WWF Scotland Scotland's 'More Fish' Message to Brussels

A giant fish representing the thousands of people who have signed the WWF Scotland 'More Fish' petition was sent from Holyrood to Brussels last week as the European Parliament continues to debate reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

WWF Scotland’s campaign fish was "posted" outside the Scottish Parliament by Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead MSP, award-winning chef Tom Kitchin, Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) and Dr Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland.

Since the More Fish campaign was launched in Scotland by Tom Kitchin in August, well over 5000 people have signed the petition in a series of roadshows across the country.

The petition to the President of the European Parliament calls upon the EU to commit to transforming Europe’s fisheries management in a way that allows fish stocks to recover and secures a brighter future for fishermen, fishing communities and marine wildlife.

Over the coming months, Ministers and MEPs across Europe will have the chance to shape the reform of the European Common Fisheries Policy and WWF will be calling on them to ensure an ambitious and conservation-minded reform.

Richard Lochhead said: "We must use the best possible scientific advice to conserve our fishing stocks and allow the most vulnerable species to recover.

"We must also end the scandal of discards, where dead fish are dumped at sea because a fisherman has reached his quota.

"It is vital that fishing policy at all levels, especially in Europe, delivers what Scotland’s fishermen need while also conserving stocks – the aim of WWF’s campaign.

"Only by doing this can we ensure that future generations can continue to reap the benefits of our rich marine life."

Tom Kitchin said: "We are lucky enough to have one of the most outstanding natural larders in the world so it is incredibly important to make sure the ingredients we are using are sustainable.

"I am personally fanatical about cooking with nothing but the finest, locally sourced seasonal produce so for me, it is essential to make sure we support our suppliers and protect our fish stocks for future generations."

The SFF's Bertie Armstrong said: "This is all about sustainable production of healthy food and we should be encouraged by the real progress in the last 10 years – European stocks that are fished sustainably have increased from about 1 per cent at the time of the last CFP reform to over 40 per cent now.

"The Scottish industry has innovated, developed, and made some very real sacrifices in the course of this journey and we cannot let the once per decade reform pass without similar gain.

"Above all, we need Europe-wide improvement in the fisheries science which underpins all management decisions and we must have delegated regional control – not centralised micro-management from Brussels. We know what must be done – let us get on with it."

Dr Richard Dixon of WWF Scotland said: "From Aberdeen to Edinburgh, people around Scotland want a healthy future for our seas and for our coastal communities.

"Well over 5000 members of the public are sending a clear message that they want Europe to make the tough decisions needed to create a European fisheries policy that actually works.

"Fishing is vitally important around Scotland’s coast, so it is imperative that the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy improves the health of Scottish seas and fish stocks and guarantees a long-term future for the communities that depend on them."

All six of Scotland’s MEPs have also signed the More Fish campaign petition.

More fishing industry news.