Meeting of the Parliament 09 December 2014
It is almost a year since the new common fisheries policy was introduced, but the forthcoming year is when the force of the changes comes into effect. We are starting to see changes in the end-of-year negotiations that the debate refers to. There is less horse trading and fewer late-night negotiations. There is an increasing attempt to take out the politics and grandstanding and instead to focus on delivering sustainable fisheries that support employment, communities and our food sector, while not damaging stocks or the marine environment.
Conservation and stability of stocks can deliver long-term economic health for the whole industry, onshore and offshore. We need a continued commitment from the Scottish Government and the sector to deliver that. Scotland’s fishing sector employs about 5,000 people in the catching sector and supports key employment in supporting sectors. Scotland has world-renowned produce but, although our produce is sent all around the world, we could do more to support our home market. Although we are an island country, we are not big consumers of seafood, and there could be greater promotion of it, as well as a greater commitment to local sourcing. I hope for a positive outcome from the good food nation consultation that is happening.
The industry has a significant base in Scotland, but it operates throughout the UK, with a common regulatory system and a UK network of harbours and fish processors. That is reflected in some of the concerns that the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation raised about the quota consultation, which I will say a bit more about later.
The drama of previous years may be on the way out, but the importance and complexity of the EU negotiations are increasing, as they are not just about allocating effort but about changing the system to meet the CFP’s environmental objectives.
We are nearing the end of the negotiations. I support the Scottish Government’s key objectives going into the negotiations and wish the cabinet secretary well in the final stages.
We are looking to amend the motion to focus on the key issues for the sector rather than sustain a debate about who represents it, when we all have a common view anyway. I have sympathy with the cabinet secretary over recent decisions on who would present the UK case but, going forward, our understanding of what is “clearly appropriate” might not always be the same as the Scottish Government’s understanding.