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The fishing industry should be the fastest growing sector of the Scottish economy in the next decade. That is the ambition of new Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Elspeth Macdonald as she takes over from her predecessor Bertie Armstrong. Ms Macdonald is leading a team from across the industry at Westminster this week, lobbying ministers [...]
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation today welcomed the Prime Minister’s backing for a national fishing strategy. The SFF has long called for a new blueprint for the industry as the UK leaves the Common Fisheries Policy. Boris Johnson acceded to the suggestion of a coherent industry-wide approach to making the best of the opportunity that Brexit will present to grow [...]
Scottish fishermen’s leaders today called for both the UK and Scottish governments to appoint dedicated fisheries ministers to their cabinets. As Prime Minister Theresa May visited Scotland and the two candidates for Conservative Party leader prepared for their hustings here tomorrow, SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: “In these uncertain times, it is vitally important [...]
Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the SFF, said: "We fully support the Scottish Government's stance on Rockall - Irish vessels have no legal right to fish within 12 nautical miles. "The area is recognised in UK law as part of Scottish territorial waters and hosts multi-million pound haddock, monkfish and squid fisheries that are hugely important [...]
Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong will be standing down from the post later this year, it was announced today. Elspeth Macdonald, who is currently the deputy chief executive of Food Standards Scotland, will be his replacement. She will start at the SFF’s headquarters in Aberdeen in August, after handing over her current responsibilities. Mr [...]
New fisheries minister Robert Goodwill was left in no doubt about the feelings of those working in the industry today when he was told that whatever else happens, the UK must be out of the unfair Common Fisheries Policy by December 2020 at the latest. At a meeting held in the Churchill Room in Parliament, [...]
Scottish fishermen’s leaders have made a “heartfelt” appeal to MPs of all parties to recognise the huge benefits to the industry from exiting the Common Fisheries Policy as they decide how to move Brexit forward. In a letter to all 650 MPs, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation Bertie Armstrong highlighted that opinion polling carried out for the [...]
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation today described the outcome of the annual December Fisheries Council, which concluded in the early hours of the morning, as challenging but acceptable for the fishing fleet. Chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: "The talks have been difficult, as they always are, with the additional element this year of politics related to [...]
European Union countries will be guilty of vengeful behaviour if they pile pressure on UK fishermen as a result of Brexit at the annual December Council. Scottish fishermen’s leaders warn today that with a fisheries agreement to be negotiated as part of the final exit settlement, it is not in the interests of the EU-27 [...]
During the visit today to Peterhead Fish Market of Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell, Scottish Fishermen's Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: "The SFF welcomes the strengthening of the Fisheries Bill and the commitment of extra resources for the sector to aid the UK's transition to an independent coastal state and beyond. "Particularly pleasing is the [...]
