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Liam McArthur, MSP |
Speaking after a Scottish parliament debate on Autumn Fisheries Negotiations, Liberal Democrat Fisheries spokesman Liam McArthur MSP said: 'The shortcomings of the Common Fisheries Policy are well-documented.
The case for regional fisheries management is now widely accepted, though how that will operate in practice is still unclear.
'Much as Scottish ministers would prefer to focus on CFP reform, however, the fact is that any changes will not happen until 2013.
"There is mounting concern among Scotland's fishermen that Scottish ministers have taken their eye off the ball in relation to the upcoming end-year negotiations. This concern is giving way to anger at the sense that the SNP government has thrown in the towel already in meekly accepting further cuts in effort and quotas for next year.
"Ministers must stop telling everyone how they wish the rules were different and come up with a gameplan for securing a fair deal for Scotland's fishing industry next month.'
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