Donald Gibson
"It's not about saying 'no' to development. It's about getting to a point where we can both survive at sea."
Location: Troon
Job: Skipper, Spes Bona V
Donald Gibson has fished from Troon for decades, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. "This isn't something I just fell into," he says. "It's always been a way of life in our family."
He now works the west coast and northern waters aboard his langoustine trawler, Spes Bona V, which is Latin for "Good Hope" - but says the sea is getting more crowded. "There's a lot more happening offshore than there used to be. The space we've always relied on is getting tighter."
He's referring to the rise in marine developments like fish farms, offshore wind farms and cable routes, which are placing increasing pressure on fishing grounds. "We're being asked to move on from areas we've fished for years. That's difficult, you know those grounds inside out, and now you're told they're off limits."
Still, Donald is quick to stress the fishing sector is not resistant to change. "It's not about saying 'no' to development," he says. "We understand the need for renewable energy. We just want to be involved in the planning before everything's decided."
That sense of exclusion is one of his biggest frustrations. "By the time we get asked for input, it feels like a box-ticking exercise. The decisions have already been made."
Donald's family has even diversified to adapt, starting to sell part of their catch directly to customers. "You've got to try different things to survive. We're not stuck in the past."
But he says that can only go so far if access to the sea continues to shrink. "If you squeeze fishing out, you lose more than just the boats. You lose jobs, families, supply chains, everything that depends on fishing communities."
Donald's operation is a generational business, and like many others, it's rooted in responsibility and local knowledge. "You want to hand something down. But if the opportunities keep shrinking, the young ones won't stick around."
Despite the challenges, he remains hopeful that balance is possible. "There's got to be a way to coexist. Not one side telling the other what's happening, but having a proper conversation."
His ask is simple: shared space, shared solutions. "Nobody's looking for special treatment. We just want to keep doing what we do, sustainably and responsibly, without being pushed out."
He adds: "It's about getting to a point where we can both survive at sea. That's the goal."
