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FeaturesYou are in: Cumbria > Places > Features > Making Waves - keeping a watch over Cumbria's fishing waters.  The Solway Protector in harbour Making Waves - keeping a watch over Cumbria's fishing waters.Helen Skelton It was a long time coming but three weeks after we had first attempted to meet I finally came face to face with Dave Dobson, Chief Officer for Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee. As I’ve learned the hard way, the weather on land can be very different to that six miles off the Cumbrian Coast. David and I had been prevented from meeting by rain, wind and storms. (Well there weren’t any storms that I know of but it justifies me hiding in the office!)  Dave Dobson onboard the patrol boat. But finally the day arrived, we boarded the Solway Protector and with a crew of four: Erik, Hugh, Norman and David, we headed to sea. Officially, according to the Cumbria County Council website, the Sea Fisheries Committee is. . .”Appointed by the County Council to regulate, protect and develop fisheries off the Cumbrian coast.” To me that undersells what these guys do: they’re often involved in rescues at sea, they monitor foreign trawlers – climbing aboard in a pirate-like fashion, carry out environmental survey work and David goes to Whitehall to meet with government agencies. If the police and paramedics have dramas based on them then these guys certainly deserve one, I can see David and Erik as the Starsky and Hutch of the Solway Firth!  Helen hanging on for grim life! We head toward the new wind farm site at Robin Rigg, with me bouncing around on the back of the boat and Erik, a former skipper, remembering how his Dad used to bring him out here fishing for days: “Maryport was only over there, I swear it was punishment that we couldn’t go over for a pint.” It’s not long before David is reminiscing about his days as a skipper too. There’s no need to ask at this point if they miss fishing - it’s obvious. Both David and Erik agree they’d go back fishing if they could afford to. Their background as fishermen means they regularly face the accusation of poacher turned game keeper but it’s one both can answer. Erik enjoys working with fishermen, advising them on what and where to catch. Both point out enforcing bye-laws is only one, and I suspect, the least favourite part of their job. David knows by working with fishermen and industry regulators they can help to protect the industry in the future. The long term future is unpredictable. With fewer younger men going into fishing and more foreign workers joining the crews of some of the bigger boats, the next generation of Cumbrian fishermen is far from secure.  Measuring the wind at Robin Rigg. The other undetermined threat to the industry is the Robin Rigg windfarm. As one of the biggest offshore wind farms to date in the UK it will certainly reduce the area in which fishermen from Maryport can trawl. There are many unanswered questions - what effects will the construction work and noise have, will the electromagnetic field affect the fish? It’s obvious David and his team will keep a close eye on the affects the site has. There are of course changes that can’t be explained, why for instance is there so much Skate these days in the Irish Sea and where have all the seals come from? Probably best not to open the can of worms that is the debate on seals at this point, they’re pretty but given that they kill fish for fun they’re no friend of the fishermen. Rats of the sea some might say, some, not me!!!  Erik, clearly happy in his work! We didn’t get into the seal debate, but jellyfish are a different story. One of the perils of being a fisherman is catching a jellyfish, handling it and then going to the loo. The crew on the Solway Protector agree the conclusion is not pleasant! They can’t however agree on whether jellyfish sting fish! After much internet research the team remain divided, apparently fish caught with jellyfish are paler. David however says that proves nothing. As the striped tomato, sorry Solway Protector heads for home a crowd of tourists gather on Whitehaven Harbour to take photographs. Clearly David and Erik love being out at sea but there’s a little lady onshore David doesn’t mind getting back to either! last updated: 12/06/2008 at 08:24 SEE ALSOYou are in: Cumbria > Places > Features > Making Waves - keeping a watch over Cumbria's fishing waters.
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