Responding to the news that WFF is to take the Council of the European Union to the European Court of Justice for allegedly breaching EU environmental law by failing to protect cod stocks, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong said:
“We are surprised and disappointed at WWF in taking this action, which fails to look at practical solutions for cod recovery. This action looks backwards and not forwards at what should be done.
“They claim that the EU is breaching its own environmental law, but the law is extremely complicated and open to misinterpretation. This action will serve no useful purpose in pursuing the recovery of cod.
“All it does is send out the superficial and wrong impression that cod is doomed. This was not the message that came out of the recent symposium on cod stocks, which involved stakeholders looking to develop practical solutions for cod recovery. WFF participated in this symposium without indicating that they intended to take this action.
“All they have done is produce an unsubstantial sound-bite, which bears little reality to the practical world of mixed fisheries.
“We call on WFF to engage in practical discussions to find realistic solutions.”
