Scallopers deny fishermen's claims of gear-wrecking

Fisherman in the East Coast port are looking to issue a civil claim for damages against TN Trawlers following an incident in April, in which they say the Scottish boats wrecked more than 100 of their pots.

John Hermse, of the UK Scallop Association, said, however, they have also taken legal advice.

Mr Hermse said: "We've never said one word relating to the efficacy and working practices of the Yorkshire fleet but the way some have acted throughout this has been abominable, the way they have pilloried the scalloping sector in general without any evidence.

"We could easily do the same but we don't want to lower ourselves to the same level."

Scallopers have been accused of wrecking the seabed with their heavy gear, but Mr Hermse said shellfishermen were also blamed for saturating fishing grounds with pots, which also became traps for other marine life.

He added: "I think they have to be very careful who they start saying are destroying the environment and biodiversity."

Mr Hermse said they had sought to defuse the situation but an offer of a meeting in York under the auspices of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisation had been rejected. He said Bridlington fishermen offered a public meeting which would have seen "three or four (of them) against 40 or so Yorkshiremen in a room" which they'd turned down.

Lawyers for the Bridlington fishermen, Hull-based Andrew Jackson solicitors, are sifting evidence, including the whereabouts of the Scottish vessels on the day in question, April 18.