MACNEIL WELCOMES BRUSSELS BREAKTHROUGH.

MACNEIL WELCOMES BRUSSELS BREAKTHROUGH.

SNP Westminster Fisheries spokesperson and MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Angus MacNeil, has welcomed today’s breakthrough by the Scottish Government to head off proposals by the European Commission which would have been “catastrophic” for west coast fisheries communities.

The plan, intended to preserve whitefish stocks, would have effectively closed down west coast fisheries, including the prawn sector – Scotland’s biggest and most valuable stock worth £45m to west coast fishing communities and £100m across Scotland as a whole.

Emerging from lengthy negotiations, Fisheries Minister, Richard Lochhead, revealed that the Scottish Government had successfully argued for more sophisticated measures which will protect fragile whitefish stocks while permitting prawn fishing in Scotland.

Mr MacNeil said:

“Closure of the west coast for fisheries would have been catastrophic for the communities it supports and a body blow to the broader economy at an already fragile time. A blanket ban was never the answer, and I am relieved that Richard Lochhead and his team of Scottish Government officials managed to pull this back from the brink.

“The Scottish Government recognised the impact a blanket ban would have and led the way on sensible and reasonable measures to actively support Scotland’s vital fishing industry. In recent weeks, we have seen major mackerel and cod quota increases as well as an end to the disgraceful practice of discards.

“The entire industry has been holding is breath, and I am just relieved that the Scottish Government stood their ground and refused to accept potentially catastrophic proposals from Brussels.”