Scottish Maritime Academy

The official opening of the new Scottish Maritime Academy in Peterhead last week served as a reminder of the high regard in which the fishing tradition of the north east is held across the world.

Students from across Scotland, Europe and the world will be coming to study at the Banff and Buchan College Peterhead Centre of Maritime Excellence, in the hope of developing the skills and expertise which have made Peterhead one of Europe’s premier fishing ports.

The impressive facility, overlooking the marina, offers a wide range of nautical training and even incorporates a state of the art bridge simulator.

The stunning new facility symbolises the commitment to the future of the fishing and maritime industry in the north-east. Moreover, this is a great boost for the local economy, which will benefit from an influx of people working, studying, or visiting in the area as a result.

However, with a tradition of world-leading knowledge and expertise, it is bizarre that Scotland does not have full control over its maritime and fisheries policies, nor indeed makes its own representations in the decision-making processes of, for example, the controversial European Common Fisheries Policy.

Bafflingly, even those who generally oppose Scotland having control over our own affairs, have called for a regional approach to fisheries management which would see those with the best knowledge of, and greatest stake in, local fisheries having crucial decision making powers.

Liberal Democrat MSP Tavish Scott, for example, was recently quoted as saying “Scottish fishermen need an active government focused on their interests."

For Scotland to have complete control over its own fisheries and maritime policy, not to mention all other policy areas, is the logical conclusion at the heart of the discussion surrounding regional fisheries management.

However, surely the same argument can be applied to a host of other policy areas where the Scottish Government is currently prevented from acting as a result of the current devolution settlement, leading to calls for the anti-independence parties to acknowledge the simple fact that it is people in Scotland who are best placed to take decisions affecting Scotland.

There is no doubt that we need regional fisheries management, because the Common Fisheries Policy in its current form has failed either to protect fish stocks or support livelihoods in coastal communities.

Quite simply, the people best placed to make decisions on managing the North Sea are the Governments of countries surrounding it, who by definition have the greatest stake in developing a profitable, sustainable industry.

What the anti-independence parties should acknowledge, however, is that this fact is just as true across the political spectrum. If an anti-independence party spokesman can recognise the importance of self-governance when it comes to fishing, they should acknowledge it is also true in a host of other areas.

By definition, the people who are best placed to take decisions on Scotland’s economy, taxes and benefits, to name but a few areas, are the people of Scotland.

That is why we need the powers of an independent Scotland, as only a Yes vote in 2014 will give people in Scotland the opportunity to make all of our own policy decisions.