Scottish fishermen are to meet with the UK Fisheries Minister George Eustice this week to voice their concerns over catching opportunities for 2015.
“The problem with cod is that it is caught up in an intractable long term management plan,” said Bertie Armstrong, chief executive, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF). “At the moment, this plan is calling for a 20% quota cut for 2015, but this would do little for stock conservation as it would only lead to increased discarding – something totally at odds with current EC policy.”
“However, the independent science shows that a 10% increase in the cod quota would still deliver a 22% increase in the biological size of the stock next year. We will, therefore, be pressing the minister to ensure that the UK adopts a pragmatic position during the forthcoming negotiations, as well as ensuring that effort cuts are kept firmly off the agenda,” he added.
As well as catching opportunities for the coming year, the fishermen will also discuss the impact of the forthcoming discards ban, for which the SFF says there are many questions that remain to be answered and which has the potential to “devastate our fishing communities if managed badly”.
“Our fleet will only survive its impact if it is managed sensibly and with a great degree of latitude and flexibility. The ban will affect our mackerel and herring vessels first and it is crucial that all vessels that operate within this international fishery do so under the same regulations to ensure a level playing field for all,” Mr Armstrong concluded.
