This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Deep-sea fishing decision
21/11/2006
A deal agreed today at the November Fisheries Council in Brussels will help to protect seriously depleted deep-sea species.
Scientific advice suggests that stocks such as deep sea sharks are over exploited an there should be an immediate and significant reduction in fishing.
The result could have economic consequences for some west coast ports which rely on fishing beyond the European Continental Shelf.
Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie said:
"Today's deal reflects the need for tough choices where stocks are under severe threat.
"We will continue to take seriously scientific advice in order to safeguard threatened stocks and the long term interests of our fishing industry.
"There will be economic consequences for a small number of vessels and the west coast ports where they are based but the measures agreed today were necessary to prevent the collapse of deep sea stocks.
"In accepting this deal we stressed again that where science supports continued fishing and offers a lifeline to vulnerable communities the Commission should seek to make those opportunities available to our fleet.
"An important part of the deal was the recognition that tusk should not be regarded as a deep sea species.
"At the December Council we shall be pressing for increases in quotas for Monkfish and Rockall haddock that would mitigate the impact on our remaining deep sea fleet."
Background
Deep Sea Species are long lived (over 100 years), slow growing species that are fished in the deeper waters off the west coast of Scotland. Unlike most of the principle stocks found in Scotland's shallower waters, the scientific advice suggests that these stocks are over-exploited and that there should be an immediate and significant reduction in fishing of these stocks.
Fishing experience in other parts of the world illustrates the likelihood of deep sea stocks being rapidly over-exploited. The low rate of growth and reproduction means that these species will recover very slowly, if at all.
In particular the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) advised no catches for Deep Sea Sharks or Orange Roughy and no directed fishery on Blue Ling, with bycatch reduced to lowest possible levels.
Todays agreement includes:
1. Orange Roughy - phased out over four years
25 per cent cut in 2007
25 per cent cut in 2008
Commisssion statement of intent to phase out catches by 2010
2. Deep sea sharks - same as Orange Roughy - TAC for by-catch only
3. Tusk - No decision, removed to December TACs and Quota Regulation. Commission accepted UK arguemnet that most catches taken as a monkfish by-catch were accepted
4. Blue Ling
20 per cent cut in 2007
20 per cent cut in 2008
5. Effort - Additional five per cent cut in effort