Committee
Public Petitions Committee, 10 Dec 2002
10 Dec 2002 · S1 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
New Petitions
Fishing Industry (PE582)
I would like the minister to be sent a copy of a speech that Brian Philp of Amazon Seafoods made at the rally, which was supported by hundreds who attended. He talks about the attitude, which I have heard even from the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, that because the scientists say something, they must be listened to. I am not prepared to listen to the scientists, who have been wrong before—Phil Gallie gave an example of that. They are wrong this time and they have got the measurements wrong. The SFF's chairman says that, in a lifetime as a skipper, he has seen only one scientist at sea. The scientists have got wrong the basic measurements that relate to age and size on which they base everything. Because the basic measurements are wrong, everything is wrong.Industrial fishing lands 10 times more fish than does fishing for human consumption. Industrial fishing kills not only the feed, as Councillor Strachan said, but the potential for fish to breed. No British Government objected to industrial fishing in my 24 years in Europe. We just accept that Denmark can do what it likes and kill off fish in the North sea. No one objects. It is time that we expressed our strong view that that must stop.Seals have been mentioned. According to the scientist who spoke at the Edinburgh rally with the whole industry's support, seals, salmon and seagulls eat more than humans catch—and that is without mentioning industrial fishing, which is killing the feed stock and the breeding ground of the future.I would like those comments to accompany whatever we send. Perhaps we should mention the point that arose in relation to a comment made by Richard Lochhead. A recent report, which the Commission authorised, says that Britain committed 1 per cent of infringements and Spain committed 47 per cent of infringements. We should also emphasise that the exercise that the fisheries council is conducting is pointless, because the CFP will be revised soon.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Convener (Helen Eadie):
Lab
I welcome everyone to the 19th meeting in 2002 of the Public Petitions Committee. I welcome my colleagues on the committee and our visitors who are here for ...
James Cardno:
I have been a fisherman for 45 years. I have been a skipper for most of that time. The fishing industry is in a grave position; the industry has never been i...
Councillor Agnes Strachan (Aberdeenshire Council):
I echo Mr Cardno's remarks. Our fishing community has never faced anything like the potentially devastating effect of the proposed cuts. Year in, year out it...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
My comments will refer mainly to my constituency. I am sure that my colleagues will address the more general points. Approximately one third of jobs in the B...
Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
I support everything that Stewart Stevenson has said. The situation that he described is replicated right around the coast of Scotland; it is not confined to...
Councillor Strachan:
To my knowledge, he has not done so. That speaks volumes.
The Deputy Convener:
Lab
I invite Richard Lochhead to speak, but to save questions for later.
Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate the committee on fast-tracking the petition ahead of next Monday's crucial talks. I also congratulate the organisers of the petition and those...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
The petition is about the survival of the fishing industry throughout Scotland. The industry is united, and it is fighting to survive, not to win compensatio...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Did Agnes Strachan and the skipper, James Cardno, attend the rally that was held in Edinburgh? I also have some questions for them on the science. Am I right...
James Cardno:
It is entirely wrong. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. People at sea know the fishermen's position. My son told me recently that he has seen more c...
Dr Winnie Ewing:
SNP
Am I right also in thinking that, because of global warming, the cod are going north and are not in the areas where our fleets tend to fish for prawns, haddo...
James Cardno:
People say that, yes. They say that global warming is one factor in the decrease but—
Dr Winnie Ewing:
SNP
Do the cod like cold water?
James Cardno:
Yes. The number of cod is increasing. Many years ago the number was down, but in the past year or two, it has been on the up. There is no justification for a...
Dr Winnie Ewing:
SNP
My last question is to both petitioners, who have done so well before us. How do you feel about the British Government allowing industrial fishing for pig fe...
Councillor Strachan:
It goes completely against the grain. There is something abhorrent about industrial fishing. Anyone who is interested in conservation must feel that. The iss...
Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
Aberdeenshire has interests in agriculture and beef farming, as well as in fish. Did the farming community experience similar feelings about the illegal beef...
Councillor Strachan:
Yes. How can we be in a union and not be treated equally? The French Government is very supportive of its farmers and fishermen. I wish that our Government w...
Phil Gallie:
Con
Have not the French demonstrated that even though the European Commission makes a decision that sets a policy, that policy can be ignored until the European ...
Councillor Strachan:
That is the message that is coming across, is it not?
Phil Gallie:
Con
Yes. Is it possible that fishermen will reach that interpretation and that they will expect the backing of the British Government if they take such a line?
Councillor Strachan:
They have every reason to expect the backing of the British Government. Their backs are against the wall; they have nothing to lose. If their industry is wre...
Phil Gallie:
Con
I think that it was Richard Lochhead—or it might have been Margaret Ewing—who made the point that the loss of 40,000 jobs is equivalent to the loss of 40 Mot...
Councillor Strachan:
I imagine that it would have been completely different. We in the north-east and in Scottish fishing communities feel that we are of no consequence to the Go...
Phil Gallie:
Con
So you expect the Public Petitions Committee to make the strongest possible representation to our Government that, irrespective of any decision taken in Euro...
Councillor Strachan:
Most certainly. You are our voice. You are speaking for us and you are our only hope of changing the ridiculous legislation that will come out of Europe.
Phil Gallie:
Con
Thanks very much. I want to put a point to the skipper. Do you recall the pressures that the scientists have put on the prawn fishing industry in the past 10...
James Cardno:
I have not been to the prawns, except for a year or two long ago. The prawn men have had a decent living recently, but if the cuts are implemented, even in s...
Phil Gallie:
Con
I accept that. I was an MP in Ayr in 1992, so I know that a reasonable fishing fleet fished out of the Clyde estuary. It was decimated on the basis of scient...