Panorama – disappearing wildlife – The Clyde

The Panorama program of 30/08/10 discusses the impact of overfishing and the decline of species on land which has left some experts saying it is getting both harder and more expensive for the UK to feed itself.

The Clyde is the subject of a couple of segments (starting 03.30 and 24.00 minutes in) containing interviews with Callum Roberts of York University, Richard Johnston of the Clyde Fisherman’s Assoc. (CFA) and Howard Wood of the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST).

Obviously there are differing viewpoints regarding the impact of activities and of the future of the Clyde.

However, what is clear to most anglers is the fact that the stocks of interest to them in the Clyde have seriously declined – this was also highlighted in the government’s own study into the economic impact of sea angling.

According to Marine Science surveys, whitefish stocks in the Clyde are economically unviable and according to the TV program, the latest research released by Marine Scotland indicates that nephrops stocks are being fished unsustainably.

It would seem difficult therefore to argue anything other than the fact that the biodiversity of the marine environment in the Clyde is seriously at risk.

In the program, Mr Johnston’s opinion is that you can’t go back to put things right, which of course is true, but it also rather avoids the issue of what should be done – do we just accept that it is OK to continue to exploit the Clyde stocks in the way they have been so far and until it is no longer economic for anyone to fish the Clyde, or do we begin to take the steps necessary to regenerate its marine environment ?

This year the UK (along with many other countries) missed two international targets, set by the European Union and United Nations, that were aimed at halting the decline in our biodiversity – that intricate web of nature on which we depend so much.

The Marine (Scotland) Bill indicates the creation of a chain of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along with bodies called Scottish Marine Regions (SMRs) who will be charged (along with other responsibilities) with providing local solutions to local marine management issues.

Can these succeed where national and EU governments have failed ?

Will they be created and implemented in time for there to be anything there to regenerate ?

You can see the program here on the BBC iPlayer.

Category: Conservation