Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, has sought assurances that changes to Scotland’s fishing quotas will not contribute to more fish being discarded.
Dave asked a question following a Ministerial Statement on the annual European Union fisheries negotiation to highlight the wastage through fish discards, and concerns that a new quota regime could lead to an increase in the incidence of this.
Commenting on this, Dave said: “I am glad that the Cabinet Secretary agrees with me that we must ensure discards are minimised, and I welcome the reaffirmation that achieving a discard free industry remains one of the Scottish Government’s top priorities.
“Events in the last year have shown us the issues that changes in quotas combined with changes in Fish stock biology can have, and I’m glad that the Cabinet Secretary is working with Scottish fishermen and the EU to ensure a flexible approach.
Dave was concerned that increases in the prawn quota, and reductions in the haddock, monkfish and megrim quotas would lead to an inevitable increase in discards on the west coast, despite west coast fisherman adopting new gear to minimise discards.
In his statement the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, highlighted the challenges facing Scottish fishermen through the institutional gridlock in the Common Fisheries Policy that is preventing reform of the failing cod recovery plan and the resolution of the dispute with the Faroes and Iceland, but also highlighted the success of the Scottish fleet in increasing the value of landings while making a significant contribution to the recovery of several fish stocks.
Dave added: “Fishing makes a huge contribution to many of the west coast communities in my constituency, being a vital source of livelihood. The Scottish fishing industry as a whole has gone through challenging years, but has taken the necessary action to secure the sustainability of the fish stocks and the industry.
“The Cabinet Secretary is doing all he can to secure the best possible and fairest deal for Scottish fisherman for 2013, and I am glad that he remains committed to a discard free industry."
Note:
Text of Dave’s Question from the Official report
Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP): I welcome the cabinet secretary’s comments on the obscenity of discards, but I am worried about his other comments about advice for the west coast. An increase in the prawn quota, coupled with a decrease in the haddock, monkfish and megrim quotas, will almost certainly mean more discards if it goes ahead.
Will the cabinet secretary tell us what he plans to do to prevent the danger of more discards on the west coast while protecting the valuable and sustainable west coast prawn fishery?
Richard Lochhead: I recognise the importance of the prawn fishery to the west coast fishing communities. We have worked closely with the west coast fishermen and I commend them on adopting a number of new selective gear measures in recent months and years, which will help to cut down discards of other stocks for which they do not have quota. That is a big step forward, which should help us to strike the balance to which Dave Thompson refers.
I point out that some quota increases are happening on the west coast, which is good news. However, when we consider the west of Scotland haddock quota reduction, we must remember that that stock went up by 200 per cent last year, so it is still a substantial increase compared to two years ago.
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