A joint ministerial group is to be set-up to take forward reforms on new quota and licensing arrangements for Scotland and the rest of the UK.
The group will provide a platform to help take forward these important discussions, and help give clarity around devolved competence and responsibility for quota management and licensing. It will look at a broad range of issues, but will be mainly focused on:
How can fisheries management arrangements be improved in areas such as quota and licensing?
How can these arrangements help safeguard and support vulnerable, fishing dependent communities?
How can our shared experiences of quota management and licensing best influence and inform discussions on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy?
Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
“Following positive discussions with the UK Minister, we have agreed that now is not the time for a protracted legal wrangle over the different views as to what extent quota management and licensing is devolved. The best approach is to set up a Joint Ministerial Group to take forward discussions on how fisheries management arrangements can be improved.
“It will look at a range of issues, including safeguarding vulnerable coastal communities and how all parts of the UK can implement appropriate management measures to meet their industry’s needs.
“The package of quota and licensing management proposals I developed with the Scottish industry over the last year is aimed at safeguarding our fishing communities, and ensuring future generations of fishermen have similar opportunities to the current generation. I would like to thank the Scottish fishing industry for all their valuable input to my consultation, which will feed into and be considered by this new process.
“In the meantime, I plan to take forward initiatives as set out in my consultation to attract new entrants into the industry, modernise vessel licensing arrangements, and enhance fish Producer Organisations management arrangements.
“The disagreement and uncertainty that exists on the extent of devolved powers, on something as important as fishing quotas and vessel licensing is something that clearly needs to be resolved. I will take this issue forward through our National Conversation, and this new group.”
The extensive consultation carried out by the Scottish Government over the last year will form an invaluable contribution to the CFP debate and in answering the questions posed to the Ministerial group. Our proposals sought to provide additional stability and security of quota holding through defining fishing rights. Specific measures to encourage quota to be held by the active fishing industry, along with modern transparent quota transfer arrangements were also proposed.
In the coming weeks, the Scottish Government will establish three joint Government/industry working groups to attract new entrants into the industry, modernise vessel licensing arrangements, and enhance Fish Producer Organisations management arrangements.
The Scottish Government will put on hold some of the quota and licensing proposals, and also lift the current moratorium on permanent transfers of quota out of Scotland with immediate effect.
