June 10th, 2008
Gutted
Introduction

For generations, the West family and thousands of other fishermen in the Scottish Fleet have trawled for cod in the North Sea. But as commercial over-fishing has decimated the whitefish population off the coast of Scotland, their livelihood is on the verge of collapse. The Wests’ hometown of Fraserburgh is caught between European Union laws designed to preserve fish stocks and ration out the catch among member nations, and the need to earn a living. Wives in the community, calling themselves the “Cod Crusaders,” besiege EU committee hearings in a last ditch effort to save the industry. Under the EU fisheries poliy, Sandy West is forced to scrap his family boat. Joining him on an emotional final voyage to the breaker’s yars, WIDE ANGLE tells the poignant story of a year in the life of one hard-hit fishing community.


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