|
SNP president Ian Hudghton MEP has today (Friday) demanded that Scotland’s voice be heard fully at EU Fisheries Council meetings ahead of important decisions on reform of European fisheries policy.
The call came after it emerged that the UK government blocked Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead MSP from speaking at a recent Fisheries Council – despite there being no other minister from the UK present. The UK was instead represented in the important talks on eliminating discards by an unelected civil servant.
Scotland accounts for 70% of the UK’s fishing industry and the Scottish Government is at the forefront of tackling the discards problem within UK waters.
Mr Hudghton commented: 'It is outrageous that the Scottish Fisheries minister was prevented from speaking on a matter of vital importance to the Scottish fishing industry while a non-specialist official took the place of the departing minister - especially when there is clear precedent for Scottish ministers leading European Councils.
'Scotland has by far the biggest share of the fishing industry in the UK – and it is only right that the Scottish Fisheries Minister takes the lead at these vital meetings. The UK government, however, is prepared to walk out of meetings and block a Scottish voice from speaking.'
Should fisheries be closed during breeding time to allow stocks to reach more sustainable levels?
