Commercial fishing has one of the largest impacts on the
marine environment, but is also reliant for its long term success
and profitability on healthy ecosystems. The industry has
traditionally viewed conservationists with a great deal of
suspicion, especially in relation to marine protected areas, which
many fishermen wrongly equate with no-take zones.
To help overcome these misconceptions and to open up channels
of communication, JNCC, English Nature, CCW and SNH regularly take
part in the annual Fishing Exhibition in Glasgow Fishing
2006. This is the UK fishing industry’s largest trade show
and attracts over 5,000 visitors from all sectors of the industry
and all parts of the country.
The theme of this year was “partnership working”. Projects
featured on our stand included Invest in Fish South West, an
innovative three year project bringing together stakeholders from
the fishing, retail and conservation sectors to work towards
sustainability and profitability in the fisheries of south-west
England. Also featured were SNH’s participation in stakeholder-led
projects to improve the sustainability of fisheries in Loch
Torridon and the Clyde, and research funded by CCW to develop more
selective shrimp pots and to reduce waste in the brown crab
fishery. A major feature on this year’s stand was a questionnaire
to gather fishermen’s views on the state of the marine environment,
and their perception of the statutory conservation agencies. The
questionnaire attracted over a hundred responses and, after
analysis, the results will be published on the JNCC website, and
will help guide our future work in partnership with the fishing
industry.
Contact file:
Marine Species Adviser
Tel: +44 (0)1224 655708