SFF Election Manifesto

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has unveiled its manifesto for the forthcoming UK General Election. The main measures it would like the next Government to support are:

• Recognise that sustainable commercial fishing has a future and act accordingly.  Food security and the plain common sense of local primary food production spring immediately to mind.  The industry will innovate, modify itself and fight for that future, but politicians must always lend their full support.
• Take a properly balanced view of the process of marine planning that is about to become a reality.  The two big sectors – super-economic oil & gas and the emergent renewable energy sector – must not blind politicians to the importance of fishing, which is a centuries old industry that is sustainable and upon which many coastal communities in Scotland depend.
• Similarly, it is vital that during the planning and implementation process for Marine Protected Areas that the interests of fishing are not superseded by sometimes unrealistic pressure from the environmental lobby. Fishing and marine conservation can and will go hand-in-hand if a commonsense approach is adopted.
• To vigorously press the EC during the current reform process of the Common Fisheries Policy for a new decentralised policy, where there is devolved control that allows Government and fishermen to work together to produce regional fisheries management policies that will work – centralised micro-management has failed us.
• To recognise the importance that Scottish caught seafood plays in national food policy and to highlight the health benefits it plays in our national diet.

According to the SFF it is essential that politicians from all parties help ensure a bright economic future for fishing.

Full press release here.

Category: Commercial