Strupag - BALLS !

Lobsters are found on rocky ground. Agreed. They are also found on the Kent Flats. If they were not there why would local fishermen set pots to take Lobsters and Whelks.

If your version was correct can you explain your comments - If you have seen one example of a French boat trawling through creels then you have seen what many Hull, Peterhead, Falmouth and even Milford trawlers have often done.
There is often a conflict between trawlers and creel men irrespective of nationality"

How is this possible if creels/pots are only laid by rocks and other 'fasts' which are death to purse or beam trawls ???

From my years of living, sailing and drinking in Whitstable, I can happily say that there are no problems between the fishermen of Whitstable, Faversham, and the Medway be they potters, trawlers, drudgers, and charter boats. And they were happy to live with the conservation boxes (No fishing other than with hooks) in the Thames Estuary.

Next point.

You missed the point - your quote was "When I worked in Lorient it the fishing industry I saw many inspectors checking mesh size.

French Inspectors in a French Port ????????? And did they take any action ??? If so that would be unique in the history of EU law and French practice.

I have every admiration for our Fishery Protection Officers, would that there were more of them, and that they had fuller powers.

Don't accuse me of prejudice, I can justify my views, your comments on the Cornish, Dutch, Spanish etc. betray your closet (not an SP) mind set.

The question of Spanish crewed but UK registered vessels, has been well thrashed out in the courts. Unfortunatley it is legal.

There are no trawlers, other than inshore vessels opperating now out of Milford. If there were they would be open to inspection when they put into port.

Finally, which Government signed away our inshore waters to the EU - Does the name Heath ring a bell ? Sounds a bit like that old wail "It's Scotlands Oil !" Tho the good burghers of the Shetland might disagree !

But on overfishing, mexh sises, and recording the catch I might agree with you that any Spanish Trawler should be sunk on sighting.

On a more serious point, tho it's one you have not raised, quota's are a joke. What is needed is more and fully enforced conservation boxes. And this is the problem, getting the EU to agree and enforce them.

Gareth

Gareth