WIREDGOV

Following a meeting in Brussels today to discuss the measures that could be taken to deal with fish discards, chaired by EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki, Scotland's Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

"I'm pleased that Commissioner Damanaki has indicated that she understands the complexities that need considered when looking to substantially reduce discards and that a phased and gradual approach is needed.

"We need to fix the EU's broken fisheries policy because discards are a chronic waste of food and economic resource. Scotland has led Europe in seeking ways to reduce discards therefore our fishermen need to be at the heart of finding the solutions. Since 2008 discards by Scottish whitefish vessels in the North Sea have fallen by half - the greatest reduction achieved in the EU.

"It is deeply regrettable that Scotland were not represented at today's meeting, because our experiences have demonstrated what can be achieved when Government and industry work together, with sustainable fishing practices incentivised."

Despite having the EU's largest whitefish fleet, Scotland's request to attend the meeting was declined. Representation was limited to one per member state and UK Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon attended.

In 2009, Scottish vessels were forced by the Common Fisheries Policy to discard around a quarter of the whitefish catch, valued at £33 million.