This morning our correspondents discuss Tay salmon fishing policy, the wearing of the burka and the need to look out for and invest in the younger generation.
Government should act on Tay fishing policy Sir, The Tay Salmon Fisheries Board consideration of a reversion to the policy of allowing shrimps and prawns to be used as bait in salmon fishing on an experimental basis breaches every conservation protocol that they have publicly preached over the last decade.
Shrimps and prawns were always the fishmonger’s bait of choice, especially those who had no interest in the river’s long-term prosperity.
The compulsory return of all injured and bleeding fish in no way mitigates the folly of this experiment. It is cruel and, indeed, SEPA could well object to the river being polluted by dead and decaying salmon.
Well-run fishing boards such as there are on the Tweed, Spey and Dee do not allow angling to commence until salmon spawning is over in February.
Here on the Tay, we start on January 15 and allow hundreds of anglers to disturb and catch late-spawning salmon, which results in over 4,000,000 valuable salmon eggs being destroyed. We then complain about the lack of juvenile salmon in the river.
When a fishing board abdicates its duty to protect and preserve the salmon in its district, then either the Scotland Office or the Scottish Government should be called on to act. For the Tay, that time is now.
Michael C. Smith.Burnmouth and Catholes Beat,Stanley.
Blanket coverage
Sir, With reference to the current debate about the wearing of the Burka, I was amused to see a lady wearing one and trying on sunglasses.
I was tempted to ask how much more of her face she could possibly hide.
Alison Roberts.18 Regent Place,Broughty Ferry.
Allow free expression
Sir, With regard to the banning of the Burka in Britain, objections to this being religious discrimination are unfounded. There is nothing in the Koran dictating that women should dress like this.
It is more to do with women’s subservience to a male-dominated system.
On a recent visit to Albania, I noted that there were no restrictions at all on what women should wear, even mini skirts and hot pants, which is how it should be.
These male chauvinists have no right to dictate how British citizens should dress.
Alister Rankin.93 Whyterose Terrace,Methil.
Charity must start at home
Sir, The recent spate of deaths among young people in Dundee is tragic. What can have caused such despair among those who are our future and what can be done?
Successive Labour and Conservative Governments have presided over the dismantling of the traditional British way of life. It wasn’t perfect but it was pretty good. Respect for self and others, strong family, religion, decency and patriotic pride held us together.
Young people had a sense of their own worth, of being important as individuals in a wider group. Now, the children of what was once the working class have few prospects.
Young men have the option of fighting in Afghanistan, or they can stay here and live with the subliminal message that they have nothing to contribute, as jobs which should be, and technically are, available to them are done by foreigners for less than they get on benefits.
Girls have the additional option of having a baby, which at least guarantees them a home of their own, but of course they don’t need the dad to stick around as the state will provide financially for them.
We require a change in our society, but I do not think there is the will to make that happen.
Although there are agencies to support young people, where are the ones with the message of hope, the good news?
With a few exceptions, the churches are happily ensconced in their middle-classness in the better-off parts of town. They support Palestinians and other worthy causes. No doubt this is easier than looking into the eyes of a despairing youth in a Dundee housing scheme.
Angela Rennie.Muirfield Crescent,Dundee.
Invest in our youth
Sir, I write in relation to the recent Annual Population Survey (APS) published by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.
It showed the numbers of NEETS aged 16 to 24 (those not in education, employment or training) had risen by two per cent in 2009 to 13.8%. This was the highest rise of the decade.
The recession has, and will continue to have, a lasting impact particularly on our younger generation. All local authority areas in Scotland experienced an increase in their overall unemployment rate.
A fiercely competitive job market makes starting out for Scotland’s disadvantaged young even more difficult.
These statistics highlight that we cannot afford to be complacent. The Government, local authorities and the voluntary sector must come together to afford opportunities to the young so they can contribute to society now, get the skills they need for the recovery and make positive choices for their future.
With squeezed budgets and an increased demand for public services, the needs of the young cannot afford to be ignored.
By ignoring the problem, they will become trapped in a cycle of unemployment and the related social costs that go with this.
Investing in the young has an immediate payback, and significant dividends for the country’s future.
Geraldine Gammell.Director,The Prince’s Trust Scotland,Queen Street,Glasgow.
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