Seen some reports about fish not being handled fast enough on their way to their normal European markets. Not a surprise but surely this is something that needs maximum focus. Also read a suggestion that boats might move their landings to Denmark and avoid all the Scottish transport costs. Don't know anything about the facts and I just wondered if there were any Dees who might have practical knowledge.
Every week a Tarbert shellfish HGV travels over to Islay on the CalMac ferry to collect shellfish caught by the local islay fishing boats. The HGV then returns to Kennacraig the following day. The Tarbert shellfish HGV travels to deliver shellfish and farmed salmon to markets in France and Spain.
Recently we stopped off for lunch in the Tyndrum Inn which is far better than the Green Welly Shop cafeteria. The owner of the Tyndrum Inn comes from Dundee and we got speaking about the amount of shellfish being exported from Scotland to mainland Europe leaving the second class shellfish to be sold in the U.K. markets.
The owner told us that every week an HGV travels from Oban to mainland Europe full of shellfish and the lorry returns later in the week. Their EU customers are obviously not interested in saving the planet by cutting down on road miles and carbon emissions.
My wife who enjoys eating shellfish is furious that top quality shellfish is exported to mainland Europe leaving us in Scotland with the crap.
I have no sympathy for these greedy shellfish owners who export all their top quality shellfish and farmed salmon to mainland Europe. If hey sold it to U.K. markets they hold not have a problem with delivery.
Finally.
During the first lockdown fishermen from Tarbert Loch Fyne were complaining that their markets in France amd Spain had closed and they were having to sell their shellfish locally.
This should have been a ‘wake up’ all to them but sadly they did not pay attention.
Islay, firstly it's good to see you back as the place has been pretty boring without you.
Secondly - 100% with you on the Tyndrum Inn being far better than The Green Welly Stop although after a long day on the hills The Green Welly's bacon rolls are very welcome..
See, we do agree on some things.
What do you think will happen? If the EU buy their shellfish elsewhere how can the potential new suppliers cope with the regulations that seem to be causing problems for our distribution system?
If the EU countries try to buy their shellfish from other countries there will still be the same problems unless they bend the rules to suit themselves.
The French and Spanish consumers only have themselves to blame. If their fisherman had not hoovered up all the shellfish in their own fishing waters they would not have to import it from the U.K. including Scotland.
The Danish fishermen are just as bad. They are currently hoovering up all the sand eels which means that sea birds like puffins are losing their main food source.
In my opinion it is time for a reintroduction of the campaign from the 1970’s ‘I’m backing Britain’.
Thank you for your kind comments.
When we travelled to Dundee last October we stopped off at the Green Welly Stop as a result of your previous post about their delicious bacon rolls. We had their ‘meal deal’ lunch which was OK but nothing to write home about.
Around New Year I discovered that could no longer post on Dundee Mad unless I logged in.
I decided not to bother as nothing much was happening and I just read the posts.
However when I read BCram’s topic about the fishing I knew that I had to log in again as living on Islay I had a bit of local knowledge about this topic coupled with my recent discussion with the owner of the Tyndrum Inn.