BUCKIE-based MSP Tim Eagle has called on the SNP and Labour governments to protect the livelihoods of fishermen after new figures show a drop in the number of people employed in the industry across Scotland.
New figures from the Scottish Government show 3,793 people were working in the sector in 2023.
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The statistics, obtained by the Scottish Conservatives, reveal 3,218 of these were people employed regularly across the industry while the remaining 575 were irregularly employed.
But the 2023 figure is 575 less than almost 10 years ago, when the employment figure stood at 4,368 in 2014.
At a time when worker numbers are falling, landings for demersal and pelagic fish have substantially increased by 13% and 18%. Last year, 93,000 tonnes of demersal fish and 342,000 tonnes of pelagic fish were caught.
Just 51,000 tonnes of shellfish were landed, a 3% reduction from 2022.
Scottish Conservative MSP Tim Eagle spoke of the importance of protecting the industry from issues such as spatial squeeze.
He said: “Fishing communities across Scotland have been integral to the industry for generations.
“These employment figures underline the importance of protecting our fishing sector and our coastal communities which depend on the industry.
“Being out of the EU and the hated Common Fisheries Policy has brought significant benefits to catching opportunities and a far stronger voice in negotiations.
“But the threat of spatial squeeze remains a huge worry for the industry and fishermen are rightly concerned that the SNP’s harmful HPMA plans will reappear under a different guise in the future.
“Issues to do with recruiting Labour also remain a concern and we must make sure our domestic food security isn’t harmed through unintended consequences while protecting those who are currently working in the sector.
“Fishing helps to form the lifeblood of our coastal communities and it’s vital that we continue to support the long-term future of the Scottish fleet.”
