MP secures meeting with minister over ‘reckless’ fishing vessels

NORTHERN Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has secured a commitment to meet with the UK Government’s maritime minister about preventing dangerous behaviour by foreign fishing vessels in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

During transport questions in parliament, Carmichael highlighted incidents around Shetland in recent years and noted the success of the Irish government in discouraging unsafe behaviour by responsible vessels.

The Pesorsa Dos was previously reported in June 2020 in the waters around Shetland following an alleged attempt to foul the propeller of the whitefish trawler Alison Kay.

Carmichael raised the matter in parliament and pushed an amendment to the fisheries bill then to challenge gillnetting practices, but action was rejected by the previous government as the incidents occurred outside the 12-mile limit.

Meanwhile, videos posted on social media last October showed the French-registered vessel Antonio Maria on a collision course with the isles trawler Defiant while both boats were fishing in the waters around Shetland.

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Responding to Carmichael’s initial question on maritime safety breaches within the UK EEZ, the minister for maritime Mike Kane said: “The secretary of state has met with the chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency [MCA] where this matter was discussed.

“The MCA will continue to monitor this important issue, as well as the actions which have been taken since the Westminster Hall debate on maritime safety last April.”

Carmichael asked: “If we continue to treat this as a matter of legality then nothing is ever going to change and certainly not in any decent timeframe.

“We have to focus on doing what we can, practically, to end the sort of attacks that trawlers from Shetland like the Alison Kay and the Defiant have been subject to in recent years.

“Will he look at the experience of authorities in Ireland, who have managed to tackle the reckless conduct of trawlers like the Pesorsa Dos, and actually keep their fishermen safe?”

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The minister responded that he will look at what the Irish authorities have done, and that he was happy to meet with Carmichael.

Reacting after the exchange, the Orkney and Shetland MP said: “I am glad that ministers are aware of these issues and willing to engage.

“Other countries are able to tackle this sort of dangerous behaviour at sea – what has been lacking up till now has been the political will in our government.

“I shall be taking up the minister’s offer to meet and look forward to seeing what concrete actions will be forthcoming.”