This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New fisheries protection vessel
28/04/2005
The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) latest
fishery protection vessel, FPV Jura, was launched at Port
Glasgow today.
Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie said:
"This week has seen the successful conclusion in the
largest case of undeclared landings ever brought to court
in this country. Today we are further strengthening the
SFPA's enforcement capacity.
"Effective enforcement is vital to the successful
management of fisheries and the sustainable future of our
fishing industry.
"Achieving those goals requires a Fisheries Protection
Agency properly equipped for the task.
"The Jura marks an important step in the continuing
modernisation of our fleet. Longer and faster than any of
her predecessors she will add significantly to the
operational capabilities of the SFPA.
"This modernisation continues apace. We are now
considering tenders for a further two FPVs and an
announcement on these will be made in due course."
The SFPA is responsible for the enforcement of sea
fisheries regulations around the Scottish coast and out to
the 200 mile limit. In order to carry out its
responsibilities it has 18 fishery offices at the main
fishing ports around the coast, two surveillance aircraft
and a fleet of four fishery protection vessels.
The launch of FPV Jura to replace the 25-year-old FPV
Sulisker is the latest step in the renewal of the fleet of
fishery protection vessels:
Norna - launched in 1987: Gross tonnage 1385, Length 71
metres
Minna - launched in 2003: Gross tonnage 781, Length 47.7
metres
Minna, the most recent addition to the fleet, is powered
by a low emission diesel electric propulsion system. At
just under 48 metres she is well-suited to policing the
more sheltered inshore waters. Jura, however, at 84 metres
will be our largest FPV and is the first in a new class
also to be fitted with diesel electric propulsion. Tenders
for similar replacements for Vigilant and Norna are
currently being considered.
Overall dimensions and capabilities of FPV Jura are:
Length - 84 metres
beam - 13 metres
draft - 4.5 metres
grt - 2200 tonnes
propulsion - diesel-electric generating up to 6200
hp
max speed - 18 knots
cruising speed - 12 knots
patrol duration - 30 days
crew - 15
The renewal of the fleet is only part of the development
of the Agency to help safeguard our stocks of fish for the
future. While the Agency has concentrated on boarding
vessels at sea and in port to monitor activity, it is now
directing effort to the tracing of illegal landings down
the market chain.
Proposals are in hand to introduce a system of
registration in the industry of those engaged in the buying
and selling of fish (including fish processors) who will be
required to provide records of transactions.