This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New fisheries research vessel
30/09/2004
A new £4 million research vessel is to be comissioned with money from the Scottish Budget, guests at the annual dinner of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation were told tonight.
Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie said the new vessel would strengthen the science on which fisheries management decisions are based and help create the conditions for a sustainable and profitable fishing industry.
Mr Finnie said:
"As Fisheries Minister I am committed to securing a viable and prosperous future for Scottish fisheries and the communities that they support.
"The fisheries statistics which we published this morning provide evidence of the testing times that Scotland's fishing communities have faced.
"Healthy fish stocks are the key to achieving a viable future for our fishing industry. Strong scientific evidence will lead to better management decisions and allow the industry to target effort where it is both profitable and sustainable.
"There is still much to do to raise the level of confidence in the annual scientific advice provided for European negotiations. I am clear that has to be informed by the views and practical experience of the fishermen themselves. The funding I am announcing tonight will provide FRS with the tools to do that job."
The new research vessel is to replace the existing RV Clupea which is based in Fraserburgh and which has been in operation since 1969.
he new vessel - which will be 27 metres in length - will complement FRS's offshore vessel Scotia (68 metres in length which was delivered in 1998) - and enable the continuation and expansion of research in the inshore areas that are now of increased importance to the Scottish fleet.
The vessel will be able to carry a total of 14 crew and scientists - and will have an endurance of 14 days. She will be capable of single and twin trawling, and dredging for scallops. She will also be fitted out to carry out a full range of environmental sampling.
The contract for the construction of the vessel will be tendered on a "design and build" basis under EU procedures and contract award is likely to be made next spring. It is likely that the vessel will take approximately 18 months to complete.