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Conserving cod stocks
06/09/2007
A new scheme to protect North Sea cod stocks is to be tested using on board independent observers.
Under the initiative, skippers will be given extra days at sea if the observers conclude that cod is less than five per cent of the total catch on the trip.
The observers from an independent monitoring agency will verify catches.
Funded by the Scottish Government and jointly developed with the industry, the pilot scheme aims to test how effective such incentives are in conserving cod stocks.
Speaking ahead of the Scottish Fishing Federation annual dinner in Edinburgh, Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, said:
"The new Scottish government pledged at the outset a fresh start for Scotland's fisheries.
"That means looking at fresh ideas to assist the recovery of North Sea cod stocks.
"This scheme will reward Scottish skippers who are able to use their expertise to avoid cod. It is essential to harness the skill and knowledge of fishermen in order to allow other forms of fishing with minimal by-catches of cod.
"The observer pilot has been worked up with the industry over the past two months. It builds on the launch last week of real-time area closures scheme also jointly developed with the industry, whereby fishermen can temporarily avoid fishing in areas with high concentrations of small cod.
"The Scottish government is fully committed to ensuring healthy stocks of cod, as is everyone I speak to in the Scottish fishing industry, and in identifying sensible solutions which achieve that.
"This is yet another example of our fishermen's leadership and forward thinking.
"I believe the pilot will provide us with valuable information which will help us set about building a better plan for recovering cod stocks."
Currently some Scottish fishermen complain that they are being forced to discard significant quantities of good size and valuable cod, as they do not have the quota to land them.
Under the observer pilot scheme, skippers will get additional days at sea if the independent on-board observer verifies that the vessel caught less than five per cent of cod, sole and plaice over the trip.
The potential award of additional days will give fishermen more flexibility and incentive to select the areas to fish and the gear configuration which minimises their cod catch.
The Marine Resources Assessment Group will be providing the independent monitors.