Scots fishermen to get increased quotas in latest EU deal

Fish - PA

A new agreement thrashed out in Brussels for fishing quotas in the North Sea has awarded Scots fisherman increased quotas.

Quotas for sixteen out of 23 key species of fish in Scottish waters have been increased.

Cod and whiting will also now come under what is known as the ‘discard ban’, meaning vessels will be required to land the fish even if they have gone over their quota.

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Scottish and UK Governments welcomed the deal.

Scottish Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing said the talks had also secured extra flexibility around where vessels are able to fish.

This will remove current constraints around fishing for northern shelf haddock, and provide more choice over fishing grounds, resulting in reduced costs for vessels.

“I’m delighted that our long-standing calls to give vessels greater flexibility around where they can fish, have been answered, and from 2017 our fleet will be able to make use of this new provision,” he said.

“In these uncertain times I’m pleased that issues around Brexit did not compromise our negotiating position. We worked constructively to put people’s livelihoods first, and founding on the scientific advice, helped secure a good deal that can be well received by Scots fishermen.”

UK fisheries minister George Eustace said the agreement would allow for sustainable fishing.

"To deliver a profitable fishing industry, we must fish sustainably now and in the future. This year we were able to agree further increases in quotas on some valuable species as stocks have recovered, especially in the North Sea,” he said.

"As we prepare to leave the European Union we have an opportunity to build on progress made and improve the management of fish stocks in our waters, but we will continue to follow the principles of fishing sustainably and ending the wasteful practice of discarding fish."