A Dutch delegation is in Scotland today to inspect its ‘pioneering’ fisheries Conservation Credits Scheme.
Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
“This is welcome recognition of Scotland’s outstanding conservation credentials. I am extremely proud that Scottish fishermen have been in the advance guard of actions to avoid the catching and discarding of non-targeted stocks.
“Our techniques, introduced to help avoid cod and promote its recovery, are now being adopted by other Member States. Scotland’s innovative use of more selective and larger mesh gear as well as many unilateral actions on conservation is evidence of the responsible manner adopted by Scottish fishermen.”
The visitors include representatives from the Dutch Government, fishing industry and conservation sector. They will hold meetings with their Scottish counterparts to discuss the scheme.
The Conservation Credits Scheme is a partnership bringing together the Scottish Government, fishing industry and NGO’s to move fisheries management towards conservation. This is being done by adopting conservation measures that include real time closures to protect reproducing fish, gear regulations to allow non target fish to escape and trialling on-board cameras on fishing boats to record absolute catches, rather than only knowing what is landed at port.
