Cod Crusaders

campaign

This is the official website of North East Scotland based group fighting to
save the future of the Scottish Fishing Industry.
All donations to assist this cause will be gratefully received.
Please click here to find out how you can contribute.

They initially won the support of residents in and around their home town of Fraserburgh and nearby Peterhead. Then they went national - to the Scottish and British Parliaments as well as the EU in Brussels. Their crusade has now attracted considerably international interest with the screening of the documentary 'Gutted'.

Now they have support from all over the world.

"GUTTED"

The hard-hitting documentary highlighting the plight of the UK fishing industry, hits American TV screens this week:
American channel, KCTS is to screen the documentary first seen in the UK last year. The documentary includes heart rending scenes of a recently built fishing vessel being sailed to its destruction in a Danish ship breaking yard, where its remains are picked over to be used elsewhere in the world, while the UK fishing industry is left to rot by an uncaring Government.

"Tuesday, August 23, 2005- 10:30 PM
#404 Gutted *Letterbox*
For generations, the West family and thousands of other fishermen in the Scottish Fleet have trawled for cod in the North Sea. But as (alleged) commercial overfishing has decimated the white fish population off the coast of Scotland, their livelihood is on the verge of collapse. The Wests' home town of Fraserburgh is caught between European Union laws designed to preserve fish stocks and ration out the catch among member nations, and the need to earn a living in the most fishing-dependent town in Britain. Wives in the community, calling themselves the 'Cod Crusaders', besiege EU committee hearings in a last ditch effort to save the industry. The British quota under the EU's fisheries policy dictates that Sandy West must decommission the family boat, the Steadfast. Joining him on an emotional final voyage to the breaker's yard, Wide Angle connects economic and trade policies and environmental realities with the poignant story of a year in the life of one hard-hit fishing community.
Channel: KCTS
Also Airs:
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 10:30 PM (KCTS)
Tuesday, August 23, 2005 10:30 PM (DT)
Monday, August 29, 2005 1:00 AM (KCTS)
Monday, August 29, 2005 1:00 AM (DT) "

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/about/film_s4_f4.html

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1422612002

http://www.scotsindependent.org/2004/040604/index.htm

http://www.scotsindependent.org/2004/040618/

http://www.kqed.org/programs/tv/program-landing.jsp?progID=11044

http://www.aptv.org/Schedule/showinfo.asp?ID=85856&Nola1=WIDA

http://www.buchanie.co.uk/fishingandweather.asp

The Cod Crusaders are Carol MacDonald and Morag Ritchie. They are asking communities to support their fight against the European Commission's plans to ban cod catches in Scottish waters.

In the second stage of their battle plan, they presented a 49000 name petition to the Scottish Parliament. They then concentrated on lobbying parliament for the UK Fishing Industry to be brought under the control of the British Parliament. This included a petition delivered to Parliament with over a quarter of a million signatures!

Since they started in late 2002, their support has been growing among fishermen and fishing communities from Shetland to Dumfries.

Mrs MacDonald said: "We have been really encouraged by the support we have already received throughout Scotland and would like everyone to take part in our online Opinion Poll.

"We know it's not just Peterhead and Fraserburgh that would be affected. This would have a devastating effect across the whole country."

The group have been in touch with people and families at ports around the country and have received overwhelming support for what has turned out to be a truly national campaign.

She said: "We plan to lobby the Scottish Parliament, armed with the Opinion Poll results."

During their campaign, the women have been wearing their distinctive "Fishing SOS" Sweat-shirts.

"They were just printed up locally for us, and are available be contacting us, it would be great to have everyone in the same standing outside the Parliament."

Last year, fishing fleets from around the North-east coast took part in a major demonstration at Edinburgh.

Skippers sailed along the Firth of Forth in a fight for Government aid.

Anyone who wants to take part in the campaign, are asked to contact the Cod Crusaders now.

July 2005 - Cod Crusaders meet Chancellor Gordon Brown:

"Campaigners fighting to save the fishing industry met Chancellor Gordon Brown to ask for a recovery plan to help save the declining trade.

Cod Crusaders Carol MacDonald and Morag Ritchie, from Fraserburgh, traveled to London on July 13th to discuss the economic impact of the industry's collapse with Mr. Brown at The Treasury.

Accompanied by SNP leader Alex Salmond and members of the United Fishing Industry Alliance, Dick James & Keith Schofield, the Cod Crusaders called on the Government to return control of the fishing industry to Scotland because, the controversial Common Fisheries Policy has failed to conserve fish stocks."

Once again, the Chancellor kept his purse firmly closed, presumably saving his coffers for other 'higher profile' causes like poverty in other countries - seemingly content to ignore the continuing decline of his own country's industries.

The petition ran during 2004, eventually amassing over a quarter of a million contributors - it was delivered to the UK Government in the Houses of Parliament. The basis for the petition was as follows:
The EU Common Fisheries Policy has failed to conserve fish stocks. It has caused untold hardship for fishermen and their local communities and industries. That policy cannot be reformed. The EU Nation States must regain control of their own waters rather than the competence for fisheries remaining with Brussels. That has not worked. It has been proved to be ineffective and inadequate in the conservation and management of fish resources. It has resulted in bankruptcies, the uprooting of individuals and families, the destruction of thriving communities with centuries-old cultural traditions and communal lives. Please click on the "view petition" link under the statement. This will take you to an online petition page which, although the petition is now closed, you can read the words of support received.

WE THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS OF BRITAIN WANT TO SEE OUR BRITISH SOVEREIGN WATERS RESTORED TO NATIONAL CONTROL AND FREED FROM EUROPEAN BUREAUCRACY