The UK Government is to lift the ban on overseas trading of skates and rays quotas in order to help the Scottish industry manage their fishing activity.
Scottish fishermen had been lobbying for the change to allow it to trade quotas with Belgium to allow increased fishing of monkfish.
Up to 25 tonnes of skates and rays can now be traded internationally with the position due to be reviewed later in the year.
Secretary of State of State for Scotland David Mundell said: “This is good news for the Scottish fishing industry, and I am really pleased that the UK Government has been able to push this forward. The Scottish fishing industry has been pressing for this change, and we have listened and delivered.”
Fisheries, aquaculture and fish processing contribute £1.63 billion to the UK economy and employ 34,600 people across the UK.
