'EXTEND SHETLAND BOX' .sx Document calls for tougher licensing in CFP review .sx SHETLAND and Orkney fishermen are calling for a major extension of the Shetland Box , and a tigthening up on the numbers of vessels allowed to fish there .sx They want to see :sx An extension of the box to the west , north and east , as shown on the map .sx A reduction of " at least 50 per cent " in the numbers of boats over 26m allowed to fish in the box , and all boats to be specifically named vessels from each member state .sx This would give the UK 31 licences , France 26 , Germany six and Belgium one .sx Consideration of a licensing scheme for all demersal vessels between 17m and 26m fishing in the box .sx This would be based on past fishing activity , but every Orkney and Shetland boat in this category should get a licence .sx All licensed vessels to report to the EC commission when entering or leaving the box .sx The issue is specifically on the agenda of the review of the common fisheries policy ( CFP ) in 1992 , and a document has been produced laying out the Shetlands' and Orkneys' case .sx It is a joint submission from the Shetland and Orkney Fishermen's Associations and the Shetland and Orkney councils , and was launched at a press interview in Lerwick on Tuesday this week .sx Arguing for an extension of the box , the document says that its practical effects up to now have been limited .sx If it is to be used as a conservation measure for North Sea stocks , it must be extended to take account of the migratory nature of fish in this " biologically sensitive " area .sx It should be extended to cover demersal spawning and nursery areas to the east and south east of Shetland , and to the west .sx The former would protect cod and haddock stocks , both under pressure , while the latter area has become important to the islands' fleets for monkfish , ling and other groundfish .sx Fishing by over 26m vessels could theoretically increase under the current regulations , because the 'permitted' number of boats still represents a degree of fishing effort over the actual fishing effort .sx Also , it is necessary to restrict boats between 17m and 26m because technical advances mean that these vessels are now much more efficient than when the box was first introduced , making the old 26m limit obsolete .sx Fishing within a biologically sensitive area such as the box could be reduced " by means of an EC licensing scheme which would apply to all those vessels which catch significant quantities of fish from the " .sx .sx Protection of coastal communities heavily dependent on fishing has been and remains a major objective of the CFP argues the document .sx Special protection of the stocks and fisheries in the Shetland Box follows from this .sx Leading Shetland fisheries spokesman John Goodlad , told Fishing News that the proposals should be regarded as an important contribution to the future of the CFP , and not as a threat .sx " The bulk of the recommendations in the document , 70% , are in line with the policy of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation , " said Mr Goodlad .sx " There will be some differences of opinion - it would be a miracle if there weren't - but I want to emphasise the extent of agreement .sx " I expect that there will be some discussion of the proposal to extend licensing to boats between 17m and 26m , but let's look at the figures and talk before people start getting alarmed .sx " .sx Mr Goodlad stressed that the overall theme of the document is not parochial or selfish , but about conservation of stocks , and this is in everyone's interest .sx A commitment to protect coastal communities was made in 1976 in the Hague Resolution , and a proposal was made in 1978 to introduce Fishing Plans under the CFP .sx These would relate to " endangered stocks whose exploitation is of special importance to coastal populations .sx .. and shall take into account those vessels which , due to their limited range of operation , can only ( fish ) close to the coast " .sx The principle of protection for coastal communities was recognised when the Shetland Box was included in the CFP in 1983 , although its provisions were 'watered down' from original proposals .sx Arguing the importance of fishing to the Orkneys and Shetland , the document says the fisheries sector is " very important " to the Orkneys , and of " fundamental and overwhelming importance " to the Shetlands .sx Some 80 per cent of Shetland's exports is fish and fish products .sx But while fishing is vital to the islands , protection " should not create undue disruption or disadvantage within the UK or the EC at large , so small are the numbers .sx sic !sx While fisheries are of " absolute importance " to the islands they are of " relative insignificance within the context of the CFP " .sx Stressing that the Shetland box is a regional , and not a national measure , the document says that the CFP should be seen as " a valuable tool of regional development , no just a tool to manage the EC fisheries " .sx Fishermen join the submariners .sx - Tarbert men spend a day beneath the waves .sx Relations between the fishing industry and the submarine department of the Royal Navy have improved dramatically of late .sx Intense secrecy on the part of the navy has been replaced by a more open and co - operative approach .sx But there are those who argue that it has taken the tragic loss of the Carradale trawler Antares and her four crew , following the fouling of the boat's gear by a submarine to bring this about .sx As part of the better relations between the industry and the navy , a party of fishermen from Tarbert , in Argyll , recently spent a day on a submarine to get an appreciation of the problems the submariners face when working among fishing vessels .sx Fishing News' HUGH ALLEN accompanied the party .sx ON NOVEMBER 22 last year , the Antares , a 55ft trawler from Carradale , on the east coast of the Mull of Kintyre , was dragged to the seabed with the loss of all hands .sx It was later confirmed that the nuclear powered submarine , HMS Trenchant , had become snagged in her nets while on a training patrol off the Isle of Arran .sx The interim report of the Department of Transport investigation was made public but , apart from a brief synopsis , the navy's internal inquiry remains under the cloak of secrecy which protects Ministry of Defence operations from public scrutiny .sx The Fatal Accident Inquiry ( FAI ) is scheduled to begin on September 2 .sx Relationships between fishing communities and the navy fell to an all time low , and conservation organisations had a field day .sx The wealth of misinformation gathered momentum , as any subsequent suspected incidents assumed the status of hard fact .sx Ironically , the skipper of Antares , Jamie Russell , was one of the 'thinking fishermen' who had frequently encouraged attempts to open up lines of communication between fishermen and submariners .sx There are those who feel that it has taken the death of this man and his three crew - men to establish a number of reforms designed to create a safer working environment for surface sailors and submariners .sx Sinking Cynics would suggest that recently introduced 'codes of practice' have more to do with the disintegration of the cold war than with the sinking of Antares .sx Whatever the reason , the navy has gradually become more open during the last six months .sx However , it should not be forgotten that naval ships are crewed by human beings , as much personalities as their critics .sx But unlike them , they cannot speak out , constrained as they are by the Official Secrets Act .sx It is known that the perpetrators of the Antares incident were just as devastated by the consequences of the mistake as any of those who stand in condemnation .sx But they are controlled and silenced by the central policy makers , so that naval public relations is normally reduced to retrenchment in the aftermath of a negative occurrence .sx Now , a limited change is beginning .sx All UK submarine movement in the Clyde , north Irish Sea and over much of the west coast of Scotland is broadcast on VHF radio by the coastguards .sx Information can also be obtained by telephoning the naval base of Faslane .sx .sx Last Saturday , the navy hosted a group of fishermen from Tarbert , Argyll , and one press representative , taking them to sea for the day aboard HMS Ocelot , one of the five remaining Oberon class diesel electric submarines .sx Skippered by Lt Cmndr John Humphreys , the 27 year old vessel is due to be taken out of commission at the end of next month , as the ageing Oberons are to be replaced by Upholders .sx The Oberons were based on the highly successful Type 21 World War II U Boats .sx Even lying in repose at anchor , the sinister black silhouette still evokes the aura of menace so often recreated by wartime movie makers , and particularly in the television series , Das Boot .sx Down below , the sense of d e j a-grave vu for anybody who has seen Das Boot , is heightened by the maze of pipes , valves , dials , levers , jostling seamen , and cramped conditions .sx Seven officers share a wardroom approximately 8sq ft for eating , sleeping and recreation , and nobody's bunk is longer then 5 ft 1 in .sx Above all the quiet authority of the captain , his physical appearance and laconic demeanor , bear an uncannily striking resemblance to the character played by the German actor , Jurgen Prochnow , in the TV drama .sx The parallel is not lost on his crew , who asked us whether we had seen Das Boot .sx The captain agreed that the filming had accurately portrayed life aboard a submarine of this class , " but you will notice that we no longer have bananas hanging from the deckhead , " he said .sx Modern technology has invaded certain aspects of domestic management , and First Lieutenant , Lt Cmndr Richard Eedle , describing himself as a " hotel manager " , commented , " nowadays , we eat our way into the fridge .sx " .sx The odours of overcooked rotting cabbage , tinged with diesel oil and human sweat which struggled to escape from the TV screen were not present .sx The tiny galley in which two men prepare three square meals a day for the 80 strong ship's company , sometimes in temperatures of 120 degree F , was spotlessly clean .sx More fundamentally , the role of the hunter killer has been upended since the days of the ubiquitous U Boat .sx " We no longer play the wild card , charging about on the surface in all weathers , searching for an enemy , " said the captain .sx " We would hide and wait for the enemy to come to us if we were at war .sx " .sx 'O' class submarines carry the best part of pounds20m worth of highly sophisticated torpedoes , wire guided and with an extensive range .sx But when each is sent on its mission of destruction , the expense is justified by the relative value of the target it is supposed to eliminate .sx Target Fired at a loaded tanker for example , the torpedo would be directed beneath the keels of the shielding escorts .sx Following a successful hit the escorts themselves would become the target , hopefully before a counter attack was launched .sx Since Saturday's exercise was specifically designed to create a greater mutual working practice awareness between fishermen and submariners , the question was asked :sx " Do submariners hide behind the sonar transmissions and engine noise of fishing fleets when on exercise ?sx " .sx " Not on exercise , but we would obviously use what cover we could if we were at war , " was the answer .sx The officers and crew aboard Ocelot were at pains to dispel any myths or commonly held inaccuracies .sx From the start , as we were welcomed on board , we were told by the captain that we could go where we liked , speak to whoever we liked and ask any questions we liked .sx During the course of the day this promise was fulfilled to the letter .sx The only journalistic restrictions were imposed upon the reporting of information concerning the maximum operational depth of the submarine , certain technical communication equipment details , and the range and cost of an individual torpedo .sx Equally , the crew were eager to learn as much as possible about fishing methods .sx A file containing descriptions of all types of mobile fishing gear is now held by submarine commanders , and studied by the officers .sx