In his appeal Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead say trawlermen to take a pay cut if he returns from fishing talks with quota reductions has been snubbed by the politician. It is informed that the Moray MSP will head to Brussels next month for crucial talks at the European Commission which will set fishing effort levels in European waters for 2010.
There might be cuts in days-at-sea and quota proposed could cost Scotland’s fishermen up to £30million. The star of the Trawlermen TV series and owner of the Peterhead-registered Amity II, Jimmy Buchan, warned many are facing ruin. He told that if Lochhead returns to Edinburgh with cuts, he should take a cut himself.
He also said that if the politicians come back from Brussels in December with quota cuts, then they should take a similar percentage cut in their pay. It is explained that this SNP government is standing up for Scotland’s fishermen, something acknowledged by Buchan himself just last year, when he said he could see a government fighting for the industry’s best interests for the ‘first time in many years’.
EC Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg will also push for the implementation of the cod recovery plan. It will result in 25 percent fewer days at sea for the west coast fleet and a 13 percent cut for North Sea boats.
