Stevenson Condemns UK Government's Lack Of Respect For Fishing Industry

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has hit out at the UK Government’s decision to send an unelected member of the House of Lords with no background in fisheries to important discussions on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy, instead of the Scottish Government’s Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead. With the Westminster election preventing ministers from DEFRA attending, Mr Lochhead had offered to step in and ensure that the voice of the fishing industry is heard.

In 2008, the House of Lords published a report proposing to address a Europe wide over-capacity in fishing fleets by using high fuel prices to drive UK fishing vessels out of business.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“I find it truly bizarre that the UK Government have not taken up the offer of sending an experienced fisheries minister to these talks. Around 70% of the UK’s fishing industry is located in Scotland and Richard Lochhead would have been the logical person to represent the industry’s needs.

“They have instead chosen to send an unelected and unaccountable member of a body which recommended letting Scotland’s fishing industry be destroyed in order to address the failure of other EU nations to reduce their fishing fleets. If that is their idea of standing up for the fishing industry, then it is truly staggering.

“The SNP Government understands the importance of the fishing industry and is committed to fighting for its future. It is infuriating that the UK Government clearly does not understand and does not care when it comes to the needs of people in the fishing industry.”