Friday 29 March 2024
 7°C   SSE Gentle Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

Marine / Discarded fishing gear a growing problem

Fishermen report they haul up rubbish wherever gill netters have been working

A discarded gill net hauled up by a local trawler and taken ashore for disposal.

LOCAL fishermen have again raised concerns about the amount of rubbish such as discarded gear they come across when fishing the waters around Shetland.

They say they constantly haul up stripped back gill nets and large quantities of long lines, bundled up and thrown over board allegedly by European fishing vessels.

A Scottish vessel finding a gill net in their catch a few days ago.

The issue is not new but appears to have become worse over recent months around Shetland.

Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) said discarded nets not only pose a navigational hazard, but they also pollute the seas with plastic, damage marine life and undermine the reputation of the local industry when pictures of beaches littered with rubbish making the rounds.

One local fisherman who preferred not to be named told Shetland News: “It is well known fact that when these [EU] vessels land their catches, they never take ashore any rubbish.”

A number of photos taken by crew on various vessels illustrate the extent of the problem.

The fisherman added: “The lorries which come from Spain to fetch their catch always load large bails of new gill netting, but none is ever taken ashore for discard.

“No authority seem to check whether or not these vessels have any rubbish to land ashore when they come to port. A vessel with 15-20 men at sea for two to three weeks will be generating a lot of rubbish. We constantly find Spanish food wrappers on the seabed.

A longline bundled up and thrown over board.

“This type of incident is not isolated to our vessel, all trawlers operating up and down in the areas where these longliners/gill netters have operated find large amounts of discarded rubbish.”

Become a supporter of Shetland News

 

All fishing ports in Scotland provide skips for fishermen to get rid of their domestic waste, and most ports are also participating in the Fishing for Litter initiative which encourages fishing crew to take ashore any rubbish they haul up in their nets.

The number of Spanish and French owned gill netters operating mainly to the west of Scotland as far north as Shetland is a constant source of dispute, and occasional confrontation, as large areas of sea are covered by gill nets.

They usually land at Scrabster, Kinlochbervie or Lochinver from where their catch is taken by truck to southern Europe.

SFA executive officer Simon Collins said they have been discussing their concern with government agencies such as Marine Scotland and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

He said one part of the solution will be to limit the amount of gill netters allowed to fish in UK waters, and that is something Marine Scotland is in the process of working out proposals for when the Brexit transition period has come to an end next year.

Collins added: “It is a growing problem around Shetland simply because of the increased presence of these vessels.

“One particular thing that might help is the idea of marking nets so that you know where is comes from when found discarded. The issue is to find a technical way of doing that.

“There is also a reputational issue for us. The whole fishing industry gets contaminated with this, because fishing gear look like fishing gear to a passer-by or a casual tourist, whereas local fishermen are proud of doing their bit in tidying up the mess others leave behind.”

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.