This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New grants to help reduce cod fishing
10/07/2003
Decommissioning grants totalling £40 million are being
offered to the owners of 69 Scottish fishing vessels. The
European Commission has also approved the Scottish
Executive's £10m Transitional Aid scheme.
Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Ross
Finnie today announced the details of the decommissioning
scheme, aimed at reducing fishing effort on cod by a
further 15-20%; and welcomed EC approval to the
Transitional Aid arrangements.
Mr Finnie said:
"We need to reduce whitefish fishing effort if we are to
have sustainable fisheries for the future. We agreed, at
last December's Fisheries Council, to reduce cod fishing
effort by 15-20%. The vessels that are the subject of
decommissioning grant offers account for some 17.5% of cod
fishing activity by Scottish vessels in the North Sea and
to the West of Scotland.
"I am also pleased the Commission has finally approved
our Transitional Aid proposals, thereby removing
uncertainty within the industry about this element of the
£50m support package for industry I announced last
January."
Successful decommissioning applicants will have until 31
October 2003 to decommission their vessel and claim their
grant. An advance (50%) of grant may be paid on surrender
of the vessel's fishing licence(s) and the cessation of
fishing, provided that is done by 31 August 2003.
The Executive is asking for applications for grant under
the Transitional Aid arrangements by 31 July.
Agreement was reached at the EU Fisheries Council in
December 2002 on the adoption of an effort control regime
as part on ongoing measures to aid cod recovery. The
Council also agreed substantial cuts in quotas for stocks
in which Scotland has a major interest.
On 28 January Mr Finnie announced an aid package of more
than £50m comprising up to £40m for decommissioning, up to
£10m in transitional support and rates relief for
businesses in ports worst affected by stock recovery
measures.
Decommissioning grant offers are being made following
receipt and consideration of competitive grant bids from
interested, eligible vessel owners. Transitional Aid grant
of up to £142 per Vessel Capacity Unit (VCU - a measure of
fishing vessel capacity used in the UK) are available,
covering the 6-month period 1 March to 31 August 2003, for
eligible vessels worst affected by the stock recovery
measures agreed in December.