1 October 2007

REPRESENTATIVES from the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) are to meet with Jonathan Shaw, the new UK fisheries minister, in London, today (Monday).

The SFF delegation will comprise chief executive Bertie Armstrong, President Ian Gatt plus vice-presidents James Brown and David Shiel.

They will use the occasion to outline the major role Scotland plays in UK fishing and the federation’s desire that Scotland take the lead role in fisheries negotiations with the EU.

Mr Armstrong said: “We will tell the minister that we believe the Scottish industry needs to have a bigger say in all the key decision making processes, given the proportion of the UK fishing fleet that fishes from Scotland.”

Meanwhile, the federation will also brief the minister on the current state of the Scottish fleet, including its viability and the condition of the main target fish stocks.

Mr Armstrong said they would highlight the Scottish fishing industry’s commitment to a responsible and sustainable future, pointing to the package of practical conservation measures being actively developed by the industry.

With the end-of-the-year negotiations on catching opportunity for 2008 now looming, the SFF will tell the minister that the Scottish fleet cannot sustain any further cuts in the number of days allowed to fish at sea.

They will also underline that in the mixed fisheries regime operated by Scottish fishermen, any further reductions in the cod quota would be totally unacceptable and counter-productive.