Knife must not fall on Scottish fishing fleet - McArthur

4.25.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 21st Apr 2009

Commenting ahead of the publication of European Commission plans to reform the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), Liberal Democrat Fisheries spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

“The Commission insists that cuts must be made to the size of the European fishing fleet. If so, the knife must not fall on Scottish boats.

"Having endured two painful rounds of decommissioning, most recently in 2003, the Scottish fleet cannot be expected to sacrifice yet more boats. It is time for other member states to step up to the plate and make their contribution.

“Richard Lochhead was a vocal opponent of the voluntary and funded decommissioning scheme in 2003. That scheme, however, has dealt the Cabinet Secretary a strong hand in resisting further cuts to the Scottish fleet.

“This is a message he must send loud and clear as these proposals for reform of the CFP are debated over the coming months.”