GRAMPIAN Regional Council has offered to act as the go-between for the
various sectors of the fishing industry in an effort to achieve united
action to try to end the crisis which has led to lawlessness.
The pelagic sector (mainly herring and mackerel), which exports the
majority of its catch to Eastern Europe, will join the white fish
catchers, who are inflamed at cheap foreign imports, and the processing
sector to discuss the problems.
Yesterday, all sides discussed the issues over a lunch at the regional
headquarters and issued a joint statement which said that they looked
positively to the future.
The statement was read by Councillor George Barnes, chairman of
Grampian region's fisheries advisory committee, who said it was
coincidence that the meeting took place in the week that there was an
''unfortunate incident'' in Peterhead in which about 100 fishermen
boarded a Russian vessel and poured fuel over its cargo of frozen cod.
He said the catchers, processors, and regional and district
councillors agreed that the problems facing the industry were founded in
restrictive legislation from Westminster and Brussels but that they
could not condone illegal action and that united action was the best way
forward.
''The convener's offer to both sectors to use the Grampian Fisheries
Strategy Group as one of the forums to address the complex issues that
are creating such grave problems for fishermen and processors was warmly
accepted,'' he said.
Mr Barnes added: ''It was also agreed to extend the strategy to the
pelagic sector which is an important part of the Grampian fishing
economy. The largest part of the pelagic fleet's income is derived from
fish sold to Eastern Europe which is a market that has to be protected
for the benefit of the pelagic economy.''
He hoped that the move would help prevent any further illegal action
by the fishermen but he could fully understand the frustrations in the
fishing fraternity.
''The blame lies squarely with the governments at Brussels and
Westminster and their lack of understanding of the very special
situation which exists in the North-east.
''Certain comments that have been made at Westminster over the last
few days have been unfortunate to say the least and certainly do not
indicate any understanding of the very special place the fishing
industry has in the North- east.''
* Grimsby fishermen last night mounted a 24-hour blockade to prevent
cheap Russian and Norwegian fish coming in overland by lorry.
Fishermen and dock workers are operating a round-the-clock rota system
to ensure no targeted fish enters the port by lorry.
They are protesting at imports of cheap fish from Russia and Norway
which have depressed the market and led to a slump in prices, in some
cases by as much as 50%.
The blockade comes as the Grimsby-based National Federation of
Fishermen's Organisations prepares for an emergency meeting today at
which the imports crisis is expected to top the agenda.
The federation has already sent a letter to Russian and Norwegian
fishing organisations telling them that their fish is ''not welcome''
but, if that fails to stop the imports, a full-scale land and sea
blockade of British ports may be implemented.
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