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Fishermen say fish discard ban has no legal certainty | Fishermen say fish discard ban has no legal certainty |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The Scottish Fishermen's Federation has criticised a ban on discarding unwanted fish into the sea as being "without a sensible legal platform". | |
They said the ban contradicted existing regulations on landing fish. | |
The ban is part of a new deal on fishing quotas and industry rules that has been reached after negotiations in Brussels. | The ban is part of a new deal on fishing quotas and industry rules that has been reached after negotiations in Brussels. |
Both the Scottish and UK governments have welcomed the deal. | Both the Scottish and UK governments have welcomed the deal. |
Much of the discussion around the negotiations centred on how to deal with the ban, which will come into force in January for species such as herring and mackerel, and a year later for cod and haddock. | Much of the discussion around the negotiations centred on how to deal with the ban, which will come into force in January for species such as herring and mackerel, and a year later for cod and haddock. |
Fishing boats will be obliged to land unwanted species caught in their nets. | Fishing boats will be obliged to land unwanted species caught in their nets. |
The practice of throwing dead fish back into the sea had increased due to strict EU quotas on which fish could be landed, part of efforts to conserve fish stocks. | |
In 2009, Scottish vessels were forced by the Common Fisheries Policy to discard almost 28,000 tonnes of fish, about a quarter of the white fish catch, valued at £33m. | In 2009, Scottish vessels were forced by the Common Fisheries Policy to discard almost 28,000 tonnes of fish, about a quarter of the white fish catch, valued at £33m. |
The practice was changed after public outcry, reflected in TV shows such as Hugh's Fish Fight, presented by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. | The practice was changed after public outcry, reflected in TV shows such as Hugh's Fish Fight, presented by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. |
'Ramshackle' | |
However, speaking to the BBC, Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, claimed that the ban "was rushed in without consultation" and provided "no legal certainty". | However, speaking to the BBC, Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, claimed that the ban "was rushed in without consultation" and provided "no legal certainty". |
"We will do our best, of course, to reduce discarding as quickly as possible and as far as possible," he said. | "We will do our best, of course, to reduce discarding as quickly as possible and as far as possible," he said. |
"But we are angry that a revolution in fishing management is being introduced in this ramshackle way." | "But we are angry that a revolution in fishing management is being introduced in this ramshackle way." |
The Scottish MEP Ian Duncan, who sits on the European Committee on Fisheries, told the BBC that existing legislation would be amended to accommodate the discard ban. | |
However, he said he had severe reservations about the way the process had been carried out. | |
He is still concerned that the current ambition to amend all legislation in one go will lead to confusion, and undermine the ban. | |
"You're asking for such a big culture shift in the industry - you really need to make sure that the industry understands what it's meant to be doing", he said. | |
"We are continually telling fishermen they must fish within the law - but in this case we can't even make the law." | |
Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said he had been "making a plea" for Europe to give greater urgency to preparing for the implementation of the discard ban. | |
The Cod Conundrum | |
Amending the existing regulations on discarding catch will be easier for some species than others. | |
Fish such as herring and mackerel (pelagic fish) are generally considered to be a 'cleaner' catch - that is to say, most of the fish caught will be of the desired species. | |
The 'mixed white fishery', which includes cod and haddock, has a much higher chance of bringing up other species in its nets. | |
Dr Duncan says this means that amending regulations for pelagic fish will be much simpler than for cod and haddock, and so should be done sooner. | |
Good News | Good News |
Both the Scottish and UK governments welcomed the deal, with the latter saying it had secured the "best possible deal". | Both the Scottish and UK governments welcomed the deal, with the latter saying it had secured the "best possible deal". |
The Scottish government hailed its "main wins" as a freeze on proposed cuts to the days when fishermen can go to sea, and gains in key quotas. | The Scottish government hailed its "main wins" as a freeze on proposed cuts to the days when fishermen can go to sea, and gains in key quotas. |
The Brussels deal resulted in increases for North Sea monkfish (20%) and prawns (15%), and West Coast haddock (14%) and monkfish (20%). | The Brussels deal resulted in increases for North Sea monkfish (20%) and prawns (15%), and West Coast haddock (14%) and monkfish (20%). |
Mr Lochhead said: "It gives much-needed economic stability not just to the fleet, but to our onshore sector and the coastal communities who depend on the jobs the sector provides." | |
A statement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said they had delivered a fair deal for fishermen, "striking the right balance between supporting business, and conserving fish stocks to safeguard the future livelihoods of our fishing fleets and their local communities". | |