Find us on Twitter £3.25 Join in the conversation 8 November 2018 Issue: 5437 @YourFishingNews TURN TO PAGE 2 FOR THE FULL WARNINGS ON DISCARDS BAN REPORT Cheetah Marine completes new 10.2m REGIONAL NEWS Fishing News Awards 2019 versatile police catamaran ‘Five Bells’ now open for nominations The streamlined police From now until midnight on 12 February, 2019, Cheetah dive boat Five nominations are invited across 14 categories for the Bells on trials from the Fishing News Awards 2019. New for this year is the Isle of Wight. introduction of the Service Company of the Year, which will recognise outstanding customer service through 2018 from a shore-based company. The Boat of the Year award has also been extended to include three categories, for demersal, pelagic and shellfish boats that were built and entered service during 2018. The ceremony at the Doubletree Aberdeen Treetops hotel will be hosted by Scottish comedian and presenter Des Clarke, and promises to be another great night out. More details can be found on pages 8-9. Fishermen from Yorkshire and the away from the traditional RIB chosen by signal, ‘I have found what I am Humber will soon be seeing a new the police and bought a catamaran, as searching for’ – one long pull of the 10.2m police dive Cheetah working this provides better handling, stability rope and two short sharp tugs are along their coast, inland waterways and and deck space. It also gives us called ‘pulls’ and ‘bells’ – it will replace the North Sea, reports John Periam. all-weather capability while offering the two vessels that were previously used PC Roger Bennett, from the crew the safety and flexibility required to by the force. This vessel follows the Des Clarke Yorkshire and Humber (YATH) Police undertake the roles required of a police success of the smaller trailerable 7.2m Regional Underwater Search and marine and underwater search unit.” Cheetah built for the police in 2012. Marine Unit, said: “We have moved Named ‘Five Bells’ after a diving Continues on page 3 REGIONAL NEWS FISHING NEWS AWARDS 2019 MAKE YOUR NOMINATIONS NOW! The Fishing News Awards shine a spotlight on the achievements, expertise, and innovation of the UK and Ireland’s commercial fishing industries in 2018 CATEGORIES RANGE ACROSS THE WHOLE OF COMMERCIAL FISHING NOMINATE YOUR FAVOURITES NOW ONLINE ★ Demersal Fisherman of the Year ★ Fishing Port of the Year ★ Pelagic Fisherman of the Year ★ New Boat of the Year – demersal AT FISHINGNEWS.CO.UK/AWARDS ★ Shellfish Fisherman of the Year ★ New Boat of the Year – pelagic ★ Independent Fresh Fish Retailer ★ New Boat of the Year – shellfish Winners will be announced at a gala awards presentation of the Year ★ Trainee Fisherman of the Year dinner in Aberdeen on 16 May 2019, hosted ★ Fish Processor of the Year ★ Young Fisherman of the Year by acclaimed Scottish comedian Des Clarke ★ The Sustainability ★ Lifetime Achievement Award ★ Service Company of the Year 2 NEWS Visit us at fishingnews.co.uk and on Twitter @YourFishingNews 8 November 2018 Discards ban ‘will fail’ warns Scottish leader Calls for solutions to choke species problem The discards ban will fail in its present form, and politicians must find a solution to the problem of choke species it creates, a Scottish fishermen’s leader has warned, reports Tim Oliver The pressing need to find urgent try to comply with the discards use the full political weight of solutions was highlighted at the ban, because we had to abide by the Scottish government to get annual dinner of the Scottish EU regulations as long as we were solutions in place. It is vital that Fishermen’s Federation last in the EU. the UK government understands week. But he said there were the need to prioritise practical and SFF president Ian Gatt told ‘outstanding issues’ with choke pragmatic solutions, and that that guests: “There is universal species for a number of critical message is delivered loud and commitment to ending stocks, particularly North Sea clear in Brussels.” discarding, but no one hake and West of Scotland cod He said there had been “I think your discards have wised-up to connected with the practical and whiting, and that the Scottish ‘significant progress’ in operation of the industry is in government had been working developing solutions to managing your problems come January 2019!” any doubt that the ban will fail in with the industry ‘to proactively the choke risk, and that the its present form. generate solutions to avoid the progress had ‘a distinctly Scottish by some vessels has continued. “It is a political rather than fleet being tied up’. flavour’. “Inevitably catch limits have Governments must a practical set of rules. Brexit “I’m pleased that together, “I will not accept a deal that been exceeded – so it’s not grasp Brexit prize will provide the tools to make it industry and the Scottish does not cater for the necessary surprising that we’re seeing this work in our waters, like Norway government have focused on solutions,” Mr Ewing told the come to pass in some of the most SFF chief executive Bertie does, by matching catching practical and sensible solutions guests. recent advice. We are in danger of Armstrong told guests that opportunity with what is actually which will support the long-term “And to reassure you all, going being seen as the authors of our the industry is ‘unequivocally in the sea, but for the immediate sustainability of the stocks,” said forward as a coastal state, my misfortune. We all, industry and looking for practical support future, our politicians must be Mr Ewing. first priority, if still under the CFP government, will be judged on from all the governments in brave and produce a political “I readily acknowledge the rules, as envisaged by the UK, how we respond to this.” charge of the fishing fortunes solution.” industry’s positive contribution to will be to ensure that, in return Referring to the 2019 scientific of this northern land’. He told Scottish fisheries developing joint solutions, and I for some access, we receive at advice, he said it was ‘a very “The prize is far too large – secretary Fergus Ewing, who certainly do not want to impose least enough fish that the landing mixed bag, which we expect I speak of the UK overtaking gave the keynote speech, that decisions top-down. obligation, as it currently stands, will lead to some challenging Iceland by volume and value the industry was ready to help. “As we head into a period of will not stop anyone fishing. That proposals from the Commission’. in the globalised world of Mr Ewing said that it was intense negotiation in the run-up is an absolute minimum start The advice included ‘significant seafood – for any half-hearted ‘incumbent’ on the industry to to the December Council, I will point.” cuts’ to most of the main North approaches, such as making But the fisheries secretary also Sea whitefish stocks, including the best of an inevitability, or gave a warning that continued cod, haddock and whiting. But allowing challenges to become discarding of species that had there was advice for increases defeatism.” already been phased in under the in North Sea saithe and for hake He called for ‘commitment discards ban had consequences, – both significant choke stocks – to executing the ‘sea of and was part of the reason and for Rockall haddock. opportunity’ for a new for what he described as And there was some positive independent coastal state with ‘challenging’ scientific advice for news for the West of Scotland, a place on the world stage’. 2019 on some stocks. with advice for ‘substantial He said, “Let me be frank with increases’ in Nephrops, monkfish you all. A contributing factor to and megrim, and positive trends this week. some of this challenging advice identified for skates and rays. More details of the SFF Speakers at the SFF dinner in Edinburgh last week, left to right: is that quota top-ups have been The Commission’s proposals dinner in next week’s Fishing Ian Gatt, Fergus Ewing, Lord Ian Duncan and Bertie Armstrong. taken and fished, but discarding for 2019 TACs were expected News. New working conditions law No-deal Brexit ‘disaster’, From this November, the Maritime and Coastguard and crew are lost overboard, wearing a PFD is the Agency (MCA) will require UK fishing vessels to single most effective step to improve the chance of a comply with the International Labour Organisation’s successful recovery,” said the MCA. warns Dutch leader Working in Fishing Convention (ILO 188). “Added to this, it’s important to note that personal Dutch fishermen’s organisation also have to remain realistic. This follows the MCA’s public and industry flotation devices are available in a number of different Nederlandse Vissersbond is There is a chance of a ‘no deal’. consultation on these measures, which addressed all designs, and it is possible to choose one that suits you telling its members to prepare This would have disastrous aspects of living and working conditions on fishing and your type of fishing.” for a ‘no deal’ Brexit – and warns consequences for Dutch vessels – including decent crew accommodation, work Katy Ware, the MCA’s director of maritime safety that it could have ‘disastrous fishermen who catch their fish in agreements and regular payment of wages, medical and standards, said: “Fishermen are working in consequences’, reports British waters, or British-flagged fitness of seafarers, medical care onboard, and health the most dangerous industry in the UK. We have a FiskerForum. vessels that land in Dutch ports. and safety. duty to improve the living and working standards Asked by his members to These fishermen should already The new legislation builds on existing standards for for those who play such an important role in our clarify the situation, chairman be preparing themselves for this the industry, some of which (such as those on wages) maritime sector.