Industry Leaders head to Brussels for EU-Norway Negotiations

FISHERMEN’S leaders are in Brussels this week  for the first round  of the annual EU/Norway talks which set catch shares for  key stocks shared  between the Community and Norway.

And Scotland’s leading fishermen’s grouping said today  that they are “keen” to see  further development of the catch quota scheme.

But Scottish White Fish  Producers’ Association chief executive Mike Park  underlined that its development is wholly dependent on Norway agreeing to set aside an additional  tonnage of cod over and above the total allowable catch (TAC) that is set.

 Mr Park  the chief executive of the  Association  (SWFPA) has already  headed for Brussels for the first round which begins today and is scheduled to end  in four days time.

White fish association chairman David Milne will join him later this week  when his vessel docks.

 Mr Park underlined today that the  annual EU/ Norway wrangle  is always a “very fraught” affair.“It resembles three dimensional  chess,” he added.

Norway are joint managers with the EU of major  North Sea stocks such as cod, haddock and whiting And the talks kicking off today are the first of a two-round sequence of meetings that determine not only the opportunities in the North Sea for EU vessels but beyond in areas such North Norway and Greenland.

Mike Park added today : “We are fortunate that this year that ICES have signalled an increase in many of our major commercial stocks although the sector is still perplexed at the proposal of a 1% reduction in North Sea cod when the stock seems to be so abundant.”

And  the Norway talks were undoubtedly  complex discussions where nothing is agreed until it’s all agreed, he said.

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