This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8368822.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
No new rules on fish conservation Fish talks result is 'appalling'
(1 day later)
New EU rules aimed at conserving fish stocks have been voted down, but the current restrictions will remain. Scottish Fisheries Secretary, Richard Lochhead has attacked the European Commission after catch restrictions on Scottish fishermen were extended.
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. He said the process "was appalling" after talks in Brussels broke up with the UK delegation voting against the package of measures.
Although the Brussels meeting voted against new rules, it agreed to extend restrictions on whitefish catches on the west coast of Scotland. The quotas affect whitefish catches on the west coast and had originally been seen as a temporary emergency measure.
Scottish fishing leaders are unhappy at the continued limits over whitefish. Mr Lochhead said that progress in other catch areas had been "soured".
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.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.
This appalling decision amounts to a serious breach of faith Richard LochheadFisheries Minister
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.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.
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. The whole process was absolutely appalling. The commission refused to negotiate. Richard LochheadFisheries Minister
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. Mr Lochhead told BBC Scotland: "The whole deal was completely soured by the fact they made some emergency regulations that were introduced earlier this year.
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. "They cemented them in the new regulations for the long term and that's very bad news indeed for those particular vessels on the west coast of Scotland affected.
'Broken policy' "The whole process was absolutely appalling. The commission refused to negotiate and for the first time in memory the UK government agreed with the Scottish government that we had to vote against the fishing package on the table."
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. 'Threats averted'
"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. Mr Lochhead did admit it was not all bad news from the late night talks.
"Scotland's fishermen have just witnessed the micro-managing and broken Common Fisheries Policy at its very worst." He added: "Many of the real threats that our fishermen were facing coming into these talks have been averted.
"For example our valuable prawn fleets are no longer facing the prospect of new draconian technical measures in 2010.
"And changes to fishing gear that would have impacted on both viability and safety have been averted."