CANADA: FISHING DISPUTE, TURBOT CATCHES

(6 Apr 1995) English/Nat
Just as it appeared the Spanish-Canadian fishing dispute was to be settled, Spanish radio reported today (Thursday) that Canadian patrol boats had harassed two Spanish fishing trawlers off Newfoundland.
A Spanish ship captain told Spanish National Radio that the patrol boats had tried to cut the net cables on one.
The reported action came as Canadian and European Union representatives were preparing to meet in Luxembourg to settle the disputed fishing row in north Atlantic waters.
But even if the reported aggression ends and an agreement is reached it will be too late for many fishermen in St. John's, Newfoundland.
Many of the boats in St. John's, Newfoundland, remain out of the water, possibly never to return.
These fishermen say the Grand Banks off Newfoundland, once one of the most plentiful fishing grounds in the world, is nearly dead.
They point to smaller catches of even smaller fish as evidence the over fishing has decimated fish stocks.
Embittered and facing the loss of their livelihoods, these fishermen are lashing out at the Spanish, whom they say can't be trusted.
SOUNDBITE: "It seems like every other country is abiding by rules of conservation or anything like that. But, when you got a couple of countries that are always going against the grain, then somewhere along the line those countries have to be brought in line. Whether it be putting observers on them or barring them from fishing areas. Ah, if the Grand Banks were only one area that they've done this to, well, it may be looked at. But they've been known to do it in different countries at different times and for different stocks.
SUPER CAPTION: Wayne Russell St. John's Fisherman
On this research vessel, scientists are testing to see just how bad the fisheries decimation has been.
They weigh and inspect Turbot catches from around the Grand Banks.
The researchers are seeing much smaller and juvenile fish, a sign that adults aren't making it to maturity before being caught.
This Turbot is barely the size of a human hand, it should be at least three-times that size.
These are the fish that the researchers are seeing now. Their weight nowhere near what the catches off the Grand Banks used to be.
It's a sign that these grounds may have given all they can.
For these fishermen, a deal may already be too late.
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[@malcolmcarter5541]

Not Turbot as we know them in the UK - looks more like a Greenland Halibut

[@loganbutler5998]

Miss you pop 😢