SFA MEETS WITH MIXED REACTION FROM MINISTER
THE Shetland Fishermen’s Association took the opportunity to meet with Scottish Fisheries Minister, Lord Sewell, when he visited Shetland for the Highlands and Islands Convention on 10 July.
Issues of particular concern to local fishermen were discussed, including the question of EU funding for new building in the white fish fleet, the SFA’s total opposition to a pelagic days at sea scheme, and the need to take a tough line with Norway in the forthcoming EU/Norway mackerel negotiations. According to SFA secretary, John Goodlad, these received a "mixed response" from the minister.
"We pushed the minister most strongly on the issue of the Government’s apparent reluctance to initiate a grant scheme for new building, despite the fact the white fish sector has already met it’s MAGP IV effort reduction targets," said Mr Goodlad. "In Shetland there is a great sense of frustration that we could secure very significant EU grant funding for new building if only we could get the go-ahead from this Government."
In an interview with Shetland Fishing News, Lord Sewell blamed European rules for the hold-up. "Until the UK reaches the MAGP IV targets across the whole fishing effort, we’re not in a position to introduce any such funding programme unless it relates specifically to safety," he said. "We inherited a total mess with the overhang from the previous MAGP targets but have already made substantial progress. In the short term, however, we have no option until the targets are fully met."
Salmon Concern
Commenting on the contentious issue of Government compensation for salmon farmers who have suffered significant losses so far in the Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) outbreak, Lord Sewell could only say he was, "looking at the issue and discussing policy."
"We’ve never had a compensation scheme for fish disease in this country, however, we do recognise the scale of the problems created by the recent outbreaks," he said.
On a more positive note, the minister was upbeat about Shetland’s progress with the Shellfish Regulating Order, which is now at the draft stage. "I’m very supportive of the idea of a regulating order. Shetland is blazing a trail here with an extremely ambitious order which covers the whole shellfish industry. The extent and speed it moves at now will very much be determined by whether there are any objections to the draft once it’s published."
Commenting on his visit in general, he said, "It’s always worthwhile coming to Shetland — it’s one of the most progressive areas of the industry in Scotland."
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