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| Fishing leaders prepare for talks | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Fishing leaders and politicians will bid to stop what has been called the "worst ever threat" to the white fish industry during talks in Brussels. | |
| The European Commission wants to cut the number of days Scottish vessels can spend at sea by a quarter. | The European Commission wants to cut the number of days Scottish vessels can spend at sea by a quarter. |
| Trawlers may only be allowed to work for two-and-a-half days each week. | Trawlers may only be allowed to work for two-and-a-half days each week. |
| Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie said huge efforts already made by the fishermen should count in their favour in the crucial talks on Tuesday. | Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie said huge efforts already made by the fishermen should count in their favour in the crucial talks on Tuesday. |
| The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) said the plan made no sense because many stocks are in robust health. | |
| The talks will decide the permitted days at sea for most vessels fishing for white fish. | The talks will decide the permitted days at sea for most vessels fishing for white fish. |
| The European Commission has rejected calls from scientists for a ban on fishing for North Sea cod but will consider a 25% cut. | The European Commission has rejected calls from scientists for a ban on fishing for North Sea cod but will consider a 25% cut. |
| We have made some monumental sacrifices over the last five years Bertie ArmstrongScottish Fishermen's Federation | We have made some monumental sacrifices over the last five years Bertie ArmstrongScottish Fishermen's Federation |
| The SFF has claimed this would have serious direct implications and also for those who catch cod as an unintended by-catch when looking for other species, such as haddock and prawns. | |
| The federation is looking instead for a roll-over of this year's restrictions, which reduced cod catches by 15%. | |
| Chief executive Bertie Armstrong told BBC Scotland: "This proposal is the worst threat ever faced for days at sea and would take the fleet into unviability. | Chief executive Bertie Armstrong told BBC Scotland: "This proposal is the worst threat ever faced for days at sea and would take the fleet into unviability. |
| "That's a great frustration because these fleets are actually harvesting from perfectly sustainable stocks. | "That's a great frustration because these fleets are actually harvesting from perfectly sustainable stocks. |
| "We have made some monumental sacrifices over the last five years, a 65% reduction in the number of white-fishing boats." | "We have made some monumental sacrifices over the last five years, a 65% reduction in the number of white-fishing boats." |
| 'Real pressure' | 'Real pressure' |
| Mr Finnie said the fishermen were under "real pressure" from scientists who favour a complete ban on catching cod. | Mr Finnie said the fishermen were under "real pressure" from scientists who favour a complete ban on catching cod. |
| "We have trimmed back so much, you get to a point where if you go too far you simply plunge the fleet into a non-viable position," he said. | "We have trimmed back so much, you get to a point where if you go too far you simply plunge the fleet into a non-viable position," he said. |
| Mr Finnie will be taking part in the talks in Brussels | Mr Finnie will be taking part in the talks in Brussels |
| "And that could have completely the reverse effect of trying to conserve stocks - you push fishermen and others into a completely impossible position." | "And that could have completely the reverse effect of trying to conserve stocks - you push fishermen and others into a completely impossible position." |
| The minister said he would be aiming for a roll-over but warned of the scale of the task. | The minister said he would be aiming for a roll-over but warned of the scale of the task. |
| "Despite the fact that there are better signs of recovery for cod in the North Sea, the fact remains that cod is below its safe biological limits," he said. | "Despite the fact that there are better signs of recovery for cod in the North Sea, the fact remains that cod is below its safe biological limits," he said. |
| "That is quite a serious position and is the context in which these difficult negotiations will take place. | "That is quite a serious position and is the context in which these difficult negotiations will take place. |
| "We have made huge efforts in the Scottish fleet and that really is the substance of our argument. It's not as if we have ignored the science at all. | "We have made huge efforts in the Scottish fleet and that really is the substance of our argument. It's not as if we have ignored the science at all. |
| Fragile ecosystem | |
| "We have taken very serious measures over the last three or four years." | "We have taken very serious measures over the last three or four years." |
| RSPB Scotland applauded the fleet's "huge efforts" to reduce its fishing power. | |
| However, it argued that the only cod which should be allowed to be caught should be the fish accidentally taken in other fisheries. | |
| Its marine policy officer, Kara Brydson, said: "We urge the ministers to have a vision of our waters as a fragile eco-system, and to show the political will to protect it." |