Scottish fishermen allowed to “bank” 2014 Russian mackerel quota
BBC News reports, 13th October 2014: “Fishermen affected by the Russian food export ban are to benefit from a change in EU law allowing them to bank a quarter of their mackerel quota. The EU Fisheries Council has agreed to permit the industry to bank 25% of the 2014 quota, up from the standard 10%, and roll it over for use in 2015.
Fish will be left in the sea instead of being caught and potentially going to waste
Photo: BBC News
The fish will be left in the sea instead of being caught and potentially going to waste. This will give the industry more time to foster trade deals with new markets. Moscow imposed an embargo on food imports from the EU and US in response to sanctions over Ukraine.
The ban has had the biggest impact on Scotland, where fishermen hold 70% of the UK mackerel quota. The Russian market accounted for 18% of UK mackerel exports last year, generating £16m.
Scotland’s Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead said: “I am delighted that Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki recommended an increase to allow some of this year’s quota for certain stocks to be banked and that council agreed to a 25% increase this evening. I had previously written to the commissioner asking for an increase to be considered and the additional amount will be a significant and welcome help to Scotland’s fishing industry as they seek to mitigate the impact of the Russian ban. And while we may not use all the extra banking, it makes sense to give our fishermen the flexibility to leave some of the fish in the sea for another year.”
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said: “This is a great example of the UK government working together with industry and major Scottish fishing communities such as those in the north east to help ensure fishing will be as much a part of Scotland’s future as it has been of our past.”
Russia is the biggest market by volume for Scottish herring and mackerel. Scottish exports of food and drink to Russia were worth £89m in 2010.
See also another relevant article on our website: EU fishermen may get “uplift” in their fishing quotas to compensate for loss of Russian market
Source: BBC News, 13th October 2014. For the full text see www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-29598844
