles offshore.
Scott said: “There is a sensible way forward involving an agreed code of practice.
“That would mean much larger vessels fishing further west leaving the inshore waters for whitefish boats from both Shetland and other parts of Scotland.
“This agreement would have been in place but for last-minute demands from the Spanish side that had nothing to do with Shetland. Now the situation is getting out of hand.
“Shetland skippers are telling me how dangerous these Spanish fishing practices are. And 35 miles of net from a single boat effectively prevents six of ours fishing their traditional grounds.”
He added: “I want the Scottish fisheries minister to step in and use his influence to keep vessels apart and protect local businesses.
“The Scottish Government have great powers of regulation. These must now be used to avoid an unnecessary conflict.”
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