Wednesday, 4th November 2009
Scottish fishermen will struggle to survive the next three years
Fishermen across the EU, but in particular Scotland's fishermen, will have to battle to survive the next three years, according to Scottish Conservative Euro MP Struan Stevenson. He was speaking to European fisheries Regional Advisory Council members in Edinburgh on 4th November 2009.
Struan Stevenson was speaking at an Inter-RAC conference entitled: “Decision-making within a reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)”.
In his speech he warned that the final definitive legislative acts that will usher in the reformed CFP will not be completed until 2012. The fisheries sector meanwhile must find a way to survive the next three years against a background of poor prices and further harsh cuts in the days fishermen are allowed to go to sea, as well as demands from the scientists who advise the European Commission for more draconian cuts in total allowable catches and quotas.
Struan Stevenson said:
“The European Commission’s Green Paper on CFP reform offers a glimmer of hope. Sustainable fishing, protecting our ecosystems, better science, financial stability and a better and safer working environment are all key components for an improved fisheries policy. But all of that is in the future.
“The reality at present is rampant over-fishing, inadequate science, massive discards, large-scale ecosystem damage, poor financial rewards and often dirty and dangerous working conditions - the hallmark of 50 years of the CFP.
“There are challenging times ahead but I am certain that working together, we can meet these challenges and overcome the difficulties that have beset our industry.”
