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Commissioner to visit fishermen Commissioner gives fishing pledge
(about 7 hours later)
Europe's fisheries commissioner is in Scotland on a fact-finding mission ahead of EU fish quota negotiations. Europe's Fisheries Commissioner said ministers would consider the concerns of the Scottish fishing industry when they meet to set quotas for 2007.
Joe Borg's two-day visit to Aberdeen, Shetland and the Western Isles is likely to be dominated by opposition to a proposed ban on cod fishing. Joe Borg said he hoped to negotiate an agreement which prevented "unnecessary hardship" for North Sea fishermen but protected dwindling cod stocks.
The Scottish fleet has warned that it can take no more quota reductions and boat decommissioning after years of cutbacks to conserve fish stocks. Mr Borg was speaking on a two-day visit to Scotland.
Mr Borg said he wanted to hear the Scottish fishing sector's concerns. He is meeting representatives from the fishing sector, politicians and members of the offshore industries.
He said he recognised the crucial economic and social importance of fisheries in the northernmost parts of the EU and would be looking at the "specific characteristics of remote fishing communities" and ways to develop sustainable fishing. He is being urged by the country's fishing leaders to maintain existing quotas and days at sea when European ministers meet in December to set next year's catch limits. We want to try and work out a solution which does not prejudice possibilities for the recovery of cod, but takes into account the realities and concerns of fishermen Joe BorgEuropean Fisheries Commissioner
"I have had the opportunity to visit fishing ports in the north east of Scotland in the past," he said. Concerns have been raised from members of the fishing sector over a report by scientists from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which recommends ministers impose a total ban on cod catches.
"I am now very much looking forward to travelling to the Shetland Islands and the Western Isles to see for myself the specific challenges and opportunities for the fishing and aquaculture industry of these island communities." Speaking in Aberdeen, Mr Borg said: "There are certain aspects in the report which indicate that certain stocksof fish are recovering, but there are also indications that the situation for other fish are very bad, for cod in particular.
The trip starts in Aberdeen on Thursday with talks with fishing industry leaders, followed by meetings with Scottish MEPs. "The situation with cod is still far from what we would like it to be. We want to try and work out a solution which does not prejudice possibilities for the recovery of cod, but takes into account what the realities and concerns of the fishermen are so that we try to avoid unnecessary hardship.
Scottish Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie will then accompany the commissioner to Lerwick, travelling on to Stornoway and then to Edinburgh. Mr Borg admitted that the commission's efforts to protect depleting cod numbers had not worked as well as had been hoped.
Blanket quotas
He added that this was due to a number of factors, including by-catches of cod, a lack of enforcement and climate change.
The commissioner said he hoped a modified cod recovery plan for 2008 could be negotiated between the European Commission and Scotland's regional advisory councils, which contain key figures in the fishing industry.
He added that regional as opposed to blanket quotas could be introduced. Last December European ministers set a 15% reduction in North Sea cod catches. This went against the advice of ICES scientists, who recommended a complete ban on cod fishing in 2006.