It is rumoured the CFP is to be broken up with control moving to a range of new departments in the Commission under the overall umbrella of EU Maritime Policy. It’s expected that day to day management of fisheries will be devolved to RAC’s (Regional Advisory Councils) comprising fishermen, scientists & other stakeholders. The first [...]
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 [...]
Plans to develop a marine conservation area off the isle of Arran, which will help protect thousands of species, are to be unveiled soon. A “no-take zone” has been agreed which in a small area of Lamlash Bay. This comes after a thirteen plus year local campaign by members of the Community of Arran Seabed [...]
Good Science – Bad Science & Climate Change
The United Kingdom Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) report for 2006 said it was the second-warmest year in UK coastal waters since records began in 1870; seven of the 10 warmest years have occurred in the last decade. Bertie Armstrong (SFF) said: “From the fishing industry perspective we welcome the fact that climate change [...]
Ministerial Statement – Voluntary Closures
Responding to the ministerial statement today on fisheries in which Richard Lochhead detailed that the first voluntary real time closure had taken place, John Scott MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs & the Environment, said: “This is a welcome development in terms of delivering truly sustainable fisheries, as it turns theory into reality. Therefore, [...]
SNP Dept of Rural Affairs on fishing
http://www.snp.org/policies/rural-affars recognises that ” … Scotland’s fishing industry provides tens of thousands of jobs and generates hundreds of millions of pounds for the Scottish economy. It also provides the heart of many of our coastal communities who depend on the success of that industry. It also goes on to say ” Fishing is vital to [...]
Parliamentary answer on Closures
There has been much made about the voluntary fishery closures introduced by the Scottish Government and agreed to by the commercial fishing industry – often referred to by those concerned and the media as being a ‘world leading’ measure. There was a surprising answer to the following parliamentary question. John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask [...]
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT – Sea Angling MOTION
Date of Lodging: 7 January 2008 – Short Title: Recreational Sea Angling S3M-01096 John Scott (Ayr) (Con): That the Parliament notes the economic and social importance of recreational sea angling to communities along the west coast and across Scotland; further notes that around 225,000 people participate in the sport annually with an average spend of [...]
Response on Sharks and Rays questions.
At last SOS and SSACN have got confirmation on the news that we have been long waiting for, which confirms the 5% bycatch limit on spurdog will apply to all European waters. To quote the Scottish Marine Directorate, This will “effectively prevent any EU vessel from pursuing a targeted spurdog fishery In other words Etive, [...]
SSACN have been invited to join a new task force set up by the Scottish Government to consider the actions needed to ensure the sustainable management of Scotland’s coast and seas with a view to developing a set of proposals for Scottish marine legislation. Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead will chair the Task Force. The first [...]
SSACN’s Give Fish A Chance (GFAC) initiative reflects the fact that many anglers are keen to do what they can to ensure the minimal impact to the environment and to the fish themselves.
Fish sustainably, only take fish for the table which have had a chance to reproduce and have respect for those you do catch.
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UK Initial Assessment and proposals for Good Environmental Status
Consultation Start: 27 March 2012 – Consultation End: 18 June 2012 This is a joint consultation between Defra, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government and on the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The Directive requires Member States to take measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status [...]
Argyll and the Isles coast and countryside trust
Argyll and Bute Council have formed a partnership steering group with Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, ABSEN, and Argyll & Bute Local Services Initiative to look at the possibility of establishing a new independent trust. The proposed aim of the Trust would be to: ‘work together to sustainably maintain, enhance and promote the coast [...]
Marine Strategy Framework Directive Consultation Event
Defra, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government are planning to launch a joint consultation on the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) on 27 March 2012. You will be able to find the consultation documents on the Defra web site http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/open/ Defra will be hosting a stakeholder event [...]
Argyll & Bute – Coastal Development Strategy
Argyll and Bute Council are preparing a Coastal Development Strategy as part of their new Local Development Plan. One of the key sectors that will be considered in the Strategy is coastal tourism & recreation and therefore the Council is seeking information and views to ensure a relevant, effective and up to date strategy is [...]
EGPS & Renewable Energy Routemap consultations
The Scottish Government has published a Revised Draft Electricity Generation Policy Statement (EGPS) and a draft Renewable Energy Routemap. These draft policies together set out Scottish Government policy for low carbon energy generation. Both policies are now open for public consultation which ends 4 June 2012. A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) under the Environmental Assessment [...]
Marine Social and Economic Data Project 2012
Robust and current data is needed urgently in the marine environment where policy makers are dealing with a number of new legislative requirements such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the development of Marine Spatial Plans and the designation of new Marine Protected Areas. In response to this, EMU Limited in collaboration with the Marine [...]
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