20 November, 2008

SCOTLAND'S "innovative approach" to sustainable fisheries is set to be rolled out across the rest of Europe as part of a new cod recovery plan agreed in Brussels.

The plan was thrashed out in talks at the November Fisheries Council over the past 24 hours and, according to the Scottish government, builds on the approach set out in the conservation credits scheme, pioneered by the Scottish fleet this year.

The new plan dictates how much time many European fishermen will be allowed to spend working.

It links their allocation of time at sea with conservation-friendly measures in much the same way as Scotland's pioneering conservation credits scheme.

Now Scottish fishermen want a 25 per cent increase in their cod quota in return for their conservation measures.

Speaking from Brussels, Scottish fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead said: "The trailblazing approach to sustainable fisheries management adopted by Scotland's fishermen has been recognised and rewarded.

"The agreement allows responsibility for much day-to-day fisheries management to be handed back to member states, and it rewards Scotland for the innovative approaches our industry has adopted as well as for past sacrifices.

"Although the new target for reducing cod mortality is going to be extremely challenging, we have a head start thanks to the Scots fleet leading Europe when it comes to fisheries conservation, a fact that is now widely acknowledged.”

Mr Lochhead said the agreement paved the way for Scotland to increase its cod quota during talks between the EU and Norway next week.

Mike Park, chairman of the White Fish Producers’ Association, said the new plan had to be balanced by an increased quota.

"There has to be a balance and I think we will be looking for nothing less than a 25 per cent increase in the total allowable catch.

"I think we can demonstrate that with the proper systems and proper management you can reduce cod mortality. In other words the Commission's favourite raw tool of reducing days at sea is not necessarily the best way ahead."

The cod recovery plan agrees a number of measures with respect to cod recovery in the West of Scotland, the Irish Sea and the North Sea. The plan is based on a reduction in cod mortality by 25 per cent in 2009 followed by subsequent annual reductions of 10 per cent.

The reduction in fishing mortality could be achieved by a number of means to avoid catching cod and reduce discarding of fish such as temporary or seasonal closures of fishing grounds; or more selective fishing gear to reduce discard levels; or a reduction in the number of days that a vessel spends at sea.

The plan, which was agreed yesterday, adopts the same approach to effort allocation as the Scottish conservation credits scheme. In essence, both schemes link the number of days which certain vessels can spend at sea to the toughness of the conservation measures which their fleet signs up to.