Scots fear huge cuts to fishing quotas
Page 10
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
II Scottish fish hauliers are facing a tough year with the European Fisheries Commission expected to impose huge cuts to fishing quotas.
Current quotas will be slashed by more than a third in response to scientists' warnings that North Sea cod, whiting and hake stocks are In danger of collapse. Fish hauliers have already seen work decline this year with fishermen only able to land about 80% of the current quota. They warn that the quota cuts will make trading even more difficult.
Robert Milne, chief executive of the Scottish Fish Merchants' Federation (SFMF), estimates that catches will fall by a further 25% next year if the new quotas are imposed. He warns that thousands of jobs are at risk in the fishing and fish processing industries, adding: "This is bound to have a big impact on some transport companies. There is already overcapacity in this sector."
A taskforce has been set up with help from Fisheries Minister Rhona Brankin to deal with these problems. Milne says: 'We're looking at how fish processors can restructure and downsize their operations—some companies may be forced to merge."
Britain is expected to and block some of the outs at a European Fisheries Council meeting today (14 December).