Inshore Fisheries Groups.  COASTs perspective

Given the emphasis which is usually placed on EU control of fisheries, it may come as some surprise to learn that that the inshore area of Scottish waters (at least to 6 miles) is solely fished by UK and Northern Irish vessels.  In practice this means the Scottish Government is almost solely responsible for the management of the Clyde. COAST would usually welcome government initiatives, which seek to engage the views of stakeholders in marine management. Inshore Fisheries Groups are the Scottish Government’s latest stab at devising acceptable policies to control marine fisheries in the inshore area.

They comprise, a chair and a paid officer and then a panel, made up solely of commercial fishermen. The IFG then has an advisory group, which represents the views of other stakeholders.  The IFG itself is not a statutory body, but any recommendations from the IFG will be taken seriously by the Cabinet Secretary.  It can be seen as the first port of call for inshore fisheries management.

Sadly, COAST remain hugely sceptical about this arrangement. The Clyde IFG may have dedicated staff and a professional chair, but the IFG committee is largely made up representatives of the trawling sector, engaged in bottom trawling and dredging for crustaceans and shellfish.  It is not obviously in these fishermen’s interests to see the return of white fish to the Clyde or the need to protect biodiversity. It is unlikely that such a group will vote for the kind of reforms needed to return the Clyde to its former glory, when it is only human nature for them to adopt a more conservative line of business as usual, however short term that approach may be.

The problem is that the IFG does not fully represent the Clyde’s marine stakeholders.  The fishery is public property, and it should be managed on behalf of the general public; there are far more interests which rely on healthy stocks for their livelihoods, than a tightly knit group of trawlermen.  Creelers, anglers, charterboats, divers, tourists, hoteliers and restauranteurs, all have interests and expertise at a local level and the general public have an interest in getting the best value for their fishery and for long-term food security and biodiversity.

It is difficult to see how a closed shop of trawlermen, however benevolent, will be sufficiently objective to protect these broader interests.  COAST are happy to support the concept of local management, but as it stands IFGs don’t represent broad enough interests to be a substitute for good fisheries policy by the Scottish Government.  They may have some role in regulating aspects of the industry, such as disputes between fishermen, but it’s going to be nearly impossible for the current Clyde IFG to make the sort of visionary proposals needed to rectify the rapid decline of the Clyde.

COAST would like to express our thanks to the chair and the Clyde IFG project officer, as we have been invited to join advisory group to the Clyde IFG.  At the moment the COAST board cannot see that the constitution of the Clyde IFG will mean that COAST’s advice will be heeded, we are however more than happy to lend our expertise informally where necessary. In the meantime the job rests firmly with the Scottish Government to act hard and fast to save the Clyde.

IFGs Chairs letter to COAST link