Friday, 21st October 2011
Key Scots interest raised at high level Morocco fisheries talks in Gibraltar
Leading figures from the Scottish fishing sector were in Gibraltar yesterday (20 October), making the case for a continuation of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA).
Struan Stevenson, Scottish Conservative Euro MP and Senior Vice President of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee, was joined on The Rock by Ian Gatt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA) and George Nicol, a North East skipper who has first-hand experience fishing off the coast of Morocco.
The conference was organised by the UK Conservative delegation in the ECR Group of the European Parliament. The session on fisheries focused on the €36 million FPA between the EU and Morocco which provides jobs for 780 European fishermen, mostly from Andalucia, the Canary Islands and Portugal, as well as for hundreds of Moroccans, particularly from Western Sahara.
Speaking from Gibraltar, Struan Stevenson MEP said:
“Many people believe that FPAs such as this one are of benefit only to Spain and Portugal. However, Ian Gatt and George Nicol were able to demonstrate that some Scottish vessels have also benefited, targeting the abundant mackerel and sardine stocks in the waters of southern Morocco.
“A final vote on whether or not to renew the FPA is due in the Fisheries Committee in November and in the Strasbourg Parliament in December. 37% of the contract fee is devoted to fisheries conservation in Morocco and many of the processing and on-shore jobs involve people from the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
“If the EU walks away from this critical deal, Russia, China or Korea would be sure to step in. In such circumstances, conservation efforts and jobs would disappear. Also, more than 100 Spanish trawlers would be displaced back into EU waters, where most fish stocks are already fully exploited. That’s why we were at pains to explain to the conference how important the renewal of this FPA is, not only for Scotland but for the EU and Morocco.”
Ian Gatt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association said:
“The SPFA appreciates the fantastic opportunity offered by the UK delegation of the ECR to state a case for retaining the EU-Morocco FPA. The venue was particularly relevant given that Morocco is situated only a few miles away over the Gibraltar Straits.
“If this agreement is not ratified it will have a devastating effect on jobs both in the UK and Morocco. The SPFA fully agrees that the terms of the agreement should be carefully scrutinised and shaped in a way that provides the maximum benefit to both the EU and Morocco.
“Scottish fishing operations have provided a huge number of jobs in the Western Sahara area and should be rewarded for this initiative. In addition, modern technology and techniques introduced by the Scots to the area have greatly improved the quality of the pelagic fish now produced in the area. We hope the UK delegation of the ECR has a greater understanding of the positive effect the UK has had in the Western Saharan territory.”
ENDS
Notes to editor
1. Struan Stevenson is a Conservative MEP for Scotland and Senior Vice-President of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee.
2. He has been appointed by the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee as its rapporteur on a key legislative part of CFP reform, dealing with regulation of the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products.
3. For further information, please contact:
Peter Smyth
Indigo
peter@indigopr.com
Tel: 0131 554 1146
Mob: 07766 166 637
Friday 21 October 2011
