Afraid I only just discovered this thread. Maybe as a group we need to decide how we fit in with commercial fishermen, as they seem to be the powerful lobby in UK fisheries discussions. Do we join them and fight each new restriction or do we take a stance on green fishing.
I think it needs to be the latter, we need to be green, although we need to be sympathetic to folk who depend on the sea to make a living. Truly destructive practices, practice that harm the environment on a significant scale, like dredging the sea bed are indefensible and living on borrowed time. Clearly by continuing to dredge they have jeopardised greener forms of fishing that are sustainable. UK commercial fisherman have historically shown insufficient restraint and fished themselves out of business on several occasions in the past (herring, pilchards).
I'm usually against making concessions but in this case, perhaps a bag limit on the scallops taken per person would help allay fears that its "all the same". Although I think the point about dredging is that it destroys the sea bed environment as well as taking the scallops - it's not the taking of the scallops that is the issue.
I think it needs to be the latter, we need to be green, although we need to be sympathetic to folk who depend on the sea to make a living. Truly destructive practices, practice that harm the environment on a significant scale, like dredging the sea bed are indefensible and living on borrowed time. Clearly by continuing to dredge they have jeopardised greener forms of fishing that are sustainable. UK commercial fisherman have historically shown insufficient restraint and fished themselves out of business on several occasions in the past (herring, pilchards).
I'm usually against making concessions but in this case, perhaps a bag limit on the scallops taken per person would help allay fears that its "all the same". Although I think the point about dredging is that it destroys the sea bed environment as well as taking the scallops - it's not the taking of the scallops that is the issue.
Gone to pot. "Only" 2 more years till you get to kick the encumbants out. Will there be anything left? We'll be back using horse & cart by then. Reckon we (the voters) need more frequent elections. More referendums. More say in Europe. More say in Britain/England for that matter.
) but it also sounds like commercial dredging may also continue. Sounds like they plan to actively monitor and manage scallop fishing in the area - so we'll call that a happy ending & declare victory (for now) shall we? 
