Ban lifted on fishing quotas

A BAN on the overseas trading of skate and ray quotas has been lifted by the UK government, to help the Scottish industry manage its fishing activity.

The industry had been lobbying for the change to permit it to trade quotas with Belgium to allow increased catching of monkfish.

The decision comes after a meeting of the Marine Management Organisation last week, and it is based on the uptake of the ray and skate quotas being lower this year than last. Up to 25 tonnes of skate and ray can now be traded internationally. The position will be reviewed later in the year.

‘The Scottish fishing industry has been pressing for this change,’ Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell said. ‘This is good news for the Scottish fishing industry, and I am really pleased that the UK government has been able to push this forward.’

Fisheries, aquaculture and fish processing contribute £1.63 billion to the UK economy and employ 34,600 people across the UK.