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Scots fishermen spared more European woe


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#1 Guest_Steve Ellwood_*

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Posted 21 November 2009 - 10:17 AM

Courtesy of the Aberdeen Press & Journal  @ http://www.pressandj...493235?UserKey=

Quote

Scots fishermen spared more European woe
But west coast skippers pay price after rejection of technical measures

By Keith Findlay

Published: 21/11/2009

A large chunk of Scotland’s fishing fleet was spared more woe last night when European Commission proposals for a raft of new technical measures were flatly rejected at top-level talks in Brussels.

But there was bad news for west coast skippers, who could see tough catch rules extended for a further 18 months.

The industry had faced a wave of new regulations governing landing and net mesh sizes as well as catch compositions, closed areas and fishing seasons.

Fishing leaders feared the European Commission proposals would hand more power to Brussels, stalling efforts to decentralise control under the Common Fisheries Policy.

Ministers from the UK and other countries delivered a clear message at the latest monthly Fisheries Council, telling commission officials it was trying to force through too many rules too quickly.

The UK negotiation team, led by Fisheries Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, swiftly moved on to its next cause – trying to achieve a satisfactory result for Scotland’s west coast fleet after almost a year of “emergency measures” introduced as an alternative to closing fishing grounds.

But the outcome of that particular battle was “extremely disappointing”, said Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead, who branded the decision to extend the status quo, along with its complex rules, as a “serious breach of faith”.

He added: “When it became clear that the new technical conservation regulation was not going to get support from member states the commission unexpectedly proposed rolling over the existing regulation.

“This included prolonging measures on the west coast instead of them being allowed to expire – as promised to Scotland last year.”

Read more: http://www.pressandj...=#ixzz0XU4G63UY


#2 wbeedie

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Posted 21 November 2009 - 04:11 PM

http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/8368822.stm

Fishermen's leader Bertie Armstrong says the talks were a 'disaster'

Scottish Fisheries Secretary, Richard Lochhead has attacked the European Commission after catch restrictions on Scottish fishermen were extended.

He said the process "was appalling" after talks in Brussels broke up with the UK delegation voting against the package of measures.

The quotas affect whitefish catches on the west coast and had originally been seen as a temporary emergency measure.

Mr Lochhead said that progress in other catch areas had been "soured".

Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation said he had been "initially encouraged" by the EU Fish Council's decision not to "rush through" a new set of technical conservation rules.

But he added that the decision to continue with draconian catch composition rules for whitefish vessels on Scotland's west coast had resulted in a major blow for parts of the Scottish fishing fleet.

The whole process was absolutely appalling. The commission refused to negotiate.
Richard Lochhead
Fisheries Minister

Mr Lochhead told BBC Scotland: "The whole deal was completely soured by the fact they made some emergency regulations that were introduced earlier this year.

"They cemented them in the new regulations for the long term and that's very bad news indeed for those particular vessels on the west coast of Scotland affected.

"The whole process was absolutely appalling. The commission refused to negotiate and for the first time in memory the UK government agreed with the Scottish government that we had to vote against the fishing package on the table."

'Threats averted'

Mr Lochhead did admit it was not all bad news from the late night talks.

He added: "Many of the real threats that our fishermen were facing coming into these talks have been averted.

"For example our valuable prawn fleets are no longer facing the prospect of new draconian technical measures in 2010.

"And changes to fishing gear that would have impacted on both viability and safety have been averted."
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#3 carolmac

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Posted 21 November 2009 - 06:04 PM

Quote

http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/8368822.stm

Fishermen's leader Bertie Armstrong says the talks were a 'disaster'

Scottish Fisheries Secretary, Richard Lochhead has attacked the European Commission after catch restrictions on Scottish fishermen were extended.

He said the process "was appalling" after talks in Brussels broke up with the UK delegation voting against the package of measures.




Now there's a surprise eh.......we knew this was going to happen...well done Bertie for telling it as it is!! a Bl**dy Disaster!!

The quotas affect whitefish catches on the west coast and had originally been seen as a temporary emergency measure.

Mr Lochhead said that progress in other catch areas had been "soured".

Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation said he had been "initially encouraged" by the EU Fish Council's decision not to "rush through" a new set of technical conservation rules.

But he added that the decision to continue with draconian catch composition rules for whitefish vessels on Scotland's west coast had resulted in a major blow for parts of the Scottish fishing fleet.

The whole process was absolutely appalling. The commission refused to negotiate.
Richard Lochhead
Fisheries Minister

Mr Lochhead told BBC Scotland: "The whole deal was completely soured by the fact they made some emergency regulations that were introduced earlier this year.

"They cemented them in the new regulations for the long term and that's very bad news indeed for those particular vessels on the west coast of Scotland affected.

"The whole process was absolutely appalling. The commission refused to negotiate and for the first time in memory the UK government agreed with the Scottish government that we had to vote against the fishing package on the table."

'Threats averted'

Mr Lochhead did admit it was not all bad news from the late night talks.

He added: "Many of the real threats that our fishermen were facing coming into these talks have been averted.

"For example our valuable prawn fleets are no longer facing the prospect of new draconian technical measures in 2010.

"And changes to fishing gear that would have impacted on both viability and safety have been averted."


#4 carolmac

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Posted 21 November 2009 - 06:07 PM

Quote

Quote

http://news.bbc.co.u...ast/8368822.stm

Fishermen's leader Bertie Armstrong says the talks were a 'disaster'

Scottish Fisheries Secretary, Richard Lochhead has attacked the European Commission after catch restrictions on Scottish fishermen were extended.

He said the process "was appalling" after talks in Brussels broke up with the UK delegation voting against the package of measures.




Now there's a surprise eh.......we knew this was going to happen...well done Bertie for telling it as it is!! a Bl**dy Disaster!!

The quotas affect whitefish catches on the west coast and had originally been seen as a temporary emergency measure.

Mr Lochhead said that progress in other catch areas had been "soured".

Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation said he had been "initially encouraged" by the EU Fish Council's decision not to "rush through" a new set of technical conservation rules.

But he added that the decision to continue with draconian catch composition rules for whitefish vessels on Scotland's west coast had resulted in a major blow for parts of the Scottish fishing fleet.

The whole process was absolutely appalling. The commission refused to negotiate.
Richard Lochhead
Fisheries Minister

Mr Lochhead told BBC Scotland: "The whole deal was completely soured by the fact they made some emergency regulations that were introduced earlier this year.

"They cemented them in the new regulations for the long term and that's very bad news indeed for those particular vessels on the west coast of Scotland affected.

"The whole process was absolutely appalling. The commission refused to negotiate and for the first time in memory the UK government agreed with the Scottish government that we had to vote against the fishing package on the table."

'Threats averted'

Mr Lochhead did admit it was not all bad news from the late night talks.

He added: "Many of the real threats that our fishermen were facing coming into these talks have been averted.

"For example our valuable prawn fleets are no longer facing the prospect of new draconian technical measures in 2010.

"And changes to fishing gear that would have impacted on both viability and safety have been averted."


Re posted!!!

Now there's a surprise eh.......we knew this was going to happen...well done Bertie for telling it as it is!! a Bl**dy Disaster!!

#5 restlesswave

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Posted 21 November 2009 - 09:08 PM

i would take it then reading this that the ban on gillnets on the west coast hasn`t been lifted either? O0
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