Marine / Carmichael leads backbench fisheries debate
ISLES MP Alistair Carmichael has called for he termed “the modern gangsters of the sea” to be tackled more effectively by the UK’s marine enforcement agencies.
His comments came after a German registered/Spanish owned gill netter, well known to local fishermen, were handed heavy fines by an Irish court for breaching fisheries legislation.
The Orkney and Shetland MP led a three hour fisheries debate in parliament on Friday, which raised a wide range of issues important to the sector.
Carmichael described the Pesorsa Dos and [French long liner] Antonio Maria as “notorious examples” engaged in dangerous behaviour towards local fishing vessels in the waters around Shetland in recent years.
However, efforts by the local industry and the Northern Isles MP to get Marine Scotland, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as well as the UK Government to act were largely unsuccessful.
The MP said: “Sooner or later, if such behaviour is allowed to continue, somebody will end up with a boat at the bottom of the sea.
“Representations need to be made to the relevant authorities in Germany and France.
“Some effort has been made by Ministers at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Transport, but more needs to be done. We simply cannot leave our fishing industry unprotected in this way.”
With regards to the Pesorsa Dos, which was involved in a dangerous encounter with local whitefish trawler Alison Kay four years ago, Carmichael added: “The position with the Pesorsa Dos is interesting because it was fishing not just in UK waters but around Ireland’s.
“The Irish authorities took an approach rather different from the hands-off attitude of Marine Scotland and the Marine and Coastguard Agency, and took the Pesorsa Dos into port, where she was held for some considerable time. Of course, if she is in port, she is not out earning money for her owners. They threw the book at the Pesorsa Dos and its skipper.
“A bit more of that sort of enforcement would be enormously welcome.
“We all know that Al Capone was eventually done for tax evasion. Let us hope that the modern gangsters of the sea might be brought to book in a similar way, if not necessarily for the misdeeds themselves.”
During the same debate and with regards to the upcoming renegotiation of the Brexit fisheries deal, Carmichael also called on the newly elected government to win back the ground that was lost by Boris Johnson.
“At the point of leaving the European Union, expectations among the fisheries industries were very high, especially in the catching sector,” Carmichael said.
“It was the most obvious industry to expect a win from our departure from the European Union, and it was certainly promised one. It really takes something to do worse than the common fisheries policy, but somehow or other we found ourselves with a deal that the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation described at the time as ‘the worst of both worlds’.
“The core issues at play are obvious: we are looking at quota numbers, specific stock allocations and, of course, access.
“It will take political will from this Government to win back the ground lost by Boris Johnson, but fishing communities expect positive change to be delivered. The fishing industry has a great story to tell; it is rooted in the island and coastal communities that define our country.
“The new government have the chance to be part of that story and to close the sorry chapter of missed opportunities.”
Fishing minister Daniel Zeichner responded: ”On some of the specifics raised around post-2026 access, as I am sure hon. Members will be aware, a full and faithful implementation of the fisheries heading of the trade and co-operation agreement will see access for EU vessels to the UK zone become a matter for annual negotiation to sit alongside our annual consultations on catch limits with a range of coastal states and international fora on fishing opportunities. That is significant.
“We will always listen to what the EU has to say on the matter, but we are absolutely determined to protect the interests of our fishers and continue to fulfil our international commitments to protect the marine environment.
“The right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland rightly asked who would be leading those discussions; they will be led by my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office. He asked who would speak up for UK fishers; the answer is the UK Fisheries Minister, which is me.”
On the topic of enforcement, the minister added: “We absolutely condemn any illegal fishing taking place anywhere, but particularly in English and UK waters—this is partly a devolved issue.
“We work closely as a Department with the Marine Maritime Organisation, the inshore fisheries and conservation authorities and other organisations. In fact, I was talking to the Marine Maritime Organisation about this matter only yesterday [Thursday].
“We use a risk-based and intelligence-led marine enforcement model and carry out regular inspections in ports, onshore and at sea, which should ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to enforce fisheries regulations and protect our waters.
“I was very interested to hear the right hon. Gentleman’s account of the approach taken in Ireland, and I will look closely at that.”
A full transcript of the debate can be found here.
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