Chamber
Plenary, 13 Dec 2006
13 Dec 2006 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Fisheries
Members always have interesting but limited debates on fisheries at this time of the year. These debates are clearly not about Scotland's fisheries, fishing industry or fishing communities. Rather, they are about December meetings of the EU fisheries council. As a result, what members can discuss is limited. The extent to which we can explore how we would like things to be done and how we would like the industry to develop is limited. Indeed, the debates have become bidding wars, as each member puts the case for having no TAC or quota reductions. What happens is understandable under the current system, but it is not helpful. It would be nice to have a fisheries debate in May or June when we are not looking forward to a December fisheries council meeting and we can take a step back and look holistically at our fishing industry. There could then be a very interesting debate.
As Mark Ruskell said, the Greens believe that there should be a common fisheries policy but do not think that the current common fisheries policy is the best policy. Rather, we think that it needs to be extensively reformed. That said, a common fisheries policy should exist because resources such as the marine environment and fisheries must be managed jointly by everyone who is affected by them.
The Faroes were mentioned in an intervention. People who wish to withdraw from the CFP tend to think that all is sweetness and light in countries that are not constrained by CFP restrictions. However, Faroese fishing—in fact, the entire Faroese economy, which depends heavily on fishing—was in crisis in the 1990s as a direct result of overfishing and overinvestment in fishing capacity. A similar thing happened to parties to the CFP. In the 1990s, the Faroese tried individual transferable quotas, but they did not have much success; they now have a days-at-sea restriction. Wherever people are, they must manage their fishing fleet so that it is kept sustainable.
As Mark Ruskell said, the Greens believe that there should be a common fisheries policy but do not think that the current common fisheries policy is the best policy. Rather, we think that it needs to be extensively reformed. That said, a common fisheries policy should exist because resources such as the marine environment and fisheries must be managed jointly by everyone who is affected by them.
The Faroes were mentioned in an intervention. People who wish to withdraw from the CFP tend to think that all is sweetness and light in countries that are not constrained by CFP restrictions. However, Faroese fishing—in fact, the entire Faroese economy, which depends heavily on fishing—was in crisis in the 1990s as a direct result of overfishing and overinvestment in fishing capacity. A similar thing happened to parties to the CFP. In the 1990s, the Faroese tried individual transferable quotas, but they did not have much success; they now have a days-at-sea restriction. Wherever people are, they must manage their fishing fleet so that it is kept sustainable.
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...