This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fisheries Protection Agency
29/08/2003
The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency has today published its annual report and accounts for the year ending March 31.
Environment and Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said the agency had continued to perform well against very demanding performance targets.
He said:
"The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of proper and effective monitoring of fishing activity and enforcement of fisheries legislation to conserve stocks for the long-term benefit of the industry and rural communities.
"The Agency's staff have performed their duties in a thoroughly professional and efficient manner often in difficult conditions and circumstances.
"I am pleased the Agency has continued to perform so well against such demanding targets, in meeting five out of 10 set for the year.
"Of particular note are the achievements in aerial surveillance, where excellent operational returns were delivered by the Agency's two aircraft and unit costs were contained well within target limits.
"An important aspect of the Agency's business involves processing cases for prosecution - the three associated targets were all well met.
"On the marine side, however, downtime arising from an increase in mechanical defects, in what is becoming an ageing fleet, prevented the Agency from meeting both fleet availability and cost targets. In the meantime major investments have been made in procuring new patrol vessels due to enter service between now and late 2005.
"Shortfalls with respect to the two targets set for its Sea Fisheries Inspectorate are attributable to a diversion of enforcement effort from the routine monitoring of landings to less predictable and more random surveillance operations to provide a greater concentration on the prevention of blackfish landings.
"The £15 million spent annually on monitoring fishing activity and enforcement in waters around Scotland and in our ports represents less than 4% of the total value of fish landed into Scotland in 2002.
"As such, the work of the SFPA continues to be an important and very worthwhile investment of taxpayers' money aimed at safeguarding the future of our fishing industry."
The SFPA was launched in April 1991 as an executive agency under the Government's Next Steps programme. It monitors the fishing activities of UK and foreign fishing vessels within British Fishery Limits at sea around Scotland as well as in Scottish ports.
The Agency is headed by a Chief Executive, Paul Du Vivier. It employs 276 staff, operates four vessels and two aircraft and has offices in 18 of the major fishing ports.
Copies of the Annual Report and Accounts, ISBN number 0-10-888111-3, may be obtained from The Stationery Office, 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9AZ, price £15.10.