31 August, 2007

SCOTTISH fishermen are implementing Europe's first voluntary scheme to conserve North Sea cod stocks starting tomorrow (Saturday).

Under the initiative, fishermen will themselves sound the alert when they encounter stocks of small cod.

Environmentalists and the executive hope the measures, if successful, could be adopted by the rest of the European Commission.

Under the scheme the Scottish Executive will close off areas found to have at least 60 undersized cod per hour's fishing effort. No more than nine areas measuring 15 square miles will be closed at one time.

To ensure fishermen are not unfairly disadvantaged the executive is drawing up Commercial Impact Zones (CIZs), each with a radius of 45 miles. There will be no more than three closed areas within each CIZ.

As the scheme is voluntary there will be no enforcement, but other UK and European vessels will be encouraged to observe the closed areas.

Rural affairs and environment secretary Richard Lochhead said the scheme was about "responsibility" and reflected the fresh thinking the SNP administration had promised for the industry.

"Skippers themselves will have a central role in the scheme ensuring best use is made of real-time information and action," Mr Lochhead said.

"I believe that this scheme will make a strong contribution to the recovery of cod stocks.

"Fishermen in Scotland are showing real leadership and are setting an example to the rest of Europe."

The scheme has been backed by environmental campaign group WWF, who commended Scottish fishermen for their efforts.

WWF senior marine policy officer Helen McLachlan said: "If the Scottish fleet can demonstrate the benefits of this measure, this should stand the UK in good stead to negotiate a system which will have the much needed involvement of Norway and other EU member states who also impact on cod populations."

Scottish Fishermen's Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: "Scotland is leading the way in this area and we look for strong support from our European colleagues fishing the same waters. It is in all our interests that this succeeds.

"Extra encouragement is taken from the fact that the measure is a response to a very tangible resurgence of cod in the Northern fishing grounds."