25 November, 2008

THE SECOND round of key talks between the European Union and Norway on joint stock management arrangements for next year kicked off yesterday afternoon (Monday), in Brussels.

High on the agenda for the UK fishing industry is cod, with fishermen's leaders looking for a "minimum" 25 per cent increase in the total allowable catch (TAC) for North Sea cod as a balance to the agreement on a cod recovery plan with its high mortality reduction demands.

Chief executive of the Shetland Fishermen's Association (SFA), Hansen Black, said cod and whiting quotas were the main concern for the isles' fishermen.

"We are looking for a significant increase in the North Sea cod quota and hope that the recommendation for a decrease in the whiting quota can be mitigated against to allow the fishery to continue next year.

"On the pelagic side we would be looking to ensure that any transfers of blue whiting to Norway are kept at as low a level as possible," he said.

The association's chairman Leslie Tait will be in Brussels all week to lobby on behalf of the SFA.

Meanwhile Mike Park, executive chairman of the Scottish White Fish Producers' Association, said he also hoped the talks could reach an agreement on carrying forward to next year haddock which is not caught from this year's allocation.

So far the UK has netted 73 per cent of its 2008 allocation in the North Sea, with 8,627 tonnes still to be caught. This gives an estimated 10 weeks of fishing to go and Mr Park said that any surplus at the end of the year would hopefully fall within a 10 per cent carry forward limit.

"An important objective from these talks will be flexibility provision in terms of haddock. I really hope that under-caught haddock can be preserved for next year"