This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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December Fisheries Council
11/12/2006
Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie will meet with fishermen for the last time before heading to Brussels for talks with other European Ministers to agree fishing opportunities for next year.
Today is the last in a series of meetings held with fishermen and environmentalists, discussing how sustainable fisheries can be secured alongside a fair deal for Scotland at the autumn negotiations.
Some quotas are already agreed - including a deal on mackerel and haddock.
Mr Finnie said:
"I am committed to building a sustainable, profitable and well-managed sea fishing industry in Scotland. The autumn fisheries talks are crucial to achieving that goal.
"Our industry has changed the way it is doing business. There has been a step change in compliance and this is paying dividends in the market place. It is now time for the Commission to change the way that it does business.
"As long as cod is in difficulty, we face difficult talks. However, I am extremely disappointed by the Commission's initial proposals, particularly their recommendation of a 25 per cent cut in days at sea and their failure for key west coast stocks to propose the increases which are clearly justified by the science.
"I can assure our fishermen that I will strongly resist any proposals that are not based on sound science and do not reflect the realities of the fishing industry."
A number of decisions on fishing opportunities for next year have already been taken through the external negotiations that the EU holds with Norway, Faroes, Iceland and Greenland including:
- A 13 per cent increase in the mackerel TAC, worth £104 million in 2005 prices
- A 19 per cent reduction in the blue-whiting TAC, in line with the agreed plan to bring this stock into sustainable management
- Improved management arrangements for North Sea Haddock to build in long term stability in this fishery through a 15 per cent TAC variation clause.
- 5.4 per cent rise in North Sea Haddock TAC reflecting an improved state of the stock - the final UK share still to be decided at December Council
- 14 per cent reduction in North Sea Cod TAC, against a Commission starting position of 25 per cent
- Status quo for whiting and saithe TACs, preventing further 'salami slicing' of other whitefish fishing opportunities
- 25 per cent reduction in North Sea Herring TAC, necessary to conserve the stock for future years and agreed to by the Scottish industry in the Pelagic Regional Advisory Council.
- An 8 per cent reduction in transfers of blue-whiting out of the EU to Norway
The Fisheries Council December 19-21 in Brussels will cover:
- TACs for West of Scotland cod and herring
- TACs for Nephrops (Scottish Langoustine) in both the North Sea and West of Scotland
- TACs for Monkfish and Tusk
- Permitted days at sea for most Scottish whitefish and Nephrops vessels; and
- Detailed management and control rules for 2007