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Alasdair Allan, MSP |
SNP MSPs have contributed to today's Scottish parliament debate on the Autumn Fisheries Negotiations raising concerns about cuts to total allowable catch for prawns on the west coast of the Highlands and Islands.
Western Isles SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, raised the issue of total allowable catches for Western Isles fishermen during the debate.
In his speech Dr Allan, who concentrated on the proposed cuts to total allowable catch for prawns on the west coast, commented: 'Between now and December, the Scottish government faces the daunting task of negotiating with Europe over the inevitable proposed cuts in Total Allowable Catches recommended by the European Commission scientists.
'The fishing industry is a huge one in the Western Isles and, in one shape or another, provides much of the population with a source of income and supports more than 800 jobs.
'The fishing industry in Scotland deserves to be protected from the most insane excesses of the European Common Fisheries Policy and I am heartened to hear that the cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment is going about the negotiations in exactly that spirit.
'Instead of taking these drastic measures of quota cuts, we could, as the Scottish government have suggested, catch less fish and land more of what is caught, helping to ensure the long-term future of our valuable fish stocks and dramatically cut the amount of fish discarded, allowing for the fish populations to regenerate and become more sustainable.
'With the SNP in government Scottish fishing has finally has an administration that will stand up for the national interest and a successful industry.
'I believe all of us who claim to have the interest of fishing communities at heart – must now back the efforts of Scotland’s government to improve the deal on the table for our fishermen. This side of us having our own seat on the European Commission on Fisheries – that much is the least we can do.'
Highlands & Islands SNP MSP Dave Thompson added: 'Fishing is crucial to the Highlands and Islands, which has around two-thirds of the Scottish fleet and where fishing directly supports nearly 3,000 jobs. The Common Fisheries Policy is in a dire state and the latest round of proposals do not reflect the reality of what is going on at sea, nor the composite effect of quotas and effort control cuts within the cod recovery plan.
'The proposed cuts on the West Coast are particularly perverse as they will only force more boats into the North Sea. This has happened already this year with West Coast trawlers fishing for squid in the Moray Firth and South Caithness Coast. Cuts in the Total Allowable Catches and Quotas, recommended by the Commission, show decreases in West Coast Haddock of 54 per cent, whiting of 25 per cent, and a crippling 90 per cent cut in Spurdog quotas meaning virtually all dogs will have to be wasted and discarded. That is complete madness.
'It is no wonder that many in the industry now see further decommissioning as the only way forward. What the industry really needs is stability. They need a survivable quota and a system that is not constantly changing and reworking itself. We must get away from a system where many fishermen, particularly on the West Coast, take home less than £10,000 a year from the most dangerous job in the country.
'I also took the opportunity today to advise the Fisheries Secretary to ca canny on the introduction of CCTV, which is strongly opposed by the Scottish fleet.'
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