In a statement released in the wake of a Commons defeat for an SNP-led bid to win a EU treaty amendment designed to win back national control of fisheries, Mr Rumbles said the SNP has "dismissed" the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP.)

He added: “The EU Treaty proposed no changes to competence over fisheries. Marine conservation has always been an exclusive competence of the European Union.

“The SNP must stop using fishing as a political tool. Ministers should be getting on with the job of supporting and growing the industry.

“Ministers would also be well advised to remember that it is constitutionally impossible just to walk away from the CFP. Withdrawal from the CFP is not a credible option. The SNP and Tories should come clean about the difficulties of negotiating with the EU, Norway and Faroes, all of whom would be determined to skewer the UK and target our North Sea quotas.”

The SNP amendment to the European Union (Amendment) Bill that would return responsibility for fisheries and marine conservation to national control,was defeated after a debate but secured the cross-party backing of 175 MPs.

SNP Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, who is a member of the European Scrutiny Committee, said:“Labour MPs have added insult to injury by voting against the restoration of national control, and fishing communities will be outraged.This was an opportunity to ditch the disastrous CFP, but, as usual, Labour failed to stand up for the national interest and safeguard the future of one of our oldest and greatest industries.First Gordon Brown failed to ensure that fisheries was a red line issue when the Lisbon Treaty was negotiated, and now Labour MPs have shown that the Westminster Government still views fishing as ‘expendable’ just as the Heath Government did in 1970.

"The Scottish Government’s action shows how we can secure a sound and sustainable future for fishing, but essential to that future remains ditching the discredited CFP.”

Commenting on the Liberal Democrats abstention from the vote, and in particular the absence of Alistair Carmichael MP, the Liberal Democrats spokesperson on Scotland, who Mr Robertson said has in the past been a vocal opponent of the CFP,he said:

“Given the Liberals shenanigans earlier in the day, it is hardly surprising that they failed to keep faith with the fishing communities of Scotland and have abstained on this vital amendment. This simply underlines their irrelevance north and south of the border.

“Alistair Carmichael in particular, will have some serious explaining to do when he heads back to his constituency.”

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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