Stevenson Welcomes Pilot Scheme to Protect North Sea Cod Stocks

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed a new scheme to protect North Sea cod stocks is to be tested using on-board independent observers.

Under the initiative, skippers will be given extra days at sea if the observers conclude that cod is less than five per cent of the total catch on the trip. The observers from an independent monitoring agency will verify catches. Funded by the Scottish Government and jointly developed with the industry, the pilot scheme aims to test how effective such incentives are in conserving cod stocks.

Commenting Mr. Stevenson said;

"The new Scottish government from the beginning pledged a fresh start for Scotland's fisheries. That means looking at new ideas to assist the recovery of North Sea cod stocks.

"This scheme will reward Scottish skippers who are able to use their expertise to avoid cod. It is essential to harness the skill and knowledge of fishermen in order to allow other forms of fishing with minimal by-catches of cod.

"The observer pilot has been worked up with the industry over the past two months. It builds on the launch last week of real-time area closures scheme also jointly developed with the industry, whereby fishermen can temporarily avoid fishing in areas with high concentrations of small cod.

"The Scottish government is fully committed to ensuring healthy stocks of cod, as is everyone in the Scottish fishing industry, and in identifying sensible solutions which achieve that.

"I believe the pilot will provide us with valuable information which will help us set about building a better plan for recovering cod stocks This is certainly good news for the fishing industry in Banff & Buchan."