Greens Say We Must Have 'Fish for Tomorrow'
Wed., October 30, 2002. 00:00.
The Scottish Green Party have called the rejection by Fisheries Minister Ross Finnie of advice from European Union scientists, that fishing for cod should be banned to save stocks from collapse, as 'utterly irresponsible'. The Greens say scientific advice had to be followed but that government must support fishing communities whilst stocks are given time to recover. They said the total collapse of the fishery, as happened in Canada, must not be allowed to happen.
Green MSP Robin Harper, who questioned the Minister on the issue in Parliament this afternoon, said:
'I'm not at all satisfied with the Minister's apparent rejection of at least some sort of a ban. We cannot afford to simply ignore the scientific advice. What is a risk here is a total and permanent collapse of our fishing industry as happened in Canada.
'The choice seems to be straightforward. Allow fishing to continue at current levels for perhaps a few years and then have nothing left to fish, or severely limit fishing for a few years and then have a healthy fishing industry for the future.
'However government must protect fishing communities and government should be prepared to dig deep. They must literally buy time for the fish to recover.
'It is politically difficult for Ministers, but we need responsible leadership from them now. They must be prepared to weather short term unpopularity for the sake of the long-term future of fishing communities. Or are they going to sit back and watch the industry collapse?
'The reason fisheries are in such a mess now is that every year Ministers have failed to take scientific advice but have allowed catches to exceed the scientific recommendations by 30% on average. If we don't heed the scientific advice now there may be no fishing industry in future, because there will simply be no fish left.
'Experience in Canada has shown that if cod stocks are allowed to collapse they simply will not recover, leading to the permanent loss of thousands of jobs and the decimation of areas economically dependent on fishing.
'The minister must consider the long-term perspective for the Scottish fishing industry, and if a ban on cod fishing is required to save the industry, then this must be implemented. Politics must be removed from the management of our fish stocks, but also, if difficult decisions are to be made, logistical and financial support must be put in place to ensure a Scottish fishing industry remains to take advantage of recovered fish stocks.'
CONTACT
Robin Harper MSP 0131 348 5927 or 07957 337 176 Steve Burgess 0131 348 5955 or 07887 682 574
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Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.