Scotland’s largest fish producer organisation has accused the Scottish Government of delivering a “direct attack” on the country’s pelagic fleet, following the decision to raise the proportion of mackerel and herring landings required in Scottish ports from 55% to 70% next year.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Organisation (SFO) warned that the sharp, unplanned increase to the Economic Link policy – introduced alongside significant quota cuts – will heap financial pressure on family-owned vessels while unfairly benefiting Scottish processors.
Fish producers warn of threat to fleet from dramatic hike in Scotland-only pelagic landing target
Scotland’s largest fish producer organisation has accused the Scottish Government of mounting a direct attack on the country’s pelagic fleet by increasing the proportion of mackerel and herring that must be landed in Scottish ports next year from 55% to 70%.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Organisation (SFO) said such a significant and unplanned increase in the so-called Economic Link in response to cuts in the amount of these species the country’s pelagic vessels can catch – the total allowable catch (TAC) – in 2026, would place an unfair burden on the catching sector while absolving the much more adaptable processing sector of any impact.
SFO chief executive John Anderson said: “We are astonished that the Scottish Government has deemed it appropriate to make another divisive intervention within the Scottish pelagic sector that will effectively increase the level of subsidy gifted to already heavily subsidised Scottish pelagic processors, to the cost and detriment of the majority of the independent family owned Scottish pelagic fishing fleet.
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“Now, not only will the mackerel quota halve in January, the earnings potential of more than two thirds of what can be caught and landed is at risk of being further constrained by Scottish processors who have already demonstrated an unwillingness to compete for raw material on the international marketplace.
“We consider this latest intervention to be not only irrational but an abuse of power – it was never the intention for the domestic landings target to be adjusted in response to annual fluctuations in quotas. It appears the Scottish Government have gone well beyond their remit with this unjust and highly dubious decision.”
SFO vice-chairman George West added: “This is a knee-jerk reaction by the Scottish Government to the mackerel and herring TAC cuts that will have serious consequences for the pelagic catching sector. Governments have considerable power, but with that power comes responsibility, and responsible governance requires rational policy, measured action and a presumption against market intervention. Instead of that, we are subject to an ill-conceived decision that will result in the smaller pelagic operators effectively subsidising the larger, vertically integrated pelagic interests within the sector – it makes no sense whatsoever and will cause lasting damage to the majority of the fleet”
