The Breton fishing protests continue. below are two articles, the first is an open letter written by skipper Christopher Quemener of the Kiosga, le Croisic who featured in one of the videos put out by the media this week.
The second is comment from lecturer in geography at the UBO, attached to the Breton and Celtic Research Center in Brest, Yvanne Bouvet teaches and researches on the activities of marine areas and on natural spaces.
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| Yann Didelot and David LeQuintrec. Yann Didelot, skipper-owner of the Komz me Rèr and David Le Quintrec, skipper-fisherman of the Izel Vor II , in Lorient. ©Guy Pichard |
"Ecology is like the sea; they go hand in hand, and you cannot learn about it solely from a book or by staying on land. It is time for me to explain the situation we are facing. In the midst of media coverage, our profession is striving to express itself as clearly as possible. From tomorrow onwards, the "dead sector" wants to be strong and aims to make the general public aware of the worrying truth of what is happening today and the consequences that follow, such as no future for us and no more fish for consumers. The challenges that we face are more daunting than the challenges of navigating through rough sea conditions. These challenges come from both European and French sources. Unfortunately, some associations have chosen to focus on easy successes and lack a real ecological conviction.
The list of reasons for my dramatic observation of the current state of affairs, such as "the boats are sinking, the industry is collapsing," and the cry of alarm from the tipping point where we stand, is no longer an illusion. The ban on bottom fishing by 2030 following the European action plan, the closure of fishing zones in the Bay of Biscay to limit the accidental capture of dolphins, the constant criticism from environmental groups to deconstruct the basis of our profession, the lack of recognition from the state of our primary purpose, which is to feed the population, the financial pressures resulting from the ever-increasing administrative burden of control, inflation, lack of youth, lack of manpower, lack of vision over time, and so on.
It is essential to understand that these restrictions will have no benefits on the maritime environment. Fishing as a whole is striving to be ever more sustainable and responsible. We are continuously improving, observing, preserving, and evolving. We participate in all the scientific programs proposed, and we clean up the sea by fishing all sorts of waste to bring it ashore. We have a positive outlook on the resource, but of course, there are still efforts to be made.
Unfortunately, we can see that the lack of knowledge among decision-makers about the maritime environment is leading to aberrations. Calculated data using algorithms is attempting to replace the reality that we live in and describe, and that no one seems to follow. For example, the case of dolphins. Who loves dolphins more than us? How can we think that we want to capture them, or worse, not care about capturing them? On the contrary, we avoid them while fishing to better observe them while making our way.
So, what do we want? Do we want to eat imported fish, square fish, farmed fish, or not eat fish at all? Should we continue to make fun of ourselves by shouting about short circuits and carbon footprints while wishing ourselves dead with "I don't like fishing"? Should we be more concerned about the image of a dead dolphin, the cause of which is never proven, or the programmed death of the entire artisanal fishing industry? Should we accept being described as a virtual reality by lobbying and communication rather than listening to the reality of the sentinels of the sea that we are?
All these successive events are pushing the ambitious young people away from the sector and making the less young leave more quickly. The state must plan the future with us; otherwise, the whole sector will die. Fishing is in danger, and we need Mr. Berville's help. We are meeting with him today, so it is time to share a lot, help us, and make us proud. Rallies will be organised during this "dead line" all over France, including the one in Le Croisic at 2 pm on Friday from the Mont Esprit for a march and a wreath-laying to symbolise the death of this line."
Marine resources: "There are decisions that go beyond fishermen and researchers", says Yvanne Bouvet
[Use Google translate (right click select translate) for any links.]
Lecturer in geography at the UBO, attached to the Breton and Celtic Research Centre in Brest, Yvanne Bouvet teaches and researches on the activities of marine areas and on Latin American areas. (Personal collection Yvanne Bouvet) A geographer specializing in fishing, Yvanne Bouvet shares her expertise. The university from Brest stresses the need to preserve fishing and marine resources. Does restricting access to fishing areas pose a problem of food sovereignty? Today, in France, fishing and aquaculture represent a production of 720,000 tonnes for just over two million tonnes of imported products. We don't need French fish to feed the French population. On the other hand, it is a question of the place of fishing, of recognition of the place of the sea in the life of the territories.
Has the fishing effort increased?
It has not diminished. Most fishing boats are small units. Boats under 12 meters whose impact is limited. We need to start hearing about the consequences of industrial fishing on marine resources. But it's hard to hear. What counts is the fishing effort: it is increasingly important.
To read on the subject
Our dossier on the fishing crisis
Fishermen have nevertheless worked on selectivity.
Of course, there have been improvements. There are real efforts that have been made by the fishermen. They work more and more with researchers, are attentive to the management of stocks.
The situation is not simple. Fishermen have loans on their backs, families to feed. They are the ones who bring our coasts to life. Fishing is necessary but, at the same time, it is necessary to preserve the marine resources that have been harmed and not only because of fishing: there is maritime transport, pollution, more and more activities and global warming.
What would be the solution?
The situation is not simple. Fishermen have loans on their backs, families to feed. They are the ones who bring our coasts to life. Fishing is necessary but, at the same time, it is necessary to preserve the marine resources that have been harmed and not only because of fishing: there is maritime transport, pollution, more and more activities and global warming.
What would be the solution?
Perhaps to stop subsidising very large boats on a European scale. To think about who owns the fish when fishing off the African coast. We cannot talk about fishing without mentioning the capital investments: an 18-metre multi-purpose boat is not the same job as an industrial shipping company in northern Europe, where boats are 130 meters long and fish in one day what a Breton boat catches in one year.
Do consumers have a role to play?
You have to become reasonable. If the French start eating hake, sardines, or very varied fish, there is no problem. Salmon is not really the right solution. We are at a time when we have to change our lifestyles so that people who are poorer than us do a little better. We have to share the wealth.
The anger of the fishermen, do you consider it legitimate? Yes, it is legit. There are political decisions that go beyond not only fishermen but also researchers. Natura 2000 areas, there are many. Until now, the protection of nature, in France, was not deployed on these closed parks. The Iroise marine park works pretty well because people talk to each other. We cannot make a top-down decision, even if there are areas where, indeed, trawling should be prohibited.
