First discussions towards defining management measures for the Dutch sector of the Dogger Bank, the Cleaver Bank and Frisian Front were progressed at the FIMPAS workshop held in Den Helder, Holland, between 24th and 26th January. The FIMPAS project has been running since 2009 led by the Dutch Government and ICES, and covers 3 offshore Habitats and Birds Directive Natura 2000 sites in Dutch offshore waters including the Dogger Bank, Cleaver Bank and Frisian Front.

Approaching the turn of last year the Irish Sea faced an appalling prospect. The Commission had proposed a 19% reduction in the TAC for prawns – the economic mainstay of the Irish Sea; it had also proposed that the Area VII nephrops TAC should be divided into functional unit mini-TACs, constraining a vital flexibility for the fleets; also the EU cod management plan agreed in November 2008, prescribed a 25% cut in days at sea to be implemented in 2011.

The future of the coastguard service in Scotland will be the subject of a Member's Business Debate in the Scottish Parliament today. Speaking ahead of the debate Mr Lochhead said: "The Scottish Government is extremely concerned by the UK Government's coastguard modernisation plans, which would result in the closure of three of Scotland's five Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres (MRCCs).

An objection to the Faroes bid to have its mackerel fishery certified as sustainable has been upheld by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fishing leaders in Scotland said the move sent a very strong message to the Faroese.