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Commercial Fishing

SCOTTISH FISHERS AND PROCESSORS WELCOME UK/FAROES AGREEMENT

SCOTTISH FISHERS AND PROCESSORS

Scottish fishers and processors welcome UK/Faroes agreement. Scottish fishermen and processors have welcomed the recent fisheries agreement between the UK and the Faroes, which will provide extra fishing opportunities for the Scottish fleet in 2024.

Mike Park, chief executive of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA), told Fish Focus:

“We welcome this agreement, as it  provides significant additional fishing opportunities to a number of larger vessels, thus removing their effort from UK waters.”

Under the agreement, the UK  secured an extra 920 tonnes of cod and haddock, of which no more than 276 tonnes may consist of cod, and as a bycatch only. An additional 600 tonnes of saithe was secured, as well as 180 tonnes of ling and blue ling, and 10 tonnes of redfish, as well as extra tonnages of flatfish and other species.

Jimmy Buchan, chief executive of the Scottish Seafood Association (SSA), said the extra fish was welcome, and provided the additional bonus of reducing fishing effort in UK waters.

He told Fish Focus:

“Any extra quota for Scottish fishermen and processors is always welcome, and it is welcome to see that there are good relations between the UK Government and the Faroes when it comes to such transfer negotiations.

“An additional benefit is that it spreads out the fishing effort, meaning that larger boats can travel further afield to fish, whilst leaving other boats in the fleet to concentrate on their home grounds.”

At the talks, the UK and Faroese delegations agreed that the UK and the Faroe Islands would continue to co-operate on scientific matters of mutual interest related to commercially exploited fish stocks and their associated ecosystems. The species and stocks of interest include pelagic, demersal and deep-sea stocks. Potential research topics could range from stock structure to shifts in distribution due to changes in climate and ecosystem productivity. The research cooperation would include discussions on current and future research surveys and their objectives and scope within the area of adjacent UK and Faroese waters.

The delegations recognised the importance of cooperation in regard to monitoring, control and surveillance measures, and acknowledged that there are significant benefits for both sides in sharing relevant information and intelligence, and in enhancing co-operation in areas of mutual interest.

Photo credit: Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA)

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