The first ever action plan for Scotland''s fishing industry has been drawn up by representatives of all the key interests in the sector, including industry and environmental leaders.
The plan was developed by the Sea Fisheries Advisory and Reference Group (SeaFAR) with the support of the Executive and was launched in Musselburgh on 29 September by Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie.
It sets out key steps to help underpin the industry's continuing importance to Scotland's modern economy and includes measures to help ensure the long term sustainability of fish stocks while maximising profits from a healthy natural food.
Mr Finnie said:
"I am committed to building a sustainable, profitable and well managed fishing industry in Scotland and this document can help achieve that goal.
"It is important to stress that this is not just the Scottish Executive's Action Plan, it is SeaFAR's Action Plan.
"This is the first time that the key players with an interest in delivering a secure future for our fishing industry have come together to discuss and agree where they want the industry to go and how to get there.
"I congratulate them on producing a comprehensive Action Plan for an industry to be proud of with a future to look forward to."
The formation of the SeaFAR group was announced at last September in Inverness to bring together key people involved in fishing - fishermen, fish processors as well as consumer and environmental interests and governmental bodies. About 40 others from within the industry helped SeaFAR draw up the plan. And they have all put their name to the action plan.
The Group tasked themselves with devising a detailed Action Plan to give effect to the Executive's Sustainable Framework for Scottish Sea Fisheries, published in June last year, and to oversee the implementation of early actions. The Group published a Commercial Strategy for Scottish Langoustine in May this year.
A successor to SeaFAR will be put in place in early 2007 to see the action plan being put in place and to adjust it in light of changing circumstances. An even wider group of people will be involved in this process, from individual businesses to environmental NGOs and local fishing associations.
