The fishing industry, which is so vital to the East Neuk of Fife, could be destroyed by apparently counter-intuitive European Union rules.
Bill Hughes, manager of the Fishermen’s Mutual Association in Pittenweem, called on policy-makers to intervene after hearing dire warnings from the UK Government’s chief scientist, Professor Sir John Beddington.
“While viewing the television at 6am in a semi-comatose state I was abruptly brought to life when Sir Beddington aired his views on what action must be taken if the people of the world are to be fed 20 years from now,” Mr Hughes said.
“Having participated in the fishing industry all my working life, this immediately struck a chord, as the advent of the Common Market and the Common Fisheries Policy has seen Scotland’s fishermen forced to throw away quality edible fish for decades.
“In fact the EU rules have almost caused the death of the Scottish fishing industry.”
Mr Hughes issued an impassioned plea to policy-makers, insisting the benefits of legal changes would be felt not just by Scottish fishermen, but potentially by communities throughout the world.
“Will those who have the power to change policy on such matters please act now or there will be no Scottish fishing industry and there will be many more millions on this earth unable to feed themselves sustainably,” he added.