SFF calls for urgent review of new electronic mesh measuring device

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation is calling for an urgent review into the new electronic Omega net measuring gauge after bitter complaints from skippers around the country that it is under-estimating the size of meshes.

The new gauge was introduced across Europe on 1 September to replace the traditional hand-held wedge-shaped measuring device.

Mallaig based vessel owner Tony Kenning has had to dump cod-ends and other netting worth thousands of pounds because the new gauge has measured the meshes as being under-sized – despite being deemed legal by the traditional manual measuring device.

Mr Kenning said: “This is a very worrying situation for us. Our boats have lots of expensive new netting that the new gauge is measuring as being under-sized. On the same piece of net, the old measuring device will give a reading of 83mm whilst the new one will give 75mm. The legal size is 80mm.

“To make matters worse, we are getting absolutely no direction from the Marine Scotland Compliance (formerly the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency) on this, with some in the organisation saying it is up to individual skippers whether they want to take the risk of fishing with the same nets. Yet at the same time, another of our boats was boarded at sea by Marine Scotland Compliance and given an official warning that the skipper will face prosecution if he is caught again with netting that measures under-sized by the new gauge.

“We have bought these nets in good faith from netting manufacturers that measure over the limit with the old gauge, yet now suddenly through no fault of our own face the unenviable choice of dumping these nets or risk prosecution. To many, it seems like another back door way of trying to put boats out of business.”

Shetland fishermen have also been experiencing similar problems.

Hansen Black, Shetland Fishermen’s Association chief executive, says: “This is a serious problem that the Scottish Government needs to address urgently. There needs to be an examination of what is causing this mismatch in readings between the different types of measuring device. Net manufacturers have been supplying nets to an accepted standard, and then suddenly this standard has changed. Fishermen have been buying nets in good faith that they are of the legal size and at the very least should be given the opportunity to wear the netting out before having to replace it. This will not happen overnight, therefore a phased introduction of the new net gauge has to be taken in a timescale agreed with the industry.

“As well as putting many fishermen needlessly out of pocket at a very difficult time, the new gauge is going to leave a lot of trawl manufacturers with potentially worthless netting.”

Bertie Armstrong, SFF chief executive said: “This is an extremely concerning situation. The nets are the same as before, the only thing that has changed is the means of measuring them. With all the current problems facing the industry, there could not be a more inappropriate and unhelpful time than this to have further needless expense foisted upon the industry. It is vital that Marine Scotland Compliance and the Scottish Government sits down with the industry to find a reasonable solution to this totally unwelcome diversion.”

Ends

For more information:

Bertie Armstrong, SFF chief executive: tel: 01224 646944.

Mobile: 0780 1626822.

Keith Broomfield: tel: 07890781151