An agreement to raise catch quotas for some breeds of white fish ahead of the discard ban has been welcomed by Scottish fishermen although “challenges remain” for the sector.
Under the new EU-Norway agreement struck late last week, the haddock quota will increase by 30% and North Sea cod will rise by 15%.
Haddock will also receive an additional uplift of 17.3% to enable the fleet to cope with the management of the discard ban, also called the Landing Obligation, which takes effect 1 January 2016.
Despite facing the prospect of a cut, the North Sea whiting quota remains unchanged while saithe drops slightly. For the pelagic sector, North Sea herring catches will increase by 16%.
Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, said: “This agreement reflects the healthy nature of our stocks and will bring some welcome relief to our hardworking fishermen who are committed to a sustainable future.
“Challenges remain, and while the quota uplift for haddock and other stocks to cope with the discard ban will be welcomed, only time and a great deal of effort from fisheries managers, the Scottish fleet and the supply chain as whole will help ensure the discard ban scheme works when it is phased in from 1 January 2016.”
The conclusion of EU-Norway negotiations sets the scene for the completion of the final decision-making on all fish quotas for 2016, which will take place at the European Fish Council meeting in Brussels commencing on 14 December.