Land: UK

Following a marathon session of talks, the EU Fish Council in Brussels to decide upon catching opportunity for 2012 concluded early this morning (17 December) with the Scottish fleet being hit by the bitter blow of a further cut in the number of days that its vessels can put to sea next year.

A deal done after two days of frenzied negotiations in Brussels has secured the future of Scotland’s fishing fleet – but further improvements could not be implemented due to legal red tape, Scotland’s Fishing Minister Richard Lochhead told MSPs today

Scottish fishing who lied about the size of catches from their Shetland trawlers have been ordered to hand over Almost £3million in confiscation orders.

The Scottish fishing fleet is drowning in “regulatory quicksand” Scottish Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead said .

Most of the key objectives were achieved for the Scottish fishing industry following the conclusion today (2 December) of the second round of EU/Norway talks to finalise catching opportunities for shared stocks.

NFFO’s Dale Rodmell participated in 3 out of the 4 regional MCZ projects and closely works with the MPA Fishing Coalition. He gives his views on the current state of the Marine Conservation Zone planning process.

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation is underlining that good progress is being made in the recovery of fish stocks and that public opinion should not be swayed by “doom mongers” who continually talk down the state of fish stocks by using “worst case statistics”.

Development work at Fraserburgh Harbour has been given a £7.5 million boost, Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead announced today.

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation is urging the UK and Scottish Governments to do all in their power to persuade the EC to ditch automatic cuts in the number of days that fishing vessels can go to sea next year.

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation is vigorously opposing the automatic reduction in the number of days that fishing vessels can put to sea that is set to come into force in 2012 under European regulations. SFF Member Associations have made their feelings very clear, repeating the strongest possible message of rejection from the quayside.