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Fishermen in talks on future of fleet
Graeme Smith
The Herald
27th January 2004
CRUCIAL talks will take place tomorrow and on Thursday in Edinburgh and Brussels, which could determine the future of the Scottish white fish fleet.
As they go into the talks, the fishermen have been encouraged by the backing of the Norwegian government for their argument that saving the cod would be better served by allowing the fleet to fish in "haddock boxes" where cod have been proven to be scarce, rather than imposing a huge cod protection area.
Fishermen's leaders tomorrow will meet Allan Wilson, deputy minister for environment and rural development.
Hamish Morrison, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said they were hoping Jack McConnell, the first minister, might attend the meeting at some stage.
On Thursday, Scottish Executive officials will travel to Brussels for the technical meeting at which changes to the rules, which come into effect on February 1, will be discussed.
Without progress, the commission faces a legal challenge to their rules and the prospect of defiant skippers breaking the law to try to survive.
The SFF will lodge legal papers this week with the Court of Session seeking a suspension of the European order, which imposes the restrictions.
Skippers in the Scottish White Fish Producers' Association have made it clear they face financial disaster under the proposals.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the Scottish National Party travelled to Brussels yesterday to demand greater access to fish stocks.
CRUCIAL talks will take place tomorrow and on Thursday in Edinburgh and Brussels, which could determine the future of the Scottish white fish fleet.
As they go into the talks, the fishermen have been encouraged by the backing of the Norwegian government for their argument that saving the cod would be better served by allowing the fleet to fish in "haddock boxes" where cod have been proven to be scarce, rather than imposing a huge cod protection area.
Fishermen's leaders tomorrow will meet Allan Wilson, deputy minister for environment and rural development.
Hamish Morrison, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said they were hoping Jack McConnell, the first minister, might attend the meeting at some stage.
On Thursday, Scottish Executive officials will travel to Brussels for the technical meeting at which changes to the rules, which come into effect on February 1, will be discussed.
Without progress, the commission faces a legal challenge to their rules and the prospect of defiant skippers breaking the law to try to survive.
The SFF will lodge legal papers this week with the Court of Session seeking a suspension of the European order, which imposes the restrictions.
Skippers in the Scottish White Fish Producers' Association have made it clear they face financial disaster under the proposals.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the Scottish National Party travelled to Brussels yesterday to demand greater access to fish stocks.
CRUCIAL talks will take place tomorrow and on Thursday in Edinburgh and Brussels, which could determine the future of the Scottish white fish fleet.
As they go into the talks, the fishermen have been encouraged by the backing of the Norwegian government for their argument that saving the cod would be better served by allowing the fleet to fish in "haddock boxes" where cod have been proven to be scarce, rather than imposing a huge cod protection area.
Fishermen's leaders tomorrow will meet Allan Wilson, deputy minister for environment and rural development.
Hamish Morrison, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said they were hoping Jack McConnell, the first minister, might attend the meeting at some stage.
On Thursday, Scottish Executive officials will travel to Brussels for the technical meeting at which changes to the rules, which come into effect on February 1, will be discussed.
Without progress, the commission faces a legal challenge to their rules and the prospect of defiant skippers breaking the law to try to survive.
The SFF will lodge legal papers this week with the Court of Session seeking a suspension of the European order, which imposes the restrictions. Skippers in the Scottish White Fish Producers' Association have made it clear they face financial disaster under the proposals.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the Scottish National Party travelled to Brussels yesterday, 26 January 2004, to demand greater access to fish stocks.
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