25
Jan
Catching sector must get it right
According to Mike Park, Executive Chairman of the Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association, the catching sector has a one-off chance to make a difference this year in terms of helping cod conservation and there is no one else to blame if they do not get it right.
According to him there is no question that this year presents a list of challenges, some of which are unprecedented and that “all things being equal” the fleet should manage to operate with the quotas it had been given for this year.
On the Conservation Credits scheme which gives more time at sea in return for meaningful and workable contributions to cod conservation, he believes it will be hard work getting it right, but it is vitally important that a scheme is introduced, in his view “We have to be aware of our own responsibilities in this- we are in an ideal position to reap the rewards of recovery, but that could easily go wrong.”
SSACN - It’s heartening to see the catching sector accepting the fact that the future of stocks is primarily dependent on their exploitation, it’s still a pity that the focus remains on a minority catch and there appears to be no effort in relation to the excessive exploitation and discard levels of other fisheries.
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