[flir]

Fishing holds similar role in the UK and France (at least). Tiny components of the overall economy, giant patriotic feels.

I still think some manufacturing is simply strategic, and you should maintain a capability even at a (financial) loss though.

[traceroute66]

> Fishing holds similar role in the UK

Indeed and ironically most British people refuse to eat the species commonly found in UK waters, e.g. mackerel etc.

Because the Brits are so fussy, most fish eaten in the UK has always been imported, e.g. Icelandic cod.

And the fact the UK fishermen were die-hard pro-Brexit is odd given they should have been aware that the majority of their regular catch was sold to EU buyers.

[flir]

> most fish eaten in the UK has always been imported, e.g. Icelandic cod.

Not always (Cod Wars). And our herring catch was once its own industry.

> And the fact the UK fishermen were die-hard pro-Brexit is odd given they should have been aware that the majority of their regular catch was sold to EU buyers.

They thought they'd have a monopoly on those fishing grounds post-Brexit.

[nephihaha]

The problem for them wasn't the sales, it was the catches. The EU was good for farmers, not so good for fisheries. The EU fishing rules meant multiple countries could fish the same grounds meaning overfishing. The UK was much stricter on net sizes than Spain was.

[Chu4eeno]

> The EU was good for farmers, not so good for fisheries.

It was good for industrial farming, not the farmers themselves, one of the big reasons for Norway refusing to join was the impact it would have on farmers.

[goobatrooba]

That seems more a feelings than fact based view. The Norwegian referendum had many reasons, but as for Brexit they were not necessarily based on rational analysis. Norway is nominally independent but in every economic sector, including farming, pretty much integrated with the EU countries.

[nephihaha]

I knew plenty of smaller and tenant farmers who benefitted from the EU. There weren't industrial farms around there.

[NopIdoN]

What, these guys?

https://britishseafishing.co.uk/scottish-black-fish-scandal/

> … rigged scales … secret underground [fish] pipes … extra conveyor belt … allowed up to 70 per cent of their catches to go undeclared

> … spent the money they made through the scam on second homes in Spain and France.

[nephihaha]

That is because fishing has multiple other factors. For one, it is a major component of certain towns and villages, so while it isn't important to big cities, it is on the smaller scale in particular areas. It keeps harbours open and is also a draw for tourists, so I would say it has different implications than, say, shoe manufacturing.

The British chocolate industry was a major employer in some places but has been decimated. British chocolate was certainly not the best in the world but it was better than what it has been turned into in the last few years, thanks to palm oil, international take overs etc.

[goobatrooba]

Well since Mondelez night Caburies, Milka, and other major brands across Europe it has slowly been downgrading their quality. So unfortunately not a purely British problem and even more unfortunately an intentional business strategy by a Swiss conglomerate.

Kind of the best European chocolate option, if you want to avoid the Swiss and don't want to buy the premium for pralines is the JD Gross company which is mainly delivering to Lidl.

[flir]

Fishing tourism?

Like... commercial fishing with a net? Not sport fishing?

[nephihaha]

No, more like people going and seeing a harbour with actual fishing boats in it. It is a pretty sight...

But some do sightseeing trips, diving and sports fishing too.

[flir]

Huh. Would be a bit of a busman's holiday for me, but TIL.

[8note]

in canada at least, you can catch a bush plane out to the middle of nowhere up north at a hunting and fishing lodge for a week.

idk if that counts as sport fishing, or sport sexual assault?

[georgeecollins]

In the US that's farming. The "family farm" which is rare ends up being the justification for tons of agribusiness subsidies.

The good news is the USA produces lots of food.