59 replies to this topic

[DonnieK]

Does no one out there have any sympathy for the commercial sector??? I'm different from most of you in that i am one of the 8000, or so, commercial fishermen left (another 40,000 jobs on shore)and that as well as earning my living from the sea, i enjoy sea angling as a pastime. There have been good times - when 500 boxes of cod could be taken from 3 days fishing, but now, most men can only scrape a living. Whats my point????? I ask that the weekend fishermen among you,who have good jobs and can stay in bed on a saturday morning if the conditions don't suit, show a touch consideration for those who have to go to sea no matter how poor the day or how foul the weather.

[Norrie]

Donnie, Hiya, and welcome to AN, In answer to your Question,does no-one have any sympathy for the commercial sector, well Yes, I do have some, to the employees. My job (until last week,when I was made redundant)was driving tonnes of Stainless steel to Peterhead,Fraserburgh etc etc, for use in the repair and maintenance of trawlers.Due to the de-commissioning of a hell of a lot of boats, the downturn in trade ,called for the closure of my depot.this,I accept, but as you say in the good days, when I also drove trucks to the "Broch" and to Peterhead, I also saw young lads with more money than sense, drive high powered cars between Peterhead, and Fraserburgh, some were killed, while racng each other, to such an extent that cameras were installed.These same young lads were also taking there lives in there hands taking on a job , that I for one wouldnt take for all the tea in China.I've heard the stories, about doing 3 knots in the face of a 60knot wind....but as in the Army, Airforce , and Navy, it was their choice.....and they are/were well paid for it. And dont tell me they were'nt.In 1991, a young lad of no more than 19 told me he was earning £1000 a week, he also told me he couldnt afford a real car, so bought an XR4X4i.!!!...at that time, I think I had an Escort. What I am trying to say is, that as has been said before, It is only an industry, as others, what about Ravensgraig, or the Pits....or the railways.....I've lost my job as an direct result of "no fish" but do I shout and scream, no, get your finger out and get another job.....hey, I have worked hard for 30 odd years, went to sign on for the first time last week, to be asked by a 17 yr old kid...."what have you done to find a job" :mad: :mad: Rant over....
Sorry, no its not, I know for a FACT that black fish were being landed in the "Broch" cos the chippy owner couldnt wait to tell me.....

[ 10. December 2004, 11:27 PM: Message edited by: Norrie ]

[tack4]

have to agree winter couldn't have put it better myself

[stavey]

i dont probably earn as much as you, i am on minimum wage get no subsidies and if i dont work no job seakers no help with mortgage and live in the most highest coucil tax band in the uk. i dig my own bait cos i cannot afford to buy it. my point is when i do go fishing the last thing i want to see is fleets and fleets of ruddy nets 150 yds off the beach. if you are a proper commercial fisherman and you got a huge loan on your boat and you cannot catch enough to pay it and leave some fish for others than thats your fault.

[stavey]

if the truth offends then, oh well.

[Martyn]

I'll probably get a load of hate mail for saying it but I do have sympathy for the commercial guys. I accept that fish is an important source of food and that it is getting more difficult for you guys to make a living.

The problem is that there are quite a number of your brethren who adopt the ostrich position with regard to conservation. They just keep scraping every living thing out of the sea and complain that there is nothing left.

As always the difficult bit is finding the right balance. The fact is there are simply too many of you guys trying to share an ever diminishing resource. It is no different to the once great manufacturing industry. Improved technology and competition has forced the mass loss of jobs to get the balance right. I'm afraid that has to happen in fishing too. Drastic restrictions in fishing areas, net sizes etc. less plundering of fish stocks, fewer commercial fishermen, higher prices, may just save the industry for a smaller number of people to make a decent living with sustainable stocks.

I've been made redundant in the past and I have made other people redundant, and I do sympathise, but these days that's just the way it is. No 'jobs for life' any more.

[chesters1]

blockade the ports untill the government get out of the CFP or whatever is gone ,fish yourself silly and when the fish are gone then put the blame where it should be .
i havent a clue why your money is so less but i dammed well cant afford fresh fish look to blame the middle men for your plight rather than us not buying it ,set up your own co-operatives and sell direct to the public ,sell it for more than you get for it now and cheaper than supermarkets and youl be on a winner,as long as your cheap it will sell ,take for instance farmers markets i dammed well cant afford to shop there ,i have a limited income i dont give a toss where it comes from or how poorly its been treated so long as its cheap.
if you cant sell it cheaper than the competition and the costs the competition have in getting it here then your inneficiant and maybe a bit greedy.
yes we have high fuel costs and the cost of living is high but thats the governments greed blockade the ports and get your point over as the french do once big business in southampton starts getting blockaded then things will happen after all i bet m.ps are getting a cut of the profits through lucrative chaimanships etc and we know with power comes greed hit them in the pocket untill they squeel

[ 11. December 2004, 12:00 AM: Message edited by: chesters1 ]

[dale]

good post.... what a wind up merchant....