News / Fishermen battle against discards ban
SCOTTISH fishing leaders travel to Brussels on Tuesday to urge the European Commission not apply “electric shock treatment” to the industry over banning discards.
The European fishing industry is being allowed to address fishing commissioner Maria Damanaki over their fears about her call for an outright ban on the practice following public pressure.
Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong said “significant sections” of the industry would fail if “inappropriate regulations” were implemented.
Mr Armstrong said the EC’s approach to the issue had been “alarmingly superficial”, ignoring the complexity of fishing, especially in the kind of mixed fishery carried out by the Scottish fleet.
“The Commission’s present stance does no justice to the complexity of the problem and to the commitment of stakeholders to innovate and experiment. Instead, in sharp contrast, the message transmitted to the public is that the industry clearly needs the electric-shock treatment of a ban to stimulate action,” he said.
“Simply banning the practice is over-simplistic – a commitment to regulatory change must accompany the ban, or the consequences for the industry will be unpredictable instability, with serious implications for our fragile fishing communities.”
The call for a ban on discards has come from TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Fish Fight campaign which has attracted more than 670,000 supporters through its website www.fishfight.net
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.