This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fisheries negotiations
18/12/2006
Scotland faces tough decisions on the number of days Scotland's whitefish vessels can spend at sea next year at the EU Fisheries Council this week.
Ross Finnie will join other European Fisheries Minister tomorrow when talks get underway to agree fishing opportunities for the European fleet next year. Increases in quotas for mackerel and haddock have already been secured and there are positive indicators on some of Scotland's remaining priorities for the Council.
Earlier this month the Commission proposed a 25% cut in days at sea. Speaking ahead of a meeting with members of his Sea Fisheries Advisory and Reference Group this evening Mr Finnie vowed to resist such a cut:
"I am extremely concerned about the prospects of a 25% cut in days at sea for Scottish whitefish vessels. Our industry has changed the way it is doing business for the better but cuts of this order could see a return to the difficulties of past years.
"There are other ways to meet our commitment to cod recovery, without such severe economic impacts on our vessels.
"Several of our priorities for this autumn's talks have already been achieved in the external negotiations. Our compelling science-based arguments on quota increases for other key stocks are being listened to although until we see the final proposal nothing is certain.
"This good progress would be undermined if swingeing cuts on vessel days are forced on us at the Council.
"We have a strong case to argue and we have substantial support from industry and environmental groups. I can assure our fishermen that I will strongly resist any proposal that is not based on sound science and which does not reflect the realities of the fishing industry."
Background:
The Fisheries Council takes place on 19-21 December in Brussels and it will cover:
- TACs for West of Scotland cod and herring
- TACs for Nephrops (Scottish Langoustine) in both the North Sea and West of Scotland
- TACs for Monkfish, Ling, Tusk and Megrim
- Permitted days at sea for most Scottish whitefish and Nephrops vessels; and
- Detailed management and control rules for 2007
A number of decisions on fishing opportunities for next year have already been taken through the external negotiations that the EU holds with Norway, Faroes, Iceland and Greenland including:
- A 13% increase in the mackerel TAC
- A 19% reduction in the blue-whiting TAC, in line with the agreed plan to bring this stock into sustainable management
- Improved management arrangements for North Sea Haddock to build in long term stability in this fishery through a 15% TAC variation clause
- 5.4% rise in North Sea Haddock TAC reflecting an improved state of the stock - the final UK share still to be decided at December Council
- 14% reduction in North Sea Cod TAC, against a Commission starting position of 25%
- Status quo for whiting and saithe TACs, preventing further 'salami slicing' of other whitefish fishing opportunities
- 25% reduction in North Sea Herring TAC, necessary to conserve the stock for future years and agreed to by the Scottish industry in the Pelagic Regional Advisory Council
- An 8% reduction in transfers of blue-whiting out of the EU to Norway
Mr Finnie is meeting members of the Sea Fisheries Advisory and Reference Group (SeaFAR) just ahead of the start of the Council. SeaFAR consists of a wide range of sea fishing stakeholders including environmentalists and consumers as well as the industry. They all signed up to a joint Action Plan about the future of the industry in September this year.