More needs to be done to bolster and support inshore fisheries on the Solway, according to local constituency MSP Finlay Carson.
The enormous financial benefits could be worth many millions of pounds if the Scottish Government got its act together, he claims.
Speaking in a debate on Scotland’s fishing industry at Holyrood, the Galloway and West Dumfries revealed the Scottish fishing sector lands around two-thirds of all fish and shellfish caught in the UK each year – making it the UK’s powerhouse of seafood production.
Mr Carson told MSPs: “My hometown of Kirkcudbright has been the centre of the Scottish scallop industry for a generation, with West Coast Sea Products leading the way.
“We must not overlook the importance of inshore fishing opportunities, which are vital to the rural economy.
“Last week my colleague Tim Eagle and I met with fishermen in Galloway. One of the topics of discussion was cockle fishing – and I can see already the Cabinet Secretary cringing.”
Before it was prohibited by the SNP Government, at its peak in the early 1990s, the Solway sustainably produced more than 5000 tons of cockles every year – worth over £5 million to the local economy.
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP revealed that in 2023, Seascope Ltd, in partnership with others including the University of Glasgow and Marine Science Scotland, carried out research on cockle stocks.
He added: “The results were very positive, and a sustainable plan with partners from across business, academia, and environmental organisations has been put forward – but still no satisfactory Marine Directorate response on the next steps to reopening this fishery.
“Perhaps the Cabinet Secretary may be able to meet with representatives? Or perhaps, she might pull a cockle out of the net and inform us today?”
Mr Carson accused the SNP of failing to make “significant progress” on improving inshore fisheries management with the lack of scientific assessments hindering the development of valuable resources while putting pressure on other stocks.
He explained: “It’s all very well talking about the UK Government, but what is the Scottish Government doing to support inshore fisheries when we’ve got opportunities with sea bass, with cockles and extending lobster fishing – and they completely ignore it.
“The Marine Directorate have done nothing in the last years to assist the inshore fishers.”
The local constituency MSP warned also that more needed to be done to safeguard coastal communities – in the wake of reports that the UK Labour Government looks to be edging towards a deal with the European Union.
He said: “Such a deal, which could result in multi-year access guarantees, threatens to undermine the very future of our fishing industry.
“It is imperative that every effort is made to support this industry during trade negotiations. The existing fisheries deal between the EU and the UK, while not perfect, took our sector our of the hated Common Fisheries Policy.
“It also delivered increased access for UK fishermen to UK waters.”
Mr Carson insisted public support for the fishing industry was “overwhelming”.
A poll by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation revealed nine out of ten Scots believe the UK should definitively control which vessels fish in its waters.
More than 80 per cent think the EU fleet should not be granted continued access to UK fishing grounds without tangible benefits being returned to Scottish skippers and crew.
Even among younger Scots, often perceived as more Eurocentric, 65 per cent believe Scotland’s fishing industry should be prioritised in any future EU-UK agreement.
