CLYDE FISHERMEN CALL FOR MORE SCIENCE SUPPORT

Clyde fishermen call for more science support. The Clyde Fishermen’s Association (CFA) says it is concerned about the lack of practical science support around local fisheries management.

In a recent submission to the Scottish Parliament pre-budget scrutiny 2025 to 2026, it says the absence of proper science support does not reflect upon the balanced approached required for small-scale fisheries.

The submission says:

“As a local regional community based small scale fishing organisation our fishing communities have long been concerned about the absence of up to date practical science, and consequently the use of best available science to form policy in the event that more current reflective data is not available.

“The lack of up to date practical data can often lead to calls for precautionary closures and management measures which may not reflect a balanced approach for the reality of the small scale local fisheries. We would support an increase in budget for baseline science with Government working with fishermen and scientists.

“We feel actual science would help to take a lot of the uncertainty and ideological combativeness away, and start to build baselines built on partnerships. We completely understand governmental budgetary restraints on completing all of the “wish list” science work that fishermen would like to see, but we feel that with real co-operation we could start to develop sensible baselines on stocks at a lower cost which would help all parties.

“In Norway the Government work with fishermen across the sectoral scales in a reference fleet style model, we have trialled these types of schemes in the Clyde and they were starting to be very effective in building sectoral understanding between scientists, government and fishermen for a low cost, and they had also started to provide some preliminary practical science. It was a very early stage and so difficult to draw any long term conclusions on stocks, but it was the start of a much needed baseline and good partnership working. We were very disappointed this positive, fairly low cost and informative collaboration ended.

“We also feel this policy area became unnecessarily controversial and resource intensive following the ceasing of the science trials, had they continued that may not have been the case. We can see that spend is being directed on projects based on computer modelling of habitat/stocks or innovation projects which all have a useful place, but when baseline practical surveys are often lacking it is a worry. We feel the baseline practical data has to be the priority and will be the most reliable measure of stocks and habitats.

“It’s unfortunate that some science we do have can be reactionary and almost just in response to campaigns or controversial policy lobbying, and therefore it can be quite hastily planned or limited in spec/partnership or even conducted in an area which might not be a first priority.

“We would like to see consistent baselines developed with trust working with local fishermen and scientists in partnership around the coast. Innovation is an excellent aspiration in science, but we need to get adequate baselines in place, and that should be the priority. Even on issues such as water temperature and its impact on stocks and habitat, some fishing boats take temperature already but it would be sensible and fairly cost effective for fishermen to work with government to feed temperature back to help inform science. These could be cheap and easy wins with boats already on the water.

“We note that the absence of “neutral” governmental science can also lead to a controversial and resource intensive policy stakeholder environment, as without the adequate data, assumptions, ideologies and opinions rather than facts can start to shape the policy and PR direction of travel. We also note that NatureScot has a budget for science and science/research projects and Marine Directorate have a budget, it may be sensible to review the scope of both, particularly in these tougher economic times.”

Photo credit: Finlay Oman https://www.flickr.com/photos/finlayoman/

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