This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fisheries negotiations
30/11/2004
Proposals for future fisheries management expected to emerge soon from the European Commission have already been overtaken by events, Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie said today.
In a meeting with West Coast fishermen, Mr Finnie made clear that proposals intended to mark the starting point for discussions ahead of the December fisheries summit have already been superseded by advice from the Commission's own technical experts.
Mr Finnie said :
"We are working closely with our fishing industry and fishing interests as proposals from Brussels begin to emerge.
"We expect the proposals to be published on December 8 to present some prospect of positive news on prawns and monkfish available to our vessels and to secure cod, haddock and mackerel quotas.
"However, the Commission will propose the introduction of areas closed to all fishing in the North Sea and the West of Scotland and tidying up of arrangements to protect cod stocks.
"These proposals were developed a month ago and have already been overtaken by further expert advice from the Commission's own technical advisors and from the North Sea Regional Advisory Council.
"This work will provide our starting point for the coming negotiations, not the Commission's outdated proposals."
Mr Finnie today visited the Dawnfresh Seafood Company and met the Clyde Fishermen's Association, Mallaig and North West Fishermen's Association, West of Scotland Fish Producers Organisation, West of Four Fisheries Management Group, Scottish Food and Drink Federation, Western Isles Fishermen's Association, Scottish Fishermen's Organisation and Highland and Islands Fishermen's Association.