The move is being made so as to achieve the very necessary clarity on the Scottish Government’s proposals for a separate quota and licensing system for Scotland.
The issue is currently out for consultation by the Scottish Government; its legality was immediately and publicly challenged by the UK government. The SFF is unable to make a constructive response until it has received a joint opinion from the law officers of both Governments as to who has got it right.
Bertie Armstrong, SFF chief executive, said: “We have one Government saying black and the other white on the issue of arrangements for Scottish quota management. This is making it extremely difficult for the Scottish industry to formulate a reasonable response to the consultation.
“It is unfortunate that this spat between the UK and Scottish Governments has come at a time when we are as an industry are contending with the impact of the global recession, combined with a range of complex discussions on matters of immediate consequence such as effort control, which need cross-border co-operation.
“We will be writing this week to the Scottish and UK Fisheries Ministers Richard Lochhead and Huw Irranca-Davies requesting that a joint legal opinion be prepared on this very important issue.”
