The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has broadly welcomed the outcomes of the international deals struck by the UK for 2024’s fishing opportunities and TACs.
Under the trilateral agreement reached between the UK, EU and Norway, and a bilateral between the UK and the EU, increased quotas have been set for a range of key commercial stocks such as cod, haddock, whiting, plaice, saithe and herring.
According to the SFF, the decision to increase quotas for cod by around 15% reflects the industry’s experience of healthy volumes of the stock, and the science on the cod stock in Scottish waters having been updated.
‘We have had our differences with the Scottish Government this year in relation to the now abandoned HPMA policy, but we have to pay credit to the excellent work of Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon and her team at the Marine Directorate who along with colleagues in the UK Government have secured a good deal for our fishermen for 2024,’ said SFF chief executive Elspeth Macdonald, commenting that the updated science gives a much better understanding of the northern shelf cod stock, and allows setting of sustainable quotas for the North Sea and West of Scotland.
‘These outcomes also show how wrong those organisations are who try to discredit Scotland’s fishing industry as they catastrophise about the state of our stocks. The quotas announced today reflect the science, which shows that the majority of our key commercial fish stocks are in good health, and demonstrate that the industry is committed to sustainability and good management practice.’
