Another 59 Scottish fishing vessels, which fish for prawns in inshore waters, will no longer be subject to European time at sea limits. A total of 122 Scottish boats have now been made exempt.
Fishing vessels that can catch cod are subject to time at sea controls under the EU’s Cod Recovery Plan [CRP], but EU Member States can apply to the European Union to exempt vessels that catch very little cod.
The successful application came as a result of close collaboration between government and fishermen in the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth.
In the Clyde, 42 vessels have been made exempt as a result of catch data gathered by on-board observers. In the Forth, 17 vessels are now exempt thanks to data gathered by on-board cameras.
Bertie Armstrong, Chief Executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, says: ‘The success in removing the fleet from effort control is to be welcomed because the technical conservation measures adopted by these boats mean that they catch very few cod. The process of getting the derogation was a practical example of what can be achieved by industry and government coordinating and acting together.’
Archie MacFarlane, Chief Executive of the Clyde Fishermen’s Association, says: ‘The Clyde Fishermen’s Association is relieved that the European Commission have now recognised the conservation measures pursued by the Scottish and Clyde fleets and that they have been successful in greatly reducing the by-catch of all fish species and cod in particular. The installation of 200mm Square Mesh Panels in the trawls provide a very large escape route for all but the Nephrops target species.
‘Our skippers and crew have been frustrated by the imposition of an effort control that took no account of measures already in place. The Clyde is unique in that a weekend ban has been in place for mobile gears for more than 20 years. To have a further restriction placed on vessels that caught little cod was extremely unfair. The weekend ban in the Clyde will continue to control fishing effort.
‘We would express our thanks to the many individuals and organisations that have worked to gain this exemption from effort control: Marine Scotland, the CFA scheme administrator and the fishing skippers themselves, but in particular the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, without which this exemption would not have been possible. The SFF staff worked tirelessly in organising and administering the scheme.’
Welcoming the announcement Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead, says: ‘I have always argued that it is unduly harsh and unnecessary for inshore vessels, targeting prawns and catching very little cod, to be subject to time at sea limits. I am delighted that these vessels will no longer be subject to the EU’s days at sea regime.
‘Prawn fishermen in Scotland have shown that they are committed to playing their part in the continuing recovery of our important cod stocks. They have installed new nets with large holes from which cod can escape, while retaining the prawns they target. This innovation is a good example of how sensible conservation can be delivered locally, without the need for micro-management from Brussels.
‘I am now calling for all Scottish vessels that target prawns and catch very little cod to be made exempt from time at sea limits and will be raising this with the European Commission.’
