Scots fishing leaders in the dark over Brussels quota talks :Crunch talks in Brussels on the fishing rules for 2011 dragged on overnight, with Scottish industry figures left waiting to see what would emerge.
There was no hard news for them to dissect, as the machinery of Brussels policymaking worked on the catching rules for next year.
With the discussions taking place in private, it was unclear if the UK negotiating team was making progress on saving parts of the country’s fishing industry from further quota cuts.
Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead went into the talks, which started on Monday, confident that Scots cod conservation efforts would carry some weight during the annual scrap over the next year’s fishing rights.
The European Commission (EC) had already proposed another round of swingeing quota cuts, including reductions for North Sea prawns and monkfish of 9% and 15% respectively.
Scotland’s west coast fleet was facing a 50% cut in its annual cod and whiting quotas, a 25% cut for haddock and 15% cuts for prawns and monkfish.
Deals struck at talks between the EU and Norway last week included cuts for North Sea haddock and cod of 5% and 20% respectively, but also an expected 8% increase in the UK’s quota for north-east Atlantic mackerel.
West coast fishing leaders warned that further deep cuts could force some people out of the industry.
Mallaig and North-West Fishermen’s Association secretary John Hermse said: “The 2011 outlook is extremely bleak, with virtually no mix of catching opportunities which go into contributing to the earnings of our fleet.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the talks in Belgium’s capital last night, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong said the overall situation facing the Scots fleet next year looked “sombre”.
He added: “The one absolutely essential part of 2011 for us will be a concerted attack, along with the Scottish Government, to tailor the new regulations to the uniqueness of our fleet and its operations. Importantly, many of our fish stocks are showing signs of being in a sustainable condition.”
Mr Armstrong also warned that Scottish efforts to boost cod numbers seemed to be going unnoticed in Europe.
The Scottish and UK Governments’ case against further cuts has relied heavily on gaining recognition for conservation work taking place on this side of the English channel.
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