Minister defends quota deal

Cod catches will be cut by 45% from next month

Environment Minister Ross Finnie believes he secured "the only achievable outcome" over EU quotas for the Scottish fishing industry.

Mr Finnie admitted the deal - which saw fish catch numbers slashed - was "inequitable, unfair and even crude" but insisted it could have been even worse because of last minute horse-trading in Brussels.

The comments came as Scottish fishermen announced they are to consider a legal challenge to the fish quota cuts agreed by the UK Government in December 2002.

FISH QUOTA DEAL

Inequitable, unfair and even crude as the interim measures undoubtedly are we must now look forward

Ross Finnie
Environment Minister

It said cod catches in the North Sea would be reduced by 45%, haddock catches cut by 50% and whiting catches reduced by nearly two thirds.

The agreement also means fishermen will only be guaranteed nine days a month for fishing although they could be allowed 15 days at sea in total if further decommissioning takes place.

Mr Finnie MSPs at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday: "I am in no doubt whatsoever, given that we had the active involvement and welcome involvement of the prime minister, that this was the only achievable outcome in all the circumstances.

"The alternative of a commission-imposed emergency measure would indeed have been much more draconian in effect.

'Stick to objectives'

"Inequitable, unfair and even crude as the interim measures undoubtedly are we must now look forward.

"We must stick to our objectives of maintaining a sustainable fishing industry."

SNP fisheries spokesman Richard Lochhead said Mr Finnie had signed up to "the worst possible deal" for Scotland's fishing industry.

The amount of time fishermen can spend at sea has been slashed

He said: "There was no victory for Scotland, there was massive defeat. Every other country which treats fishing as a priority left Brussels with a deal they could live with and many left with concessions they had gained at Scotland's expense."

Mr Lochhead said there was "a seething anger" among fishing communities at the agreement reached last month.

Finnie attacked his Nationalist counterpart, and accused him of ignoring the scientific evidence which suggested North Sea cod stocks were on the brink of collapse.

Tory fisheries spokesman Jamie McGrigor demanded action from the Scottish Executive to ensure the long-term survival of the fishing industry and its associated communities.

He said: "The real test for our fisheries minister following the appalling Brussels result lies ahead in managing to keep the Scottish fishing fleet and the jobs that depend on it.

'Fought hard'

"Fishermen have said to me why, when these are Scottish fish in Scottish waters, should the Scottish fleet be the one to suffer the pain while the other fleets are relatively unscathed?"

Labour's Aberdeen North MSP, Elaine Thomson asked Mr Finnie for an assurance that in his discussions with fishermen and processors he would look towards a developing a "smaller but more viable" industry in the long term, and giving help with education and training to those seeking other careers.

She said Scottish ministers and their Westminster counterparts had "fought very hard" in the negotiations and had gained some achievements, particularly in the area of CFP reform.

But she added: "Very obviously the interim measures are going to cause very considerable difficulties, particularly in areas such as Aberdeen and the north east, and particularly in the catching and processing side."

Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson, whose constituency includes Peterhead and Fraserburgh, said Mr Finnie had failed on his previously stated aims to achieve equitable recovery measures.