A chance for common sense

Over the years that I have been writing these columns, the need for fundamental reform of the utterly failed Common Fisheries Policy has been a recurring theme. I have written in the past about the moves that are underway to secure just that reform, with the fundamental nature of the CFP currently up for negotiation in Europe.

Those negotiations have now reached a critical juncture with a fisheries council about to take place to hammer out a new framework for the fishing industry. The Scottish Government has been consistently clear that the over-centralised status quo that has failed to achieve its aims must be replaced with a regionally based system of management that sees decisions made closer to the people whose livelihoods rely upon the fish in our seas.

It is the current rules in place and the fact they are so inappropriate for a mixed fishery like the North Sea that has led to the appalling waste of fishing vessels discarding fish. There could scarcely be a clearer example of the harm being caused by blanket decisions being made centrally.

It would be far more preferable for fish management policies to be made on a regional basis where solutions appropriate to local conditions can be put in place. It is only common sense that those with the most knowledge and experience of a particular fishery are given the responsibility to draw up a tailored management plan for that fishery.

Scotland’s fishing industry has led the way in Europe when it comes to addressing the problem of discards within the current framework, and indeed the Scottish fleet has achieved the largest reduction in Cod discards of any EU country. That is a significant achievement, but reform of the CFP will allow us to go further and truly tackle the heart-breaking waste of fish discards. Scotland is leading the way when it comes to discards and on this issue the reforms that are agreed must untie our hands to do more rather than impose any inappropriate blanket measure that would unfairly punish our fishing industry.

These discussions are a critical opportunity to achieve a better future for our fishing industry, but it is also important to recognise that there are also dangers to the industry in some of the proposals that others have made. Protecting Scotland’s historic fishing rights is a critical priority for the Scottish Government.

There have been proposals to impose Transferable Fishing Concessions which would have enabled the transfer of quota from our fishermen and in all likelihood lead to the decline of our fishing communities. At this time it seems that the European Commission is heeding the Scottish Government’s warnings on this issue, but we can take nothing for granted and continue to stand firm on this issue.

Of course the Scottish Government’s ability to do just that would be greatly enhanced if we had the powers of an independent country and the direct representation in these councils that comes with it. Yet even without that direct representation, the Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead will be doing his utmost to secure a positive outcome for Scotland and working to ensure that the UK position reflects the needs of the industry in Scotland. A situation where the industry is regarded as expendable by the UK, as once happened under a previous Tory Government, can never be repeated.

These negotiations must achieve genuine and substantial reform to allow our fishing industry to achieve a profitable, sustainable future. Our fishing communities cannot afford another missed opportunity for reform and the outcome of the coming discussions is critical to the livelihoods of people across Banffshire & Buchan Coast.