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Cod ban would spell the end
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Fisherman in Scotland have warned that if European Commission proposals to ban cod fishing in the North Sea are accepted their industry will disappear, taking a lot of hauliers with it.
European Commissioner Franz Fischler has said without a ban cod stocks will be wiped out ( CM 31 Oct-6 Nov). Speaking at a public meeting in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, George MacRae, secretary of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, said the proposals would mean the end for fish hauliers: "If there is no fish to transport, there will bone hauliers. This is the worst ever crisis our communities have faced."
Industry bodies are frantically lobbying for the proposal to be dropped. Fishermen believe the EC proposals are unfair, as they ignore conservation measures already taken which, they claim, are having a positive effect on stocks.
Fish hauliers already face stiff competition from foreign operators in the region. Jim Killoh, MD of JA Killoh, which runs 16 trucks, says his company has already had to diversify: "Any ban would have a serious knock-on effect We have diversified from carrying fresh fish in the past to doing frozen fish and produce such as raspberries. But any ban would not be good news for this area."
Marshall Watson of Peterhead Transport, which is entirely dependent on fish, says that while the situation is "concerning", the future is unclear. However; long-standing operator Gibbs of Fraserburgh has already thrown In the towel, blaming the state of the fishing and beef industries.
The EC Is expected to make a decision within the next month.