‘Strong result’ for fishermen revealed after negotiations

Fishing quota talks have produced a “strong result” for Scotland’s fishermen, the Rural Economy secretary has said, as a new deal was struck in Brussels which will allow the fleet to catch more of several key stock, including cod and haddock.

Fergus Ewing, pictured, said the European December Council meeting

– which sets quota levels for the fishing industry across the European Union – had involved “challenging negotiations”.

But he said: “We have secured a strong result for Scotland’s fishermen, with deals worth more than £440 million to the industry and crucial increases for many of our key species.”

UK fisheries minister George Eustice said the deal would allow for The Scottish Government has been challenged to set a national licensing policy for alcohol, as part of efforts to cut the availability of drink.

Campaigners at Alcohol Focus Scotland said the potential of the licensing system – where boards grant permission for the sale of alcohol – to help tackle the drink problem has “yet to be fully realised”.

Figures for 2016-17 showed that across Scotland 16,678 licenses to sell alcohol were in a 10% increase in cod catch in the North Sea, as well as a 23% increase in haddock and a 20% increase in monkfish.

Meanwhile, the amount of whiting fishermen are allowed to land will rise by 38% and there is a 22% increase in the allowance for North Sea lobster.

Mr Eustice said: “The UK has long championed sustainable fishing and that is starting to yield results in some areas with a recovery in key stocks and increased quota as a result.”

Potential ‘yet to be realised’

force, up from 16,338 in 2011-2012.

Since then an average of 95% of alcohol licensing applications a year have been granted by local boards.

Eight years on from the implementation of the last licensing reforms, Alcohol Focus Scotland reviewed the system.

The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 contained provisions aimed at protecting the public from the potentially harmful effects of alcohol.