Letters / Same old, same old
In his letter of 12 February, Magnie Stewart has asked candidates where they stand on the fishing industry.
The oil industry has been good to Shetland, but when the oil runs out, we have to hope that the EU, Westminster and Holyrood government policies have not done too much damage to fishing.
Sovereignty is part of the Alliance to Liberate Scotland. Sovereignty wants Scotland to be independent, but not in the European Union (EU).
Ask the SNP to explain the logic of becoming independent of one union (UK) to then hand over control to an even bigger union (EU).
Out of the EU, out of the UK, Scotland would restore control of the 200-mile EEZ, to the benefit of Scotland’s own fishermen.
We were supposed to get back control of our waters with Brexit but foreign boats do what they wish unhindered. Why do the Scottish Fisheries Protection boats not apply the rules to visiting boats with the same vigour that they apply to local boats?
The Scottish Governments have the powers to deal with French and Spanish boats misbehaving in Shetland/Scotland, the gill netters being an example. Unfortunately, the suspicion has to be that the Scottish government has no interest in upsetting the French and Spanish so do not apply the rules. They are so busy cosying up to their EU pals, to try to get easy entry into the EU.
The Scottish Government seems set on running down the compliance efforts of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency[i] diverting them and others in Marine Scotland to sea-based wind farm duties.
This is a dereliction of duty by the Scottish Government. They are there to serve and protect all aspects of Scottish life, but with this approach they are promoting a policy detrimental to Scottish interests.
Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA) were a threat of seabed loss which was campaigned against and defeated. But this has not gone away; after the election, the Scottish Government will be consulting on marine protected areas again, so there will be potential further restrictions and sea bed loss.
The Scottish Greens came up with this policy; they represent a massive danger to coastal communities in Scotland. The Scottish Government will put out a consultation on the proposals, but they have a track record of ignoring responses that do not agree with their proposals.
Hull used to be a major sea port, now it has a fishing museum that could be the future. Marine tourism was suggested as a way to compensate for the loss of fishing and aquaculture to HPMAs!
We should be outraged by the disregard shown by the Scottish Government for our fishing crews, and their economic and social value to our coastal and island communities!
Another problem is that fishing is very important in Shetland, quite important in Scotland, but does not count in England, there are so few fishing constituencies in England compared to rural and urban areas.
Starmer is trying to get Britain back in the EU by the back door, he has sacrificed access to UK fishing grounds for 12 years to secure a European defence deal. Rapacious EU bureaucrats cannot let an opportunity slip them by, neither can Starmer.
The Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund is a sop to deflect criticism for the surrender of access till 2038, £360 million into fishing, seafood businesses and coastal communities across the UK. With 60% of fish landings, Scotland might expect a fair chunk of this fund, but a 7.78% share is derisory.
I agree that like Norway, we should exploit the bounty of oil, gas, and fish, which lie around our shores. I am on record as saying that we should be working the North Sea oil and oil stocks, rather than importing these products from elsewhere.
In an independent Scotland we would control our waters to the benefit of the people of Shetland, and Scotland now, and for the future.
Sovereignty believes that the fish in the North Sea are there to be harvested, sustainably. Control and access to Scottish Waters should rest with Scottish politicians for the benefit of Scottish fishermen and population.
Decisions about Scotland should be made by politicians elected by and answerable only to voters in Scotland.
A vote for any other party is a vote for same old, same old.
I agree with Magnie that net zero is lunacy, but that is a different topic for a different letter.
Brian Nugent
Alliance to Liberate Scotland candidate in Shetland
Alliance to Liberate Scotland candidate in the Highland and Islands region
