Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, has welcomed the announcement that a joint ministerial group is to be set-up to take forward reforms on new quota and licensing arrangements for Scotland and the rest of the UK.

 “This latest development is welcome,” he said. “There were many helpful suggestions in the original proposals and this now clears the way for them to be put in place.

 “There has been a long-running wrangle over the management of quotas and TACs – the lifeblood of the industry – and rather than this issue becoming an unwelcome distraction when there are other vital issues on the fisheries agenda, this new development allows the UK and Scottish governments to work together.”

 

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For more information:

Bertie Armstrong, SFF chief executive: tel: 01224 646944.

Mobile: 0780 1626822.

Keith Broomfield: tel: 01383 823333.