It’s all too much

says the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation who today called for a change of pace and focus on the new fisheries management regulatory framework that was agreed at last years EU fisheries council and that was the basis for the SFF claiming how Scotland was a leader in fisheries management.

The SFF now say the new control programme is placing much tighter restrictions on the fishing fleet than was originally envisaged and there needs to be a rethink over the speed of its introduction, with proper consideration given to the serious impact it is having on the economic viability of the Scottish and that recognition should also be given to the fact that the North Sea cod stock is recovering and there are encouraging signs on the West coast.

In a time when declining prices and loss of fishing effort combine to threaten sections of the industry the SFF believes there has to be a continuous reassessment of whether the plan still makes sense; unsurprisingly the SFF appear to be calling for greater exploitation of the cod stocks which are still showing no real signs of regeneration.

According to Bertie Armstrong  "It will be necessary for the UK fishing administrations to get together with industry and start a dialogue with Brussels on what is possible and bearable regarding speed of movement.  Nobody is suggesting a change to the management objective – the recovery of cod – but given the progress to date, we must not stand back while sections of the industry founder, when that could and should be avoided.”

Category: Commercial