Chamber
Plenary, 13 Dec 2006
13 Dec 2006 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Fisheries
On behalf of the Scottish National Party, I welcome today's debate and I use this opportunity to pay tribute to the men in our fishing industry. In particular, I pay tribute to the men at sea who—as many of our communities have found out to their cost in the past year or so—have often had to pay the ultimate sacrifice to bring fish to our tables.
We welcome the debate as we prepare for the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition's eighth December fisheries council in Brussels. The outcome of those negotiations will impact on one of Scotland's most vital sectors. Even after the difficult times of recent years, fish landings alone in Scotland are valued at more than £0.33 billion. That does not take into account the value that is added to Scottish seafood by the processing sector.
Although the industry has benefited from fair fish prices this year, it is a pity that the catching sector's turnover has been undermined by the expenses of fuel costs and of acquiring quota. Given that quota must often be leased, not just from other fishermen but from companies, I hope that when the minister winds up the debate he will address the question of why our catching sector is still required to lease such fishing rights from private companies. That is not right. Those profits could have regenerated the existing fishing fleet, which is aging.
Despite past assurances that the fishing industry would be allowed to sail into calmer waters after the enormous sacrifices of previous years, our fishing communities once again face an anxious 10 days as they await the outcome of negotiations, given the backdrop that the European Commission has painted in recent months. The catching sector needs an assurance that it will be given not only quota, but enough time at sea to catch that quota. Our processing sector needs an assurance that it will be able to benefit from continuity of supply and that no more jobs will be lost in our vital onshore sector. We cannot afford to lose any more vital skills from our fish processing sector. The fishing industry's difficulties of recent years have hit the onshore sector hard. That is why I raised that issue in my intervention.
Our fishing industry has been promised time and again that it would receive due reward for the sacrifices that it has made. It was told that it would be rewarded with stability and certainty. However, yet again as this year's negotiations approach, our fishing communities face uncertainty and instability.
We welcome the debate as we prepare for the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition's eighth December fisheries council in Brussels. The outcome of those negotiations will impact on one of Scotland's most vital sectors. Even after the difficult times of recent years, fish landings alone in Scotland are valued at more than £0.33 billion. That does not take into account the value that is added to Scottish seafood by the processing sector.
Although the industry has benefited from fair fish prices this year, it is a pity that the catching sector's turnover has been undermined by the expenses of fuel costs and of acquiring quota. Given that quota must often be leased, not just from other fishermen but from companies, I hope that when the minister winds up the debate he will address the question of why our catching sector is still required to lease such fishing rights from private companies. That is not right. Those profits could have regenerated the existing fishing fleet, which is aging.
Despite past assurances that the fishing industry would be allowed to sail into calmer waters after the enormous sacrifices of previous years, our fishing communities once again face an anxious 10 days as they await the outcome of negotiations, given the backdrop that the European Commission has painted in recent months. The catching sector needs an assurance that it will be given not only quota, but enough time at sea to catch that quota. Our processing sector needs an assurance that it will be able to benefit from continuity of supply and that no more jobs will be lost in our vital onshore sector. We cannot afford to lose any more vital skills from our fish processing sector. The fishing industry's difficulties of recent years have hit the onshore sector hard. That is why I raised that issue in my intervention.
Our fishing industry has been promised time and again that it would receive due reward for the sacrifices that it has made. It was told that it would be rewarded with stability and certainty. However, yet again as this year's negotiations approach, our fishing communities face uncertainty and instability.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5303, in the name of Ross Finnie, on fisheries.
The Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Ross Finnie):
LD
Those with a keen interest in fisheries will have welcomed the warm-up before this important debate.The European Union fisheries council will meet on Tuesday...
Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
The minister will be aware that the prospect of a cut in days at sea and in the quota for the prawn sector is causing enormous concern around Scotland's coas...
Ross Finnie:
LD
Richard Lochhead says that the scientific advice is in Scotland's favour. I repeat that the scientific advice on cod is quite clear. It states—
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
I asked about prawns.
Ross Finnie:
LD
I am sorry. We understand that, subsequent to the ICES advice on prawns, the STECF has reiterated its position. We believe that that is the position that wil...
Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD):
LD
I hear what the minister says about his concern about the outcome of the EU-Norway talks and the 14 per cent cut in the cod quota. Is he aware of any member ...
Ross Finnie:
LD
No member state supported the original proposal for a 25 per cent cut, but I regret to say that, as the negotiations proceeded on a downward track to a 15 pe...
Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green):
Green
It is important that we regenerate fishing communities as well as fish stocks. How will the European fisheries fund that comes to the United Kingdom be split...
Ross Finnie:
LD
The allocation of the new European fisheries fund has not been determined and will not be discussed at the December council. I accept Mark Ruskell's point th...
Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Will the minister tell us what percentage of the white-fish catch over the past year has been cod?
Ross Finnie:
LD
In terms of value, it remains a substantial figure. I do not have the percentage at my fingertips, but if I find it I will perhaps deal with it when I wind u...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
Does the minister accept that the proposed measures would have an impact on not just the catching sector but the onshore sector? Fish processors will also be...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
Minister, you have about one minute in which to wind up.
Ross Finnie:
LD
It would be absolutely amazing if a catch quota did not affect processors, so I accept that point totally.I will argue for substantial increases in the Rocka...
Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
On behalf of the Scottish National Party, I welcome today's debate and I use this opportunity to pay tribute to the men in our fishing industry. In particula...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab) rose—
Lab
Ross Finnie:
LD
Will the member give way?
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
I will take an intervention from the minister.
Ross Finnie:
LD
Let us just take a step back. Is the member completely ignoring the scientific advice on the state of the stocks? Had we not taken the steps that we did, our...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
I was about to come to those very points. When the European Commission proposed in July a 25 per cent across-the-board cut for quota and effort, there was an...
Ross Finnie:
LD
Surely, surely, surely Richard Lochhead cannot go on talking about the fact that haddock and nephrops are healthy and not recognise that cod can be caught in...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
Again, I return to the minister's own comments in which he described the Commission's proposals as "provocative and confrontational" and "particularly disapp...
Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
The Conservatives welcome today's debate. I understand that congratulations are in order, or perhaps the word should be "commiserations", because Ross Finnie...
Mr Ruskell:
Green
Will the member give way?
Ross Finnie:
LD
Will the member take an intervention?
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
Yes, Mr Finnie.
Ross Finnie:
LD
Will the member tell us which of the fleets that he mentioned actually have cod in the middle of their fishery? Will he tell us about mixed fisheries? This i...
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
The minister asks which other countries have mixed fisheries. The answer is easy: Iceland, the Faroes and Norway all have mixed fisheries and all handle thei...
Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green):
Green
This annual debate on the deliberations of the fisheries council is always a story of how science is woven with politics into the fabric of the common fisher...