Local Fisheries management given boost by Euro-MPs

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 1st Apr 2004

Members of the European Parliament today voted to give fishermen and other groups with an interest in fisheries in the seas concerned a greater voice in advising on Common Fisheries Policy management measures through the establishment of Regional Advisory Councils.

Scottish Lib Dem MEP, Elspeth Attwooll, welcomed the result:

"I was particularly pleased that my own amendment stating that the new Regional Advisory Councils should be given a significant management role once their effectiveness has been established was adopted. This reflects the recommendations given by both the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Number Ten's Strategy Unit in the last few weeks.

Important too is the Parliament's proposal that the Community financial contribution towards the setting-up and initial operating costs of the Councils be a maximum of £330,000 in the first year rather than the £70,000 suggested by the Commission."

She concluded:

"It is now up to the Fisheries Ministers to take a rapid decision so that the new North Sea Fisheries Advisory Council can get up and running at this crucial time for the Scottish fishing industry."