Election / Macdonald endorses fishing industry manifesto
SNP candidate Goodlad also support the industry’s manifesto and its call for a moratorium on offshore wind
LIBERAL Democrat Emma Macdonald has been the first local candidate to respond to the Scottish fishing industry’s call for support from politicians standing for election.
On New Year’s Day, the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) published its manifesto ahead of the Scottish elections in May, urging Holyrood candidates to “stand up for fishing”.
The document emphasises the importance of the fishing industry to Scotland’s coastal and island communities, where they are vital parts of local economies.
SFF chief executive Elspeth Macdonald said: “Fishing is not just part of Scotland’s heritage – it is modern, efficient, professional and globally recognised.
“Yet as we enter the second quarter of the 21st century, our fishermen – and Scotland’s ability to produce renewable, healthy food from our seas – are under threat as never before.”
She added: “The combination of ever-more complex and often restrictive policies, ‘spatial squeeze’ from offshore wind developments and sites protected for conservation alongside the drumbeat of negativity about fishing from some eNGOs undermines our industry’s core purpose – producing food, providing jobs and contributing to food security and the economy.”
Lib Dem candidate for the Shetland seat Emma Macdonald said she very much welcomed the manifesto, adding that she had already had some discussions with the industry here on the islands and plans for a local manifesto.
“The fishing industry is integral to not just our economy but our heritage. We need to value it, and we need a government that values it and listens to the industry,” she said.
“We are seeing increasing challenges impacting the industry, the ongoing issues around spatial squeeze caused by offshore wind and cables coming onshore and the impacts that will be caused by the new landing regulations.
“We need to ensure we sustain the industry for future generations, and they have to feel government is working with them and not against them like we currently see.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats are a party that values the fishing industry, and we will continue to fight to ensure they are heard as we head into this election.”
Meanwhile SNP candidate Hannah May Goodlad said that given her “passionate support of Shetland’s main industry” it will come as no surprise that she also support the SFF manifesto.
“Over the last few months, I have met four times with the Shetland Fishermen’s Association, held several individual meetings with fishermen and have met with the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation so I am fully up to speed with all the issues of concern,” she said.
“With regard to the SFF call for a moratorium on offshore wind, I want to make my position crystal clear. I believe what the SFF is saying makes sense and I therefore support such a pause because I believe the fisheries impacts of offshore wind need to be better understood.
“I believe that my experience of working in the offshore energy industry, allied with my deep understanding of the crucial importance of fishing to Shetland’s identity, economy and communities, means that I am best placed to represent Shetlands interests on this important issue
“I will always stand up for Shetland’s family-owned fleet. In my recent meeting with the First Minister, I made it clear that offshore wind must never come at the expense of our fishing industry.”
The SFF manifesto calls for:
- A government that supports, values and protects what fishing provides – renewable healthy protein, food security to meet a growing need, good jobs at sea and ashore enabling fishing businesses to contribute to Scotland’s marine economy and to Scotland and UK exports
- Policy and regulation that supports fishing – enabling rather than restricting
- Commitment from government for no further policies or measures that undermines the industry and the economies of the coastal and rural communities that rely on fishing for work and financial security
- Space at sea for fishing – fishing cannot and must not be a casualty of offshore wind expansion – Scotland needs renewable energy and renewable food
- Nature conservation policies that balance environmental protection with sustainable use
- A diverse fleet – Scotland’s fishing industry is successful due to its diversity which brings resilience and investment over a range of different scales.
Sovereignty candidate Brian Nugent said his party agrees with all six points from the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation manifesto for the Scottish elections.
“Sovereignty has resolutions agreed at Annual Congress on HPMA proposals and the behaviour of the SFPA boats in Shetland waters,” he said.
“The obvious approach to take is to protect all coastal communities because of the jobs and businesses that keep locals in work in the local community, pity that other political parties work against the interests of the fishermen, those in aquaculture considering their economic and social value to coastal and island communities.”
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