Anglers hope economic might will boost call to end drift-net fishing

ANGLERS have called on the Scottish Executive to do more to bring an end to coastal drift-net fishing, after a new report revealed their sport brings in £113 million annually to the country’s economy.

Almost 3,000 jobs are also supported by angling for salmon, trout and coarse fish, according to the research commissioned by the Executive.

Produced by Glasgow Caledonian University and Cogentsi Research International, the report analyses spending by anglers in seven areas of Scotland and four types of angling - salmon and sea trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and coarse fish.

The three most important angling areas were said to be the Highlands, the North-east and central Scotland - the area seeing the most angling activity, partly because of the amount of rainbow-trout fishing in the region.

The study’s findings were welcomed by Allan Wilson, the deputy environment minister, who said they confirmed the economic importance of the sport.

But angling organisations across Scotland called on the Executive to demonstrate its support for the sport by taking action to reduce drift-net fishing, which they believe is depleting stocks of wild salmon and trout.

Dr David Mackie, the president of the Scottish Anglers’ National Association, said the value of angling to the economy came as no surprise.

He said: "We are extremely pleased that the figures have been brought into the open because it serves to underline the crucial importance of the industry to the Scottish economy."

"We do exhort government to do all they can."

He added: "So far [the Scottish Executive] has done very little to contribute to the diminution of the drift-net fishing.

"The closure of one of the North-east drift-net operations last summer, and the Tweed having one of the best years it has ever had immediately afterwards, demonstrated what can be achieved.

"If you don’t take 75,000 fish out by netting they have got to go somewhere, and I think an awful lot of them returned to the Tweed, and other Scottish rivers on the east coast, as a consequence."

The Tweed, which winds through the Scottish Borders, saw 13,886 rod-caught salmon in 2003, the most since records began in 1963. Dr Mackie added: "We would like to see the removal of these nets extended all around the coast, as there are many remaining on the west coast and a lot north of Aberdeen which took a lot of fish last summer when the drought conditions kept the rivers low.

"A fish taken by the nets has only a tenth of the value it would have if taken by anglers in rivers.

"The drift-net fishermen could be bought out on fair terms and the Executive could help a lot to do that, as they have done very little at all so far."

The Executive has repeatedly snubbed what has been hailed as the "biggest conservation exercise for wild salmon and sea trout in the UK for 30 years", despite the fact that 80 per cent of the fish caught are returning to Scottish rivers.

So far, more than 75 per cent of the 69 netsmen operating off the north-east of England have agreed to a multi-million-pound buyout, which will bring to a halt the interception of wild salmon and sea trout returning to spawn in east-coast river systems.

Experts estimate that, although the fishery is technically classed as English, as it is conducted largely from Northumbrian ports, between 70 and 80 per cent of the fish caught would otherwise return to east-coast Scottish rivers, where they help to rejuvenate dwindling wild stocks, improve the health of river systems and provide a vital boost to rural economies dependent on salmon rivers.

The same techniques are also used on the west coast, although not to the same degree.

According to the report, of the 113 million spent annually by anglers, the biggest proportion - 73 million - is spent on salmon and sea-trout fishing, with 35 million of this being spent in the Highlands. The Highlands is also the area that received the biggest proportion of all angling income, accounting for 43 million out of the total 113 million. And despite having the most angling activity, central Scotland received only 21 million of the total Scottish income.

Mr Wilson said: "This report has shown us just how much a sustainable angling sector can add to Scotland’s economy too. I want to see the further development of sustainable fisheries for game and coarse fishing. I look forward to engaging with all those interested in the future of angling in Scotland in the coming months."