Traditionally coastal communities have acted as a link between land and sea. Reliant upon both for their very survival, these communities were entry and exit points for much that the country depended upon.

They pioneered exploration throughout the globe, they accessed faraway markets and crewed aboard Royal navy ships, both of which led to the formation of the British Empire. They designed and built ships that later were the envy of the world.

Before that, they smuggled illicit goods into the country, they pirated, piloted and salvaged other vessels and they fished. With this fish they kept the country fed. They developed small sea-going craft out of ages old river craft which led to larger coastal trading craft and to bigger ships. They were the catalyst to the Industrial Revolution.

Now, though, they are not just in decline but under threat of becoming extinct. Modern society isn’t particularly interested in nostalgia, tradition and practicality. Ships aren’t crewed by those living by the sea any longer and airplanes can carry people and goods far quicker. Life is propelled more by greed, profit and power than by tradition and common sense. Capitalism is all about consumerism and consumerism is unsentimental.

Today’s fisheries are in crisis. Once the domain of these coastal communities, today’s fishing is rapidly being turned over to large corporations and companies with the money and clout to buy up licences and quota. The small fishers are being squeezed out. Hence the very lifeblood of these communities is disappearing and this, alone, will result in their extinction. Government policy, while actively encouraging the growth of the large fishers, has added extra incentives such as the PESCA initiative to further exacerbate the situation. This programme produces funds for schemes in coastal communities ‘aimed at lessening their dependency on fishing’. The opposite should be true, so that these communities can flourish within the fishing. Coastal fishing is, by its very definition of being small-scale, sustainable while large-scale fishing has proved not to be over recent years. These big boats catch millions of tons of fish that is either over quota or a by catch which they then throw back into the sea dead.

So what can be done to turn the tide? The first task is to convince the politicians that they must reverse decisions that have led to the situation which is completely manmade. These politicians have produced the situation through their own short-sightedness, ignorance and greed. Too many have vested interests in large companies. Fishing management must be returned to regions, whereby those actively involved in it – fishermen, processors, boat-builders, scientists – can take responsibility for what is landed. The quota system must be more flexible to ensure that fish is not thrown back dead. Local fishermen must be able to fish in their own locality. Fishing capability must be restricted by vessel size and engine power. Big is not beautiful in the case of fishing.

Kipperman plays his tiny part in the overall scheme to reform the Common Fisheries Policy which has shown itself over thirty years to be a complete disaster for fishermen and fish alike. European interference has been a total disaster. By constantly advocating the consumption of herring and reminding us of its historical importance, he is highlighting both the plight of the fishery (where much of the herring landed today is processed in oil and fishmeal) and the benefits of its healthy qualities. Once the diet of millions, and the prosperity of thousands, herring is fast disappearing from the national diet. Herring is both sustainable and relatively cheap.

Kipperman also writes widely on fishing matters – promoting sustainability while evoking nostalgia associated with fishing in the past. In Traditional Fishing Boats of Britain & Ireland he portrays vessels from around these shores once chasing the shoals. In Herring – A History of the Silver Darlings he has produced a thorough history of this humble fish that is quite rightly regarded as the King of the Sea. Currently working on Traditional Fishing Boats of Europe, as well as a book on indigenous boats of the Indian coast, he is gradually studying coastal communities worldwide to attempt to highlight the fundamental problems associated with large-scale fishing.

12 million or more small-scale fishermen worldwide account for some 95% of all fishermen, landing approximately 40% of all sea fish taken. Thus there is much more employment benefit to society than a handful of men on huge boats that are not selective in their fishing methods. Without doubt it is more sustainable. These small-scale fishers also use a tenth of the amount of fossil fuel than the small group of large fishers, thus are much more environmentally friendly. They do not need the engine power to drag huge nets over the seabed that destroys everything in their path. Small-scale fishers are responsible fishermen while the greedy big fishers simply do not care about anything but filling their holds and thus their bank accounts. There is, therefore, absolutely no reason to support large-scale fishing. It should be quickly outlawed to protect both the fish stocks and the environment. Without this there will be massive unemployment in coastal communities where people are being displaced by second home owners, a total collapse in fish stocks, contributions to global warming by unnecessary use of fossil fuels and, before long, the total annihilation of coastal fishing communities. These communities survived for hundreds of years relying upon fishing and there is no reason for then not to continue that way. Action, though, is needed now.

© Mike Smylie - Kipperman. All rights reserved.
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