The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) met with Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing this week to underline the positive impact it believes leaving the European Union would have on the way Scottish fisheries are managed.
“We outlined to the Minister the unanimous view of our membership of the real and positive opportunities that leaving the EU would bring to our fishing communities,” said Bertie Armstrong, SFF chief executive.
“In effect, much in the same way as how our oil and gas sector benefits from the UK’s territorial reach, it brings the opportunity of making Britain the controlling partner in the northern continental shelf where we would be able to exert a positive influence on the way that fisheries are managed, working with other nations in a partnership approach.”
He said that the minister listened carefully and both parties acknowledged that there was a significant divergence in their approach to EU membership. However, there was also recognition from both parties of the need to maintain close dialogue and a good working relationship.
Last week Mr Armstrong said that leaving the EU presents a real opportunity to implement sustainable and rational stewardship of Scottish fisheries.
“After many years – in the consistent past words of the current party of Scottish Government of being ‘sold down the river’ with the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy – we at last have the ability to recover proper, sustainable and rational stewardship through our own Exclusive Economic Zone for fisheries, just like Norway, Iceland and the Faroes”, he said.
