Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – In your report, Row over salmon DNA (March 20), Dr Martin Jaffa gave his opinion that the “catching and killing of salmon by anglers over the last 150 years” has led to a diminishing of the gene pool and thus the decline of the species.
Leaving aside the fact that the commercial salmon netting industry has been responsible for the vast majority of salmon killed over the centuries, it is well documented and researched through peer reviewed science that the fall in wild salmon since the last period of true abundance in the 1960s and 1970s is due to a major decline in marine survival.
That said, it is an inconvenient truth for Dr Jaffa and the fish farm industry that the fall in Scottish wild salmon numbers in the last 30 years has been disproportionately evident in those areas of the west Highlands and Islands where salmon farming has proliferated.
It is completely wrong to try to blame anglers for this. This association recently published a review of 137 scientific papers that showed the damage that is inflicted on wild salmon and sea trout from poorly sited and operated salmon farms, a fact borne out by the problems experienced in Norway and accepted as requiring urgent remedial action by the Norwegian government.
Rather than trying to engineer this issue as a fight between fish farmers and anglers, Dr Jaffa would be better served working towards resolutions which would allow a successful fish farming industry to co-exist alongside healthy and self-sustaining populations of wild salmon and sea trout, which is the wish of this association and, I would suggest, all those with a respect for these wonderful and iconic natural resources.
Paul Knight.Chief Executive, Salmon & Trout Association Scotland,London Bridge,London.
Complacency, it seems, now prevails
Sir, – John Bullough was right in your article, Perth urged to look to Dundee for inspiration (March 20), the city centre of Perth is indeed in crisis.
Following the loss of its traditional industries, culminating in the departure of the livestock auction market, what now is the response of our civic leaders, while we are in the depths of a national retailing slump, to the prospect of its replacement by yet another mega-supermarket, with still two more monsters in the planning pipeline which will drain much of the remaining life-blood out of the city?
Judging by candidates’ campaigning literature for the forthcoming elections, complacency prevails. Most seem oblivious to the threat of catastrophe if the council were successful in tearing out the heart of the city by demolishing City Hall, turning the centre into a building site for two years.
All of Mr Bullough’s excellent points reinforce the urgent need to preserve the City Hall and convert it into Scotland’s first Market Hall, complementary to and strongly reinforcing the High Street and St John Centre. But he may be reassured that the building is not a “rotting shell” as he fears, but remains in splendid condition, ready for refurbishment and adaptation.
Vivian Linacre.Perth City Market Trust.
Council should listen to us
Sir, – I read John Bullough’s comments with great interest. As an independent trader for over 27 years, who doesn’t have the benefit of a store filled with concessions, I totally agree with him that the city centre is in crisis.
For a city centre to flourish, you have to provide the basics. Whether you like it or not, you have to allow cars access to your centre and provide plentiful and affordable parking, something that is sadly lacking in Perth.
The council have dismissed free parking on a Saturday afternoon as a “bampot idea” and next month they will increase parking charges in the city centre. All the money spent on upgrading our High Street has made no difference to the amount of people coming to Perth.
I do, however, take great exception to Mr Bullough describing the City Hall as a rotting shell. Perth can ill afford to lose any more of its historical buildings. I would like to know, if the City Hall is demolished, where the estimated thousands of visitors who are predicted to come and visit our new city square will park?
It’s brilliant that Perth has achieved city status but our council now need to listen to our feedback and instead of viewing it as a negative, take it on the chin as constructive criticism. After all, we are the people who hear the comments from the public in the running of our day-to-day businesses.
Laura Wilson.14 Rose Terrace,Perth.
Money was always there
Sir, – Today’s razzmatazz by the government about how desperate they are for money to keep our roads in good condition is absolutely unbelievable or should be in any state other than our present kleptocracy. The answer is simple: stop stealing from the road fund licence.
I heard a figure of £45 billion on the radio this morning; I have no idea how credible that figure is but there is no doubt that the take from motorists is collossal. Certainly more than enough to keep them in very good order.
Then there is the scandalously high set of sums extracted in duties and taxes every time you fill up with fuel. The money is there and has been for years.
David Grant.Balintore Cottage,Kirriemuir.
Park hopes
Sir, – I’ve many happy memories of Craigtoun Park as a child and have been saddened to see its decline. I strongly support the efforts of those who hope to resurrect it to its former glory.
It would be great to see a tea-room, boating pond, train and play areas restored for families. And if free to enter, no-one would be excluded.
(Dr) Cathy Mitchell.24 Strawberry Bank,Dundee.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.