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Stock-Specific Strategies
Specific actions, based on the strategic approaches outlined above, have been developed for two particular fisheries. Details are set out here. Similar work is in hand to identify the steps required to secure the best possible future for Scotland's pelagic sector.
Scottish Langoustines ( Nephrops)
Scotland catches the world's largest share of this species and Scottish vessels land 75% of the UK quota share. It goes under a variety of names - prawns, langoustines, scampi and Nephrops. In fact, one of the SeaFAR's recommendations is to seek to remove consumer confusion about product name and origin by encouraging the use of the term Scottish Langoustines to refer to the product. However, we retain the term Nephrops when referring to the stock as that is the internationally recognised name for the species.
A Commercial Strategy for Scottish Langoustines was launched by the Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Ross Finnie, MSP, in April 2006 which seeks to ensure long term sustainability of the stocks and protect the livelihoods of those involved in the sector. The scientific community's confidence in the future harvest potential of the Nephrops stock is reflected in a recently increased TAC. The Strategy will publicise this confidence and aims to improve market access and encourage greater transparency in the pricing structure of Scottish Langoustines.
In the next 6 months:
SEERAD, SIFAG and other industry groups will explore effort limitation in the fishery.
SEERAD and Catchers will seek greater flexibility in the use of wider mesh sizes during the autumn EU negotiations and in the Cod Recovery Review.
SEERAD, Seafish and Seafood Scotland will promote uptake of the Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme.
SEERAD and Seafood Scotland will develop and promote the Advanced Landings Website to incorporate Scottish Langoustine landings.
In the next 18 months:
SEERAD and Seafood Scotland will support and encourage use of electronic auctions for Scottish Langoustine.
Scottish Haddock
A Haddock Profitability Working Group was set up in 2006 to look at supply chain problems created by irregular patterns of landing and the reduced availability of haddock fishing opportunities for the Scottish fleet. The work of the Group to date includes improving the information flow from catcher to processor and on down the supply chain, the initiation of a public awareness programme, and the creation of a cross sector awareness programme. One of its main aims is to reinforce the importance of 'Scottish Haddock' as both a product and a brand.
In the next 6 months:
- Catchers, Vessel Agents, SEERAD and Seafood Scotland will improve on the use and usefulness of Seafood Scotland's Advance Landings web site.
- With the aid of Seafood Scotland, the Group will promote Scottish Haddock through the deployment of more cross sector good news stories.
- Seafood Scotland, Catchers and Processors will promote the Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme and develop a specific add-on to the scheme which makes the case for the long term sustainability of Scottish Haddock.
- The Group will liaise with Seafish on the creation of an up-to-date value added chain for haddock.
- The Group will undertake a real-cost analysis of the trend over time of catching a kilo of haddock, with assistance from Seafish and Catchers.
In the next 18 months
- Catchers, Seafish and Selling Agents will investigate the provision of an electronic selling system capable of real time link-up between vessel and processors and investigate compatibility with e-logbooks.
- Processors will encourage the development of new product lines with assistance from Seafood Scotland and European Funding.
- Through ongoing dialogue with the Producer Organisations, the Group will look to optimise the landing patterns of haddock.
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