More quota flexibility proposed

Fishing communities would be at the heart of quota management

Changes have been announced to the way fishing quotas in Scotland are managed.

The plans would allow more flexibility so fishermen could exchange quota allocations without applying for a formal licence transaction.

Non-active quota-holders who lease allocations back to the industry will have to relinquish their rights. A new licensing system will also be set up.

Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said he wanted fishing communities to be at the heart of stock management.

The UK Government has called the plans into doubt and said it had no intention of copying them in England.

Non-active quotas

A consultation document was officially launched in the small fishing community of Pittenweem, Fife.

It details plans for a new licensing system with all vessels required to carry a Scottish Port Letter Number.

Scottish quota-holders will have to prove that 70% of their income comes from catching and marketing fish. This is to make sure allocations are held by active fishermen, the paper states.

This consultation concerns the future of our fishing rights that provide access to our fishing grounds. Richard Lochhead MSP Fisheries secretary

Scottish producer organisations would be given limited access to "dummy" licences for community quota schemes.

Producer organisations, which look after most stock management, will initially have to be recognised in Scotland. Those which are not will have to demonstrate an economic benefit to the country.

New permits for langoustine fisheries will be introduced because of "under-fishing".

Restrictions on the numbers of creels are also being considered along with an examination of the type of gear used by trawlers.

Important safeguards

Richard Lochhead MSP said: "The arrangements governing fishing rights are critical. This consultation concerns the future of our fishing rights that provide access to our fishing grounds.

"It is important that government puts in place arrangements that safeguard these rights while encouraging the flexibility and stability necessary for business growth."

Changes would be timed so that the new management system moves from being paper-based to web-based.

The Scottish Fishermen's Federation said it did not want to see major changes to the current system and that the industry did not consider it to be "fatally flawed".

FULL CONSULTATION Fisheries consultation [28KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here

However, it did want to see the system becoming more transparent.

Chief Executive Bertie Armstrong said: "We don't know all the details yet - we will have to read the paper launched today, but over the 12 weeks of the consultation we will look most carefully at two main issues.

"Firstly, what changes are to be made to distribution of quotas - given that the quota 'cake' is a set size any change will unavoidably have winners and losers; secondly, will the new system continue to meet the requirements of the industry to freely and flexibly access quotas?"

UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw said: "I am disappointed that the Scottish administration has decided to take this unilateral action, which tears up long-standing arrangements for managing fishing licences and quotas.

"We also question whether this would stand up to legal scrutiny".

The Liberal Democrats have accused the minister of breaking parliamentary protocol by announcing the proposals to the press before MSPs.

North-East Fife MSP, Iain Smith, said: "Surely it is a serious discourtesy to the parliament and the many members who represent fishing communities that Mr Lochead is making an important announcement of government fishing policies in Pittenweem and not in parliament. To the press and not to the parliament".