Fishermen have welcomed widespread quota increases next year, which the industry says reflects the health of the seas around the isles. James AndersonWhitefish skipper James Anderson, of the Alison Kay, and chairman of the Shetland Fishermen’s Association, said quota increases across all of these fish stocks was a statement of confidence in the condition of Scotland’s seas. “This traps them in a cycle of precautionary quota cuts that do not necessarily reflect the true state of the stock. “Mairi Gougeon – the Scottish rural affairs secretary – recently made a welcome commitment to tackling this data deficient status. We will continue to argue that the true economic and social potential of these fish stocks can only be reached if fishing crews are allowed to continue catching them efficiently and without undue obstruction.

Source: The Times December 09, 2023 04:19 UTC