« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
Taking the Framework Forward
Signing the document | 
SeaFAR working group chairs and chairman : Robin Cook, Bertie Armstrong, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Ross Finnie MSP, Jennifer Craw, Mike Park | 
Linda Cross, James Anderson, Andrew Mallison, at SeaFAR in September. |
"Seafish welcomes this important initiative which recognises the interdependence of every link in the seafood chain to bring high-quality Scottish products to world markets."
John Rutherford, Seafish
"Environmental groups, the fishing industry and the wider community share a vision of a sustainable future for Scotland's seas with healthy fish stocks and thriving coastal towns and villages. The SeaFAR process has brought us together to find ways to move towards that vision."
Dr Richard Dixon, WWF Scotland
"The UK needs healthy seafood as part of the national diet, provided by a healthy fishing industry that is sustainable and well managed. The SeaFAR Action Plan will help address the obstacles to industry growth and make the most of the many opportunities."
Andrew Mallison, Marks & Spencer PLC
"With full engagement of the catching sector stakeholders, we look forward to confronting the challenges facing the industry."
Bertie Armstrong, Scottish Fishermen's Federation
Securing a sustainable, profitable and well managed future for the sector requires hard work and vigilance. The next step will be to get on with implementing the actions in this plan. We would expect a wider variety of different people, ranging from individual businesses and fishermen to environmental interests and Fishing Associations to be fully involved in this work. A successor to SeaFAR will be put in place in early 2007 to oversee the process. But what matters most is that we start to see in our seas, vessels and shops, the changes we all agree are crucial. We will use the performance indicators listed below to measures the overall success of the package of measures in this plan and to look for changing circumstances which should make us adjust the package. We will draw up baselines for these indicators within the next six months, and publish trends annually thereafter.
Aim | Measurement of success |
|---|
Safeguard stocks to provide stable fishing opportunities for the Scottish fleet and safeguard the marine environment | Index of fish stock health and fishing pressure to assess if stocks and fishing mortality are within precautionary limits and to assess fishing pressure in relation to MSY target rates or suitably robust equivalent Trends in indicators of condition of sea bed and marine food chains developed under other initiatives, including the UK Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy, the EU Marine Strategy and AGMACS Trends in site condition of protected areas which have led to changes in fishing practices |
Improve understanding of fisheries science | Understanding and acceptance of fisheries science measures through the attitudes survey and an index of industry/science collaboration |
Improve economic returns to fishermen and processors | Trends in operating profits of processors and catchers, compared to that achieved in comparable sectors in other EU countries |
Increase confidence, transparency and flexibility in the supply chain and enhance the reputation of Scottish Seafood in the market | Proportion of catch from vessels accredited under the Seafish or other recognised responsible fishing scheme Proportion of landings handled by electronic auction or through the advanced landings website Trends in consumer preferences for seafood |
Reduce environmental emissions from catching and processing activities | Trends in carbon emissions from Scottish fishing vessel and processing businesses Improve global competitiveness of the sector Ratio of landing prices achieved by Scottish vessels compared with prices achieved elsewhere for the top 7 commercial fish species of interest to Scotland Trends in market share for Scottish seafood products |
Continued contribution from fishing to economies of remote and fragile rural communities | Labour market trends in areas with a high dependence on fishing |
Re-build good governance by ensuring an influential voice for the industry and other stakeholders in fisheries management | Rates of stakeholder satisfaction with science, enforcement and stakeholder involvement Number of IFG management plans prepared and agreed Number of RAC proposals adopted by EU Commission |
Adopt effective management by simplification and better regulation | Stakeholder satisfaction with regulation |
Improve compliance through better understanding, communication, and effective enforcement pre and post landing | Trends in rates of compliance |
« Previous | Contents | Next »