A BAN on scallop fishing could threaten jobs in Kirkcudbright.
The warning came from the boss of one of the town’s largest employers.
John King, managing director of West Coast Sea Products, was stunned at the extent of the ban which was introduced by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on Sunday.
It covers fishing area seven which extends from the Irish Sea to the south coast of England as far as Dover. Mr King said: “I have never seen a ban this big before, not in my 35 years as a fisherman. It was a shock when we found out.”
West Coast Sea Products, which employs 183 people, depends on the waters for much of its business. And Mr King fears that jobs could be under threat if the decision to halt scallop fishing carries on for a long time.
He added: “If the ban is not lifted by the end of the month then it will have a hard impact on the industry.
Read the complete article from The Dumfries & Galloway Standard