EU fishing rules 'utter disgrace'

Mr Lochhead says discarding fish is a 'horrendous waste'

The Common Fisheries Policy, (CFP) is "the most ill thought out European policy affecting Scotland", Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead has said.

Mr Lochhead also targeted rules which force fishermen to discard fish, as wasteful and unnecessary.

A major international fisheries conference in Edinburgh has been arranged as part of the Scottish government investigation into the CFP.

The policy is due to be replaced in 2013.

Mr Lochhead said: "Some of our fishermen are in the middle of a storm caused by a broken CFP and low quayside prices, but by working together we can navigate our way through it.

It is an utter disgrace that our fishermen are being forced to dump high quality and marketable fish back into the sea Richard Lochhead Fisheries secretary

"The Commission must act now on discards to help to help the fishing industry sail towards a more sustainable and profitable future."

Mr Lochhead was setting also out a vision of how Scotland can reap the benefits of taking control of its own fisheries through adopting a regional approach.

But Liberal Democrat fisheries spokesman Liam McArthur said: "It is interesting that SNP ministers now appear to have dropped their demand for withdrawal from the CFP.

"This position was all about political grandstanding rather than the realities of effective fisheries management.

"The Scottish Liberal Democrats have for many years advocated a more regional approach to managing our fisheries."

Mr Lochhead also demanded swifter action to address the scandal of discards claiming that existing European regulations have forced Scottish fishermen to waste a valuable food resource which undermines the fleet's profitability and fisheries conservation.

'Unnecessary pressure'

He added: "During 2007, whitefish worth £60 million was discarded in the North Sea - and that's just an estimate. When other European fleets are taken into account the problem is compounded greatly."

"It is an utter disgrace that our fishermen are being forced to dump high quality and marketable fish back into the sea - hundreds of millions of pounds wasted and unnecessary pressure on our stocks due to the crazy rules of the CFP.

"Reform of the broken EU fisheries policy in 2013 will be far too late for many of our fishermen and our fish stocks. Action is needed now."

A formal response, following the Scottish government's consultation into the CFP will follow before the end of the year.

Mr Lochhead, six of Europe's seven Regional Advisory Councils (RACs), representatives from the European Commission and member states, scientists, economists and experts from Japan and Australia are gathering to discuss reform of the CFP which is due to be replaced in 2013.