Scottish Independence

[bogtrotter]

^^^ Learn something, don't be daft, they ain't interested.

The implications of Salmond and his parties decisions on salmon farming and mixed stock netting have been disasterous for Scotland's wild salmon and sea trout game fishing sector. It is not a case of either fishfarming or wild migratory salmonids - with forethought and little/no extra cost we can sustainably have both, but the west coast salmon fishery has been in decline for since they have been running things. Once prolific west coast rivers are knackered by their decisions.

I agree that the west coast rivers are in decline,but they had been for quite along time before the SNP had any say in things, some have been in decline for thirty years or more ,their policy's may be a contributory factor, but don't think the whole blame can be laid at their door.

 

[Hayduke]

I agree that the west coast rivers are in decline,but they had been for quite along time before the SNP had any say in things, some have been in decline for thirty years or more ,their policy's may be a contributory factor, but don't think the whole blame can be laid at their door.

Fair point, I agree with you, declines and the deterioration of the Atlantic salmon's conservation status cannot all be leveled at the SNP. But rather than putting in place conservation measures to restore them, or just follow a precautionary principle Alex Salmond and the SNP are actively pouring petrol on the flames and hastening the declines.

"There is a clear trend of declining salmon catches, compared with catches on the East coast, in areas
where the Scottish aquaculture industry operates. The assertion by SSPO that ‘the catch statistics
show salmon farming has had no effect on wild salmon catches’ does not stand up to scrutiny. It is
also apparent that the decline is greater for those areas whose juvenile fish have to swim past larger
number of salmon farms in order to reach the open ocean." RAFTS

Hughie Campbell Adamson, Chairman of the S&TA(S), said: “There can be no doubt that the appalling sea lice infestations now being seen on wild sea trout in Little Loch Broom are related to the fact that the numbers of adult sea lice per fish on the hundreds of thousands of farmed salmon in the vicinity earlier this year were in effect out of control. Such a reservoir of adult breeding female lice will have produced literally billions of juvenile sea lice to populate the local marine environment. Inevitably wild sea trout, migrating from local rivers, are being infested with devastating consequences."

Paul Knight, Chairman of the European NASCO NGOs, said: “We take no satisfaction that the concerns we voiced last year have now been vindicated. Scotland is the only country in the northern hemisphere where coastal salmon netting is actually increasing in intensity. The Scottish Government has ignored its international obligations to protect wild salmon stocks from greater levels of indiscriminate exploitation. There can be no doubt that Scotland’s cavalier approach to salmon exploitation has been a significant factor in Greenland’s decision to re-open its commercial salmon fishery. In recent years all other NASCO countries have been either reducing or stopping coastal salmon netting altogether. Scottish Government even arranged a £100,000 grant for Scotland’s largest netting company and sponsored the successful application to the EU by the netsmen for Protected Food Name status for ‘Wild Scottish Salmon’, which will inevitably increase demand.”

If they can show such utter disregard for Atlantic salmon and sea trout, they will not care about stalking interests.

 

[Druid]

"chippy bunch. Best rid."



Come up here and say that pal...and who are you looking at by the way

Just Trying to focus on my pint!

I just hope that this constant division and separation of a great country called the united kingdom, that has a long proud history of being a leader and guide of many countries will soon stop.

I seem to remember that yugoslavia had no problem with their neighbours until nationalism drove them to burn them and their children in their churches/mosques.

I just hope that the welsh senedd dont get too power hungry on the back of the scottish events.

​Heddwch.

 

[LuckyEddie]

My daughter is the first batch of the new Cirriculum for Excellence and her take is simple.

"Given the mess the SNP are making of the change in examinations how can they be trusted to govern?"

This view is shared by quite a lot of her peers.
So by giving teenagers the right to vote and messing up their futures Salmond may have just effectively shut the door on independance.
The other option is that we get independance but the SNP might not be the first party in office!

Here's hoping eh!!!

Ed

 

[ph243]

Guys and gals, God help us if we go down the AS route, scary stuff as far as I,m concerned. All wev,e heard so far is, to quote someone else.."He,s telling you what you want to hear". GB is one of the most powerfull, safest,free,nations on earth ( doubtless a few anomolies) and we will not be able, in my opinion to model the Swiss or the Norwegians any time soon. Certainly, there are issues to be addressed.....and they are being...right to roam...right to buy...various and future estate buyouts. Things have, are, and will continue to change for the better. This nation can prosper within the UK and for those who wish to wear the "ginger wig", wake up and smell the whisky !!