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Economics : Something's Fishy in Scotland
Student Organizer #4 - Teacher Copy
Gutted: Questions for discussion

Zander West says: "This job is not like ordinary jobs; it's a way of life."

From watching the video, what do you know about that way of life?
Answer: Answers will vary and may include: a senses of pride and continuity; families working closely together; danger and worry; hard work; attachment to the ship and the sea.

What is your understanding about the effects on the whitefish industry of the change from British control to oversight by the European Union under the Common Fisheries Policy?
Answer: There is far more regulation under the CFP.

What is "decommissioning"? Why does the UK Government want to get rid of fishing boats?
Answer: Decommissioning means taking a boat out of action to prevent over-fishing. Decommissioned boats are destroyed.

What are the effects of the decommissioning of a boat on her owners? On the crew? On the banks that financed her?
Answer: The effects can be emotionally wrenching and financially disastrous, especially for the crew. The banks generally get their investment back whereas the boat owners come away with little or no money.

What are the goals of the Cod Crusaders? Would you term their efforts worthwhile? Successful?
Answer: They aim to relax quotas and other regulations, and prevent the decommissioning of vessels.

"For every man at sea there are at least five or six people ashore working in the support industries.' What are some of those support industries?
Answer: Answers will vary and may include: boat builders, marinas and harbors; makers of fishing equipment; fish processors, packagers, and distributors.

What other, less directly related industries might be affected by the fortunes of the fishing industry?
Answer: Any businesses whose customers are fishing families; for example in the film they show the fate of a failing shoe store whose customers are the local fisherman

Is the future of the Scottish pelagic sector, which catches fish like herring and mackerel, secure? Why or why not?
Answer: Though pelagic fish are plentiful, the pelagic fishing industry of Scotland was in decline once before due to overfishing and it could happen again. However, there are only 30 pelagic fishing boats in Scotland, so the likelihood of overfishing is greatly diminished.

Under the quota system, fishing activities once considered normal have been criminalized. What do you think of a fisher who takes in catches that exceed the quota?
Answer: Answers will vary.