This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Inshore Fisheries Groups
21/11/2005
The first of 12 Inshore Fisheries Groups are to be set up by Spring 2006 in the Western Isles and the area between Eyemouth and Montrose.
The IFGs will be responsible for developing specific management plans to meet the needs of their local fisherie.
At the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group in Musselburgh, Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie said:
"This announcement marks the most significant change in inshore fisheries management in a generation and highlights our determination to drive forward the implementation of our Strategic Framework for Inshore Fisheries.
"Local fishermen will now have more power to plan for and react to local circumstances and to develop new planning measures that suit their geographical conditions and the needs of their fisheries.
"Fishermen have a wealth of knowledge and expertise about their own local fisheries. It is crucial that this valuable resource is tapped into and used to create well managed, sustainable and profitable fisheries for coastal communities."
SIFAG was established in 1999 by the Scottish Fishermen's Federation and Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Development (SEERAD) to advise Ministers on the development and implementation of policy and legislation relating to fishing in inshore waters.
Other proposed IFGs roughly cover the following areas:
- the east coast from Montrose to north of Peterhead
- the Moray Firth to Duncansby Head
- the north coast
- the west coast to the Skye bridge
- the small isles and Mull
- the south west
- Clyde
- Solway
- Shetland
- (possibly) Orkney