Visit us online for news, features and media nostalgia KELSEY KELSEY 10 September10 2020 Issue 5531 £3.30 media KELSEY KELSEY fishingnews.co.uk TURN TO PAGE 2 FOR THE FULL SNP ‘NO’ TO FISHERIES BILL REPORT Leigh fisherman elected Shetland midwater trawlers chairman of town council land herring at Lerwick New Leigh-on-Sea Town Council chairman Paul Gilson (left) hoists the Red Ensign on Merchant Navy Day on 3 September with Southend deputy mayor Mark Flewitt. Leigh-on-Sea fisherman Paul Gilson has just been appointed chairman of Leigh Town Council, reports John Periam. A lifelong fisherman, Paul was also an RNLI volunteer for 29 years, serving as senior The Whalsay midwater trawler Serene… helmsman at Southend for 20 years. He has been elected chairman of the town council after just A succession of Whalsay midwater before finding good fishing close two and a half years as a councillor. trawlers landed herring to the to hand north of Orkney, which The role of chairman will give Paul the Pelagia Shetland processing factory facilitated short trips and prime- opportunity to do what he does best: at Gremista in Lerwick last week, quality fish. communicate. “I am used to public speaking, reports David Linkie. When Serene returned to sea as well as meeting people from all walks of life. Skipper Bobby Polson and the on Wednesday morning, she was Rest assured, in my new role I will make sure crew of Serene LK 297 were the first replaced at the landing berth by that the powers that be hear first-hand about the to land MSC-accredited North Sea Antares, followed by Research and concerns that I and other fishermen share about herring at Lerwick after sailing from Zephyr. … was the first of four Shetland fishing in the Thames estuary, and the issues that Symbister, Whalsay. A feature on the previous Serene’s pelagic vessels to land herring at surround it, linked to the work of the governing Most of the Shetland pelagic fleet second trip, fishing herring on the Lerwick last week. (Photos: Sydney bodies associated with the UK fishing industry.” left harbour on Sunday and Monday Turbot Bank, begins on page 10. Sinclair) Continues on page 4 Reliance III and II together at Whitby Banff skipper John Clark’s Engineering for skipper Macduff, Reliance II new twin-rig trawler John Clark in 11 years. arrived at Whitby two days Reliance III BF 800 was The first, the 19m before her successor was scheduled to be launched Reliance II BF 800, was scheduled to be launched. at Whitby as Fishing News launched in May 2009. The 19m Reliance II went to press on Thursday, Reliance III is equipped has been bought by 3 September, reports with Mitsubishi main Waterdance Ltd and will David Linkie. and auxiliary engines be converted for whelk Of 20.4m LOA and 7.7m and Thistle Marine deck potting. beam, Reliance III is the machinery, as was her Further details of the second SC McAllister- predecessor. Reliance III launch will Reliance III being prepared to be lifted into the water at Whitby, ahead of designed vessel to be After landing a be in Fishing News next her predecessor Reliance II. (Photo: Gareth Sparks Tolip) built by Parkol Marine successful last trip at week. 2 NEWS Visit us at fishingnews.co.uk and on Twitter @YourFishingNews 10 September 2020 SNP votes against crucial fisheries bill ‘We want to rejoin EU and reform CFP’ The Scottish National Party voted organisations will no longer be Conservative leader Douglas Ross against the new fisheries bill that recognised in the EU. We will said that the sense of ambition will establish the post-Brexit not have control of our waters. and enthusiasm from fishermen fisheries management regime in Whitehall will be taking over some in his constituency about the UK waters, reports Tim Oliver. of the responsibilities and powers opportunities ahead for their Scottish Conservative leader of the devolved administrations. industry was palpable, and that he Douglas Ross slammed the Landing requirements will be ‘hated to think’ what they would SNP’s refusal to back the bill as imposed from Whitehall, and the make of Deidre Brock’s speech. It ‘unforgivable’ and ‘insulting’, and whole mess will be impossible to was ‘insulting and condescending’ said that the party had ‘betrayed’ understand.” to an industry that means so much the industry. She added: “I have never been to Scotland. Speaking during a debate on able to understand why anyone He said that the SNP’s position the second reading of the bill last thought Brexit would bring was ‘very confusing’. It wanted to week, Deidre Brock, the SNP benefits for fishing communities, separate Scotland from the rest shadow fisheries spokesperson, but I now cannot comprehend of the UK, rejoin the EU to be said that MPs should decline how anyone thinks that there is governed by Brussels, and then to give a second reading to the anything other than disaster in reform the CFP, which had not fisheries bill before it was clear this. been reformed for decades. “That what kind of deal would be made “I cannot support the bill. It is fanciful and is simply not a with the EU after Brexit. does not provide a framework for credible argument,” said Douglas “Well, what do you think of yir wee pal Nicola now... efter her She said that the bill also failed fisheries after Brexit. It does not Ross. to secure a long-term sustainable protect our fishing communities. He quoted the SFF as saying that voting agin’ the fisheries bill?” future for the industry balancing It does nothing to make things the fisheries bill presents ‘a once- the interests of the environment, easier for those communities. It is in-a-generation opportunity for the Buchan and in Angus?” he asked. ocean of division’. “For the SNP, the consumer and the producers in an empty shell of a thing, and we UK fishing industry to learn from “If they ever get their way, the it is always ‘Britain bad, Brussels the industry. should not be supporting it.” the mistakes of the past’. future of Scottish fishermen will good’,” he said. She said: “We will leave the EU; She said that the SNP Scottish “Why are SNP members going be back in Brussels rather than “They would rather Scottish we will no longer have access to government is ‘keen on rejoining to troop through the lobby tonight, with the UK government, who will fishing was on its knees at the the markets that are so important the EU at some stage, but of course against the advice of representative deliver on our pledge.” He added whims of the parliament in Brussels to our seafood and fishing reforming the CFP’. bodies and against the wishes of that ‘only the SNP could take a sea than that we had control of our industries. Our fisheries producer Moray MP and Scottish fishermen in Moray, in Banff and of opportunity and turn it into an own waters. That is unforgivable.” Powers needed regardless of Brexit deal ‘Don’t surrender Introducing the debate, may not use. through the prevention for every one job at sea, so on Brexit’ DEFRA secretary of state “The ability to control and charging scheme.” landing more fish in Britain is a During the debate, SE Cornwall George Eustice said that the manage access to our waters Plymouth MP Luke Pollard, jobs multiplier.” Conservative MP Sheryll Murray powers in the bill would be will be crucial to ensuring that the Labour shadow fisheries He called for a fairer share thanked George Eustice and needed irrespective of whether a fairer sharing arrangement spokesperson, said that the of quotas for the inshore the UK negotiators for ‘holding there was a Brexit deal or not. prevails in future.” government was rejecting fleet, ‘the backbone of British firm’ against the EU’s access It would put sustainability He said this would also sustainability amendments fishing’. “With just 6% of the demands. ‘at the heart of a new mean an end to the ‘historic tabled by Labour that would quota, the small-boat fleet has She told MPs: “All UK framework for managing our injustice in the sharing generate more jobs in coastal two-thirds of the jobs, and I fishermen are looking forward fisheries’, and would end arrangements set in stone communities. think it could have more quota. to the end of the transition automatic access to UK waters under relative stability’ and “Labour’s jobs in coastal Reallocating quota along social, period with much optimism. for EU vessels. that foreign vessels would have communities amendment, economic and environmental My message is clear: do not Explaining the measures to to comply with UK technical which passed with cross- grounds, even if just 1% or surrender to the unacceptable control access by individual measures to conserve stocks. party support in the Lords, 2% of the total catch were to demands of the European Union. foreign vessels to the UK’s “We will make science would establish a new national be reallocated, could increase It may be worth reminding exclusive economic zone and sustainability a core landing requirement, whereby what small boats can catch by them that they already have the (EEZ), George Eustice said: component of our approach,” two-thirds of fish caught under 25%.” mechanisms in place to adapt “This includes the power to said the minister. “We remain a UK quota must be landed in He said that Labour their collective fleet to their stipulate, through a vessel committed to ending the UK ports,” he said.