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'Tough' fishing talks being held No new rules on fish conservation
(about 7 hours later)
Key fisheries talks for the Scottish fleet in Brussels have been described as "tough". New EU rules aimed at conserving fish stocks have been voted down, but the current restrictions will remain.
EU ministers are discussing technical measures to govern fishing in 2010, amid calls for a re-think on discards - where fish are thrown back. EU ministers had been discussing technical measures to govern fishing in 2010, amid calls for a re-think on discards - where fish are thrown back.
Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead, who has flown out for the talks, vowed he would bid for positive changes to be agreed. Although the Brussels meeting voted against new rules, it agreed to extend restrictions on whitefish catches on the west coast of Scotland.
The Scottish government said on Friday evening that ongoing talks were tough. Scottish fishing leaders are unhappy at the continued limits over whitefish.
However, some of the talks were being welcomed. Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation said he had been "initially encouraged" by the EU Fish Council's decision not to "rush through" a new set of technical conservation rules.
'Workable measures' This appalling decision amounts to a serious breach of faith Richard LochheadFisheries Minister
Mr Lochhead said ahead of the talks: "Many complex regulations will be discussed in Brussels, potentially setting the rules for our fishermen for a number of years to come. But he added that the decision to continue with draconian catch composition rules for whitefish vessels on Scotland's west coast had resulted in a major blow for parts of the Scottish fishing fleet.
"Any new measures must be workable and effective for the industry and the stocks that we have worked so hard to rebuild in recent years. The EU said that rules on whitefish and discards, which were adopted last year as an emergency measure, would continue for a further 18 months.
"Despite having to cope with the worldwide recession and complex regulations from Brussels, most of Scotland's fleets have again stepped up to the plate on conservation this year." It also agreed that there should be no new measures regarding prawn catches in 2010 and proposed changes to fishing gear would not be adopted.
He said: "We will be pressing hard to ensure that the industry's willingness to improve sustainability does not go unrewarded." Scotland's Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead said he was relieved that a new package of measures had been rejected, but he added he was "extremely disappointed" at the 18-month extension to the current measures.
'Broken policy'
Speaking from Brussels, Mr Lochhead said: "The industry's huge sigh of relief following the removal of new threats to their future was quickly soured. A number of west coast fishermen now have to live with unworkable catch rules for another 18 months when they were only supposed to be emergency measures that would expire next month.
"Given that these measures were supposed to be in place for one year and we were working with the industry on a new regime to replace it, this appalling decision amounts to a serious breach of faith by Commissioner Borg.
"Scotland's fishermen have just witnessed the micro-managing and broken Common Fisheries Policy at its very worst."