This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Closing net on illegal fishing
13/06/2005
Better international collaboration, sharing intelligence
and carrying out joint operations, will help to close the
net on illegal fishing, it was claimed today.
Scotland's Fisheries Minister, Ross Finnie, was speaking
during meetings with his Norwegian counterpart, Svein
Ludvigsen.
The meetings in Tromso, northern Norway, will cover a
range of fisheries and aquaculture issues.
Mr Finnie said:
"Fishing is an international industry and it is
important that we co-operate fully with European and other
partners to tighten the net on illegal landings.
"We want to see a thriving Scottish fishing industry
that nurtures the stocks on which it depends. I am
determined that Scotland and Norway should co-operate fully
to ensure the courts in both countries have the strongest
possible evidence to prosecute cases of illegal
fishing.
"Our approach in Scotland traditionally has been to
follow the fish, carrying out boardings at sea and
inspections of landings.
"Increasingly we are following the money, putting in
place forensic accounting systems to deter those who trade
in black fish.
"The meetings we are having today will lead to more
exchanges of information and, in turn, to more successful
prosecution of those who seek to steal from honest
fishermen".