Meeting of the Parliament 09 December 2014
For anyone who is hearing me speak for the first time, let me declare that this French-born MSP has worked in the Scottish fishing industry for the past 30 years. I have been honoured to represent the many fishing communities in the north-east, from Fraserburgh to Peterhead, since May 2013.
We must await the outcome of the negotiations, but I agree with members that the talks are going much better than they did in the past few years. The main reason why the negotiations will be easier this year is that we have settled the mackerel dispute. As I said at the time, people in Scotland need to recognise that our fishing communities have nothing to gain from letting disputes in the pelagic sector run on for years. The white-fish industry, which needs our support, suffered from the dispute.
There is a lesson to be learned in that regard: what we require is fewer disputes and more partnership with our neighbours. Let us ensure that the bilateral talks between the EU and the Faroe Islands on the pelagic industry, which take place in Ireland this week, do not spill over to the white-fish industry. Jamie McGrigor did not talk about that.
I share the concerns of Ian McFadden, the chair of the Scottish Pelagic Processors Association—whom I first met 30 years ago—and thank him for his briefing.
The tone of our negotiations must show our willingness to negotiate with others. The tone that some use in talking about the challenges that are faced by the Scottish fishing industry is more about driving an anti-European agenda, which should be left to members of the UK Independence Party.
The Scottish fishing industry deserves better, as does what is left of the fishing industry in other parts of the UK. I repeat that the cabinet secretary is the most experienced fishing minister in Europe and should be sitting at the main table and speaking for the people who represent the fishing communities throughout Scotland.
Some disagree, but I will explain why their arguments do not hold water. Last month, the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, which is the representative body for fishermen in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, said that its members’ interests were
“in danger of being sacrificed to placate the clamour for more powers for Scotland.”
The NFFO was reacting to the Scottish Government’s submission to the Smith commission, but it does not need to worry: the suggestion is still in the background and has been very much diluted.
I understand the hostility towards further devolution to Scotland as a direct result of the democratic deficit that is experienced by the industry in England. Unlike the other parts of the UK, the English industry does not have a Parliament or devolved body that can stand up for its interests. We know that the UK Parliament is not looking out for the fishing industry, particularly in Scotland, given that the Scottish fleet has been described as “expendable”.
I was surprised to hear, as Rob Gibson mentioned earlier, that our own Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive seems to agree with the NFFO. On 10 November, on Radio Scotland, Bertie Armstrong said:
“Is Richard Lochhead the best man to state those priorities? He is certainly the best man, providing he talks to us carefully and the priorities are agreed. He is certainly the best man to talk about Scottish fishing, but is he the best man to talk about the fishing for Ulstermen or people in the Southwest? I think not.”
“I think not”—that was the answer from the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation to his own question. Am I the only member in the chamber to think that such a comment sounds odd coming from someone who represents the Scottish fishing industry’s interests?
I remind members of what happened last month. Westminster sent to speak in crucial EU talks for the Scottish fishing industry an unelected Conservative lord, Lord de Mauley, with no previous experience whatsoever in fishing. Is he the best man to talk about fishing on behalf of Ulstermen or people in the south-west? I think not. We can all agree that it is never appropriate for an unelected lord who knows nothing about fishing to speak for our fishermen, Ulstermen or not.
The UK Government proves again that it could not care less about our fishing communities. Fishing is never on Westminster’s radar. The Scottish Government is doing a lot for fishing and wants to do more. Fishing leaders need to support the call for the cabinet secretary to sit in the front seat, and they need to be foursquare behind him.