UK Fishing Minister George Eustice has pledged to support Shetland fishers in their difficulties over Spanish gillnet vessels, Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael said yesterday.
Mr Carmichael and a delegation from the Shetland Fishermen’s Association met the minister to discuss skippers’ concerns about the expansion of gillnet fishing north-west of the islands.
With each Spanish boat setting nets in arrays between 25 and 35 nautical miles long, local and mainland Scottish white-fish vessels can end up excluded from large parts of their traditional fishing grounds.
Mr Carmichael said: “Shetland boats are being pushed out of grounds that they have fished in for decades.
“Not only does this damage the commercial interests of our local fleet, it is dangerous. It is only a matter of time until there is an accident.
“George Eustice has undertaken to work with the Scottish Government to see the conclusion of a voluntary agreement.
“The legalities are complex but the issue is a simple one – local boats should not be pushed out in this way.”
Shetland fishers win support for battle against gillnets
