STEVENSON WELCOMES FUEL HELP FOR FISHING INDUSTRY

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson today welcomed the announcement that the SNP Government will implement a five point action plan to help the Scottish fishing industry counter the effects of rising fuel costs.

Following a meeting with the Scottish Fishermen's Federation in Aberdeen, Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead announced that the Scottish Government would:

· establish a Task Force to quickly bring forward steps to help the industry
· immediate help to offset fuel costs, including £400,000 for the annual maintenance costs of life rafts on every vessel in Scotland and £300,000 for the cost of the warranties vessels must pay on their satellite monitoring equipment
· seek a meeting with the UK Government to discuss wider issues of the impact of fuel prices
· continue to press the European Union to ensure a level playing field on subsidies
· work with the industry to develop a fuel efficiency scheme

Commenting on the action plan Mr Stevenson said:

“Increasing fuel prices is having a serious detrimental effect on the viability of our fishing industry and this issue is one which is being dealt with through effective communication with our fisherman and their industry representatives.

“With recent renowned confidence in the industry, reflected in Fraserburgh leading the way in white fishing sector, the SNP Government has acted quickly to implement this action plan which aims to both address short term issues and look for long term solutions.

"We must work with both the UK and European Governments to ensure our fishermen’s needs and concerns are fully acted upon in these difficult times. Mr Lochhead has assured me that the Task Force is to be radical in its thinking so we can all ensure a sustainable and profitable future for the Scottish fisheries sector."

"The Task Force will report by the end of August on steps to be taken in response to the fuel price increases and by the end of February on longer term issues.
The membership and remit of the Task Force will be agreed at the Scottish Fisheries Council meeting on May 13 while the fuel efficiency scheme will available from early September."