By Martin Banks - 28th September 2011
“My fear is that in twenty years’ time our seas may once again be teeming with fish, but there will not be a single British fisherman left to catch them
Struan Stevenson
Scottish MEP Struan Stevenson says that UK fishermen have been "hit with another devastating blow".
His warning comes with the commission's announcement on Wednesday of swingeing cuts in next year's total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas.
The commission decision was based on advice from scientists who advise the executive the international council for the exploration of the seas (ICES).
But, commenting on the proposals, Stevenson, said, "The experts are basing all of their advice for 2012 on the target of achieving maximum sustainable yields (MSY) in all key fish stocks in European waters by 2015.
"This is part of an international agreement the EU has entered into and is a key part of the common fisheries policy reform package which is now going through parliament."
The deputy, a deputy chair of the fisheries committee, cautioned," The problem is that while we all support MSY, which means getting to a state where catches never exceed the stock's ability to reproduce sustainably, the timescale of 2012 for stocks around the UK is just not achievable.
"So our fishermen are being told that they will not be allowed to catch any cod at all in the west of Scotland and Irish sea next year, while there will be harsh cuts of 25 per cent for Monkfish, 11 per cent for Hake and 15 per cent for Megrim.
"While a 25 per cent increase in haddock catches in the west of Scotland is to be welcomed, it is not nearly enough against a background of a substantial recovery of the stock which is now in great abundance."
Speaking in Strasbourg on Wednesday, he added, "The miserly 25 per cent increase simply means that fishermen will be forced to dump over the side any extra haddock they are bound to catch, which is a disastrous outcome.
"The Scottish fleet, which is the biggest part of the UK whitefish sector, has fallen to its lowest level ever. There are now just over 2100 vessels, down from over 2400 last year.
"The number of fishermen in Scotland has fallen to 5218, down four per cent on last year. Even the value of landings has fallen by three per cent marking the first such fall in 10 years. We are witnessing a year on year decline in our fleet and these latest proposals from the commission will do nothing to halt the trend.
"My fear is that in twenty years' time our seas may once again be teeming with fish, but there will not be a single British fisherman left to catch them."
