The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation is warning that skippers face a difficult future Parts of the Scottish fishing fleet are on the brink of ruin, industry leaders have warned.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation said a large number of whitefish and prawn boats were “teetering on the brink of viability”.
The SFF is due to hold talks with European fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki in Aberdeen on Friday.
She is expected to be given a box of mackerel to highlight the ongoing Iceland and Faroes quota wrangle.
SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: “A key point we want to make to the commissioner is the huge effort that has been made by the Scottish fleet in ensuring sustainable harvesting.
“The EC must recognise and reward the considerable sacrifice made by our fishermen by easing the current punishing fishing restrictions.”
He warned: “A large number of whitefish and prawn boats are teetering on the brink of viability and many segments of the fleet simply will not survive if there is any further tightening of the screw.
“For fishermen to have faith in fisheries management they must be rewarded for their efforts.
“At the moment the fishing industry is enduring increasing restrictions year-after-year despite there being signs of fish stock recovery. The industry can only take so much and the point has now been reached for these restrictions to be eased.”
Iceland and the Faroe Islands earlier unilaterally declared large catch quotas for mackerel, which Scottish skippers claim could damage its sustainability.
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