Bright future’ for whitefish stocks in Scotland's
Scotland's whitefish stocks have a "bright future" if threatened species are given greater protection, WWF Scotland has said.
The wildlife conservation body has published its latest assessment of the state of the main species harvested. The organisation said it has been a year of ups and downs, with North Sea stocks in a better shape than those off the west of Scotland.
The ‘ups’ included North Sea haddock achieving Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation for sustainability, whilst the ‘downs’ involved cod stocks failing to recover sufficiently to allow an increase in quota next year, despite the progressive conservation measures taken by Scotland’s fishing fleet.
Discards of haddock in West of Scotland remain were also found to be unacceptably high, at 66% in 2009 according to the Commission.
However, the conservation group said there is still a “bright future” for fish stocks and those who depend upon them, but only if ‘at risk’ stocks such as cod are given greater protection. WWF also repeated its calls for progressive reform of the European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and for the Scottish Government to offer support to allow more fisheries to become sustainable and achieve MSC accreditation.
WWF Scotland’s Marine Policy Officer, Dr Mireille Thom, said: “Scotland accounts for over two-thirds of UK quotas, and last year Scottish fisheries landed over £400 million worth of fish and shellfish into Scottish ports.
“2010 was a year of ups and downs for many fish stocks. In general the North Sea continues to be in better shape than the west of Scotland.
“Conservation measures taken by the industry have been rewarded in the North Sea where the haddock fishery gained MSC certification. However, despite progressive measures being taken in Scotland to protect cod, including the use of more selective fishing gear and CCTV on board a number of vessels, North Sea cod stocks have not yet recovered enough to avoid new cuts in quotas. Worse still, recent decisions by the European Council could lead to increased levels of discards.
“During 2011 we call on political parties to commit in their manifestos to help more Scottish fisheries progress through MSC certification pre-assessment so that all fisheries are certified sustainable by 2015.
“Scotland’s fishing industry is part of the fabric of the nation and has a profitable future ahead of it, but only if long-term conservation measures are strengthened and the European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) undergoes an effective reform along more sustainable lines.”
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