Fishing survey

FISHERMEN in Shetland are being asked to take part in a national survey about the impact of the European cod recovery plan and more flexible management measures.

The survey is being carried out by the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), part of the University of Gloucestershire, on behalf of the North Sea Regional Advisory Council (NSRAC).

It aims to explore different approaches to fisheries management, such as giving fishermen more freedom to exercise their judgment on when and where they fish, while reducing discards.

As part of the review the CCRI has been asked to contact fishing skippers about their experience of the cod recovery plan, and what they think about “a small range of alternative management approaches for fisheries”.

The survey should only take 10 minutes to complete. It closes on 4 June and is available at https://surveys.glos.ac.uk/cod_survey

National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations chief executive Barrie Deas said: “This is an opportunity to influence the future direction of Cod management measures and I would urge fishermen to complete the survey”.