STEVENSON WELCOMES SCOTTISH VICTORY IN FISHING NEGOTIATIONS

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the news that the rest of the European Union is set to follow Scotland’s lead in adopting the Cod Recovery Plan, based on the pioneering Conservation Credits Scheme already established in Scotland.

The new Cod Recovery Plan decides how much time many European fishermen are allowed to spend at sea. It links their allocation of time at sea with conservation-friendly measures in much the same way as Scotland's pioneering Conservation Credits Scheme.

The adoption of the Scottish scheme underlines the fact that Scotland is leading the rest of Europe in adopting innovative conservation measures and comes as a reward to the many sacrifices made by the Scottish fishing industry.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“The scale of this victory in Brussels is one that should not be underestimated. Under this scheme, much of the day to day management of European fisheries will be handed back to member states to administer.

“Having already adopted much of these new measures, Scotland’s fleet will find it significantly easier to make the necessary adjustments. These measures will help bring an end to the tragedy of discarded fish that are thrown back because skippers have reached their quota limit.

“In much the same way as the Conservation Credits Scheme, the number of days vessels can spend at sea will depend on the strictness of the conservation measures that they undertake, rewarding those who do most to protect fish stocks.

“This Scottish success story in Brussels only serves to underline what can happen when Scotland is able to speak with its own voice in Europe on the issues that are important to it.”