EU-Norway Fish Talks Conclude

Negotiations have concluded on the 2012 bilateral deal between the EU and Norway with the deal, secured by a negotiating team that included senior Scottish representation, seeing an increase in a number of key Scottish stocks.

These include haddock and herring, and a continuation of its 'catch quota' scheme where fishermen have to land everything they catch, although Norway opposed any expansion of the this anti-discard measure.

Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Following a week of intense negotiations, we now have a deal in place for 2012 which sees a welcome rise in quotas for a number of key Scottish stocks.

"North Sea Herring quota - a stock that is MSC certified for Scottish landings - is set to more than double, while North Sea haddock and whiting quotas will also increase by 15%.

"It's critical that we stick to robust scientific advice when setting these quotas, which is the only way to support sustainable fisheries.

"Increases for these important stocks underlines why the baffling figures from the European Commission - with draconian measures that would see our vessels denied the time at sea to actually catch their quotas - must be resolved.

"I look forward to discussing this important matter further with Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki in Brussels on Monday (today).

"Despite Norway's opposition, we are pleased to have secured agreement to continue catch quotas in 2012. However, it's disappointing that they have blocked our efforts to further expand the scheme.

"As a result, many Scottish skippers will once again not be able to take part and we will be limited in our attempts to further reduce discards."

The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) agreement for the North Sea fishery reached at the EU-Norway negotiations in Bergen are:

• Whiting +15 per cent
• Herring +102.5 per cent
• Cod -1 per cent (however, an extra amount up to 12 per cent of the TAC is available for those vessels in the catch quota scheme)
• Haddock +15 per cent
• Saithe -15 per cent
• Mackerel TAC will be agreed following further talks later this month to seek an international agreement with the Faroe Islands and Iceland

Under catch quotas, vessels can land, rather than be forced to discard, an extra amount equal to 12 per cent of the TAC for cod. This is less than the amount fishermen are estimated to have discarded under the traditional quota system.

To ensure there are no discards, the fishing practices of participating vessels are fully documented through on-board cameras.

The 2011 catch quota scheme includes 23 vessels. However, this is less than half the number of skippers who applied to take part.

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