'Armageddon' warning over Brussels plan for west coast fish stocks

Published on Tuesday 16 December 2008 21:52

THE entire fishing industry on Scotland's west coast and scores of fragile coastal communities face "Armageddon" under new European plans to protect white fish stocks, trawlermen's leaders warned yesterday.

They claim the "draconian" proposals, being tabled by the European Commission at this week's crucial meeting of European fisheries ministers in Brussels, will drive 35 white fish trawlers and 150 prawn and langoustine boats, from Stranraer to Shetland, out of business, threatening 2,000 jobs in a 75 million- a-year industry.

Bertie Armstrong, the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, declared: "These proposals would have catastrophic economic consequences. It would leave fishing communities completely bereft at a time when they are harvesting the langoustine stocks sustainably. It is an Armageddon scenario – that's the truth of it."

Joe Borg, the EU Fisheries Commissioner, is demanding a complete ban on fishing for cod, haddock and whiting, the three main white fish stocks, at the ministers' meeting, due to begin in Brussels tomorrow.

More significantly, the Fisheries Commission is calling for langoustine catches, alone worth 30 million on the west coast last year, to be limited to boats fitted with separator grids to divide prawns from other species.

Scottish prawn trawlers do not carry the equipment and fisheries leaders claim it will be both impossible and impractical to equip them with the grids.

The industry fears that, unless a compromise can be found, the entire langoustine and white fish fisheries will face a complete shutdown next year. Skippers will be left with no choice bit to tie their vessels up for good.

Mr Armstrong said: "We recognise that the west coast cod, haddock and whiting stocks are in a poor state and action is needed to aid their recovery.

"But the langoustine stock is in a healthy state and the proposal for separator grids for the fishery, which is the bread and butter of the west coast fleet, will effectively close down fishing on the west coast."

Richard Lochhead, the Scottish rural affairs secretary, vowed to fight the EU proposals "tooth and nail".

French and Irish fishermen also have stake in the west coast fishery, and the UK and Scottish governments are seeking their countries' support in Brussels in opposing the plans.

Mr Lochhead said: "These draconian proposals will effectively close down the west of Scotland fishery. Fishing remains the lifeblood for many of our communities on the west coast of Scotland and it is vital to secure a good deal this week in Brussels. But we face a big fight."

He added: "Over the last few weeks we have been fighting hard to force the Commission to see sense and we are offering alternatives to help protect the fragile white fish stocks on the west coast – which we agree require protection – but at the same time allow our sustainable fisheries to continue."

But he warned: "There has been some movement, but there still remains a deep blue sea between our positions."