Demand to take fishing reforms off Brussels

Published on Friday 24 June 2011 18:31

Forthcoming fishing reform must remove decision-making from the "dead hand of Brussels", according to the Scottish Government.

Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead also said the changes should help tackle issues such as the "scandal" of fish discards.

Mr Lochhead made the comments as he unveiled plans to ensure Scotland maximises the potential of its seafood sector.

Discarding is a policy where skippers who fish for one species but inevitably catch others are often forced to throw them back into the ocean.

Speaking at the Scottish Skipper Expo in Aberdeen, Mr Lochhead said: "As a nation, we land the best seafood in the world and the fishing industry provides vital employment throughout Scotland.

"The Scottish Government is committed to working in partnership with the industry to safeguard the rich stocks in our seas and to ensure our fishermen maximise the commercial value of the premium products they produce - that two-pronged approach can bring prosperity to our fishing communities.

"However, we also need to radically overhaul how and where many of the decisions are taken that impact on our fishing industry.

"We have long argued that fishermen have to be at the heart of the decision-making and that's why the forthcoming negotiations on the common fisheries policy are vital.

"It's also why we need to return as much of the decision-making as possible to Scotland.

"Our own industry is well-placed to help manage our fisheries and deliver the complex solutions required for Scotland's seas."