The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead has announced the beginning of the Conservation Credits Scheme to mark Environment Week. After a historic agreement with the European Union the government of Scotland has taken this ground-breaking initiative. New scheme contains strict conservation measures such as the voluntary closure of areas when juvenile or spawning cod are encountered by boats and controls on net sizes.
Lochhead said that the new scheme represents a different and sustainable approach to fishing in Scotland. He informed that it is the first time in the history of Scottish government that it works with the industry and conservationists and has been trusted to decide on the allocation of days at sea for its own fleet.
This scheme was previously handled by Europe and now it is the turn of Scotland to show the way forward, says Lochhead. He added that the Conservation Credits Scheme helps the government to strike the balance between sustainable fishing and a thriving fishing industry.
Helen McLachlan, Senior Marine Policy Officer, WWF Scotland, said that the step is in right direction to form a part of wider package to help the rebuilding of North Sea cod stocks. He added that young cod need to stay in water to spawn and the authority should ensure this.
Bertie Armstrong, CEO of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation believes that the new scheme suggest that the Scottish industry has played a full part with Scottish scientists and the Government in getting us to this point. He opined that the fishermen are now happy as they have a chance to show that they can rise to the challenges which this scheme will bring.
