North East Drift Net Fishery

The North East drift net fishery has come under sustained pressure from the powerful and well connected angling lobby for over 30 years. Most fishermen in Northumbria would agree that it has survived the onslaught of the anglers’ pressures primarily because of the determined and resourceful efforts of the the NFFO Salmon Committee, led by Chairman Derek Heselton.

Over three decades, the Committee has marshalled evidence, worked with scientists and Government officials, harried politicians, exposed distortions and faced down threats, to make the case that the North East drift net fishery is one of the best and closely managed fisheries in Europe.

This, over the years has been a titanic struggle over shares of a scarce resource. Some of the richest and most powerful interests in the country have coveted the fish caught in one of the oldest coastal fisheries, to boost their recreational rod fisheries in the rivers. The angling lobby succeeded in closing the salmon drift net fishery in Scottish waters in the 1960s.

The Salmon Committee has fought back by repeatedly exposing the sham conservation arguments used by the anglers to try to force a closure of the drift net fishery. In fighting this uneven fight it has gathered impressive and sometimes unexpected allies to fight at his side.

Read more her

Source: NFFO"

WorldFishingToday d. 11-02-2011