The Real Fish Fight campaign

Recently, I have been very pleased to see the support among coastal communities, politicians and, increasingly, scientists for The Real Fish Fight campaign.

Founded by skippers in the North-east to combat pessimistic and inaccurate reports spread, in part, by TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Big Fish Fight TV Series, the Real Fish Fight has taken off on social media and is setting the record straight on fishing industry practices

While the intended aim of highlighting the issue of discards is commendable, many of the assertions which have come from, among others, Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall’s programme about the fishing stocks in the North Atlantic are completely at odds with what is being observed by crews around Scotland, and increasingly by scientific study.

Moreover, damaging and unfounded assertions about low stocks and irresponsible fishing practices undermine the very positive campaign being promoted across the country to encourage people to eat more of the top-quality seafood landed in their local area.

Our fishermen have, for some time, been reporting resurgent levels of various species, especially haddock and mackerel catches which contradict many of the claims about their declining numbers. These observations were vindicated recently with the publication of the whitefish trends study by the North Atlantic Fisheries Centre at the University of the Highlands and Islands which shows that many stocks are bouncing back, with some having reached levels of maximum sustainability.

The fallacy that fishermen and conservationists are at loggerheads is thus finally being dispelled, as the vast majority of fisherman, especially in Scotland are more concerned about the sustainability of fish stocks than anyone. In fact, Scottish Fishermen have made real sacrifices, as well as great innovations, to ensure the sustainability of fishing stocks in the North Sea and North Atlantic.

Just one example is the development of pioneering trawls that reduce the catching, and thus discarding, of unwanted white fish, including cod, allowing for more fishing days for those vessels equipped with it. Testament to its effectiveness is the fact that, since 2007, Scottish discards of cod have almost halved.

Working in partnership with the Scottish Government, these new designs of prawn trawl have achieved reductions of over 60% of unwanted cod caught when compared to a standard trawl, with one of the designs having the ability to reduce the cod by-catch by 87%. Trials conducted by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation have also shown that the new trawls can achieve a 67% reduction in unwanted haddock and 64% fall in whiting, as well as achieving the required reductions in the cod catch.

Industry-driven innovation of this sort is crucial to the future of our nation and this development promises to have a positive effect on both the green efforts of the Scottish people and the Scottish economy.

However, this is not to say that the science of monitoring fish stocks should be dispensed with, as it is vital to keep a close eye on the sustainability of fish stocks. Perhaps the best way to do this is to develop closer cooperation between scientists, conservationists and fisherman and ensuring good channels of communication are open. Be it scientists on trawlers testing their projections against real-world observation, or ensuring feedback from skippers and markets on the size of catches being landed, everyone stands to benefit from a better understanding of some of our most valued food resources.

Indeed, it should not go unmentioned that in response to the public backlash Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall himself showed good form in praising the North-east fishermen, and acknowledging the differences in stock levels and practices from other areas of the British Isles and North Atlantic. He was correct in his assertion that skippers and their crews around the North-east of Scotland can, and do, lead their industry by example.

I will continue to support the fishing industry in their efforts to innovate and develop better ways of plying their trade, and hope that other industries follow their lead in combining conservation and business.