Trawlermen are left gutted after latest round of quota cuts: SCOTTISH fishermen's leaders have called for fundamental changes in the future of fisheries management after trawlermen were left facing swingeing quota cuts in key stocks imposed at the December meeting of the European Fisheries Council.West coast skippers, who claim they are facing an "economic holocaust", will be hardest hit by the cuts agreed by European fisheries ministers yesterday.
And Bertie Armstrong, the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said the new catch limits mean a "sombre" New Year for skippers throughout the country.
Under the new limits, set after two days of tough negotiations in Brussels, west coast fishermen will be hit by 25 per cent cuts in their haddock, cod and whiting quotas and a 15 per cent cut in the fleet's mainstay prawn catch. A proposed 15 per cent reduction in the west coast monkfish quota was, however, reduced to two per cent.
In the North Sea, where the majority of Scottish trawlers operate, the haddock and prawn catch is to be reduced by five per cent and the cod quota by 20 per cent. But there will be a 15 per cent rise in the whiting catch and a 21 per cent increase in the herring quota.
Mr Armstrong said yesterday: "Despite some good negotiating successes, for which the Scottish Government team is congratulated, the conclusion of the EU Fish Council has resulted inevitably in a sombre picture for the Scottish fleet, with further overall losses in fishing opportunity, particularly on the west coast of Scotland.
"The white fish fleet has got a mixed bag and the prawn fleet has really got nothing out of this. So there is a great deal to be done next year to make the very best of what we regard as a bad job here."
He said that the new catch limits only served to underline the need for urgent changes in the way that fisheries are managed.
"The council was very compressed in time and the early information flow was sparse, limiting discussion and raising the pressure on negotiation," he said.
"The member state team including the Scottish Government were forced to revert to almost street fighting tactics to secure the best outcome on the limited number of fishing opportunities open to change."
Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Fisheries Secretary said: "These tough and exhausting talks have delivered positives for Scotland in some areas and disappointments in others.
"The future remains challenging for many Scottish fishermen. Nevertheless I believe that we have done everything we can to secure a fair deal for Scotland, and to show the commission that we are pushing for significant change in fisheries management." He expressed disappointment at the failure to soften the blow facing west coast skippers.
0 comments:
Post a Comment