All a bit fishy

Your report (“Increase in fish stocks targeted by Scots fishermen”, 3 April) gives the impression that there has been a major recovery in Scottish marine fish stocks. However, any “recovery” needs to be put into context and it is abundantly clear that for many commercially important stocks the increase in the last few years has been from a low baseline.

Thus, while the beginning of a recovery in cod stocks in the North Sea from an all-time low in 2006 is a welcome development, one should emphasise that they are now still only just over 50 per cent of the scientifically recommended minimum spawning stock.

There is certainly no justification for any relaxation in quota levels.

Worryingly, there is no 
evidence from the West Coast
of any recovery in landable white fish.

As one of Scotland’s most eminent fisheries scientists said recently, the biggest threat to achieving anything resembling the former abundance in fish stocks is fishermen’s expectations – which through premature political lobbying may scupper a full recovery.

Finally, we certainly concur with Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation that stocks are best managed on a whole ecosystem basis.

Charles Millar

Sustainable Inshore 
Fisheries Trust

Rose Street

Edinburgh