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Published: January 4, 2010
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Commenting on WWF Scotland's end of year assessment of Scotland's main whitefish stocks, Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
"WWF's most recent endorsement of our and the industry's 'can do' approach to fisheries conservation provides further evidence that Scotland is showing real leadership across Europe, despite challenging conditions. It also demonstrates the growing degree of consensus, not least about the need for fundamental change in the European fisheries policy.
"Where Scotland has been able to use what limited flexibility we have under the discredited CFP, we have shown we can make a better job of fisheries management than remote control from Brussels ever will.
"WWF have played a key role in the development of our Conservation Credits scheme, which is widely regarded as a template for other Member States. I believe that Scotland can pave the way for real and lasting change across Europe, allowing fishermen to land and earn more, whilst catching and discarding less.
"We share the WWF view that our fishing industry can have a long and profitable future if we fish sustainably. For that, we need to make improvements to EU fisheries policy now, and not wait for the outcome of the current review of the CFP due in 2013. We particularly need urgent action to remove the catch composition rule that requires fishermen using the biggest mesh nets to discard valuable West Coast Haddock alongside Cod and Whiting.
"We are determined to continue to develop long-term fisheries management arrangements that encourage responsible behaviour and will help safeguard the future of our fleets and the fish stocks on which our coastal communities depend".
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Published: January 4, 2010
Print
EmailCommenting on WWF Scotland's end of year assessment of Scotland's main whitefish stocks, Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
"WWF's most recent endorsement of our and the industry's 'can do' approach to fisheries conservation provides further evidence that Scotland is showing real leadership across Europe, despite challenging conditions. It also demonstrates the growing degree of consensus, not least about the need for fundamental change in the European fisheries policy.
"Where Scotland has been able to use what limited flexibility we have under the discredited CFP, we have shown we can make a better job of fisheries management than remote control from Brussels ever will.
"WWF have played a key role in the development of our Conservation Credits scheme, which is widely regarded as a template for other Member States. I believe that Scotland can pave the way for real and lasting change across Europe, allowing fishermen to land and earn more, whilst catching and discarding less.
"We share the WWF view that our fishing industry can have a long and profitable future if we fish sustainably. For that, we need to make improvements to EU fisheries policy now, and not wait for the outcome of the current review of the CFP due in 2013. We particularly need urgent action to remove the catch composition rule that requires fishermen using the biggest mesh nets to discard valuable West Coast Haddock alongside Cod and Whiting.
"We are determined to continue to develop long-term fisheries management arrangements that encourage responsible behaviour and will help safeguard the future of our fleets and the fish stocks on which our coastal communities depend".
Submit Article