This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Strategic framework for inshore fisheries
18/03/2005
Measures that will put the future of Scotland's inshore
fisheries in the hands of local communities were announced
today.
Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie published the Executive's
Strategic
Framework for Inshore Fisheries which will lead to the
establishment of a network of inshore fisheries groups
responsible for planning the management of local
fisheries.
Scottish objectives will be set by the Scottish
Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD)
in liaison with Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group
(SIFAG) with inshore fisheries groups developing these into
local management plans with area specific objectives.
Mr Finnie said:
"This work provides a framework to develop a sustainable
inshore fisheries industry which will maintain the
long-term viability of the industry and the communities it
supports.
"By putting local people at the heart of inshore
fisheries we can better balance the competing economic,
environmental and social pressures.
"The framework provides a blueprint for a new inshore
fisheries management structure that places fishermen, and
other stakeholders, at the heart of the decision-making
process.
"Crucially, it provides the maximum flexibility to
develop the most appropriate form of management but where
Regulatory Orders are the preferred route, we will
legislate to ensure their enforcement by the Scottish
Fisheries Protection Agency."
The key elements of the strategic framework are as
follows
.
- High level objectives for inshore
fisheries will be set at a national level by SIFAG in
liaison with SEERAD and other government bodies. These
will be wide ranging and will set out the overall
general vision and aspirations for Scottish inshore
fisheries.
- A network of
inshore fisheries groups will be
established, covering all Scottish inshore waters to
ensure these high level objectives are relevant to the
distinct inshore fisheries around the Scottish
coast..
- These inshore fisheries groups will develop
local objectives, complementary to the
high level objectives, which reflect the priorities and
circumstances of different areas and develop
local management plans selecting the
most appropriate
management measures to deliver
objectives.
- A series of
tests will be applied to establish
whether objectives and management measures
conflict.
- Management measures will be supported by
performance indicators, to enable an
assessment to be made of the effectiveness of the
action.
- Local management plans will be approved at national
level by
SIFAG, in liaison with SEERAD and
other government bodies.
- SEERAD will be responsible for introducing
secondary legislation, where
required, to implement management plans; or inshore
fisheries groups can apply for Regulatory Orders to
implement the plans; or a combination of the
above.
A strategic review of inshore fisheries began in
November 2002 which reviewed the effectiveness of the
existing inshore fisheries management regime, and explored
what might be required in the future. The output is a
strategic framework for inshore fisheries, which sets high
level objectives for inshore fisheries, and which will
establish a network of inshore fisheries groups.
The Partnership Agreement made two inshore fisheries
commitments: to undertake a review of inshore fisheries
with a view to delegating responsibility to stakeholders,
and to legislate for the SFPA to enforce Regulatory
Orders. Today's strategic framework fulfils the first
commitment, and the Fisheries Bill scheduled for June 2006
will fulfil the second.
The Framework has been produced following detailed
consultation on a draft strategy which was drawn up by
SIFAG. SIFAG is made up of interested parties including
fisheries organisations, Seafish, SNH, Scottish Environment
Link and SEERAD.