Scots MEP Attwooll on Royal Commission Marine Report

12.28.06pm GMT Tue 7th Dec 2004

Commenting on the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's report on the marine environment Scottish Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament, Elspeth Attwooll, said:

"There are clearly arguments for restricting access to some areas for fishing, at least for certain periods, in order to protect spawning stock. But this should not take place across vast tracts of sea where stocks of particular species are abundant, such as North Sea haddock."

Instead, we must find ways of protecting other, more fragile, species in those areas of sea. Amongst other things, I believe we should be considering the introduction of a system where all fish caught are landed. This would improve the science and so our understanding of where closures are required."

"A new regulatory framework within which sensitive areas of the marine environment could be identified is clearly needed. My own work on the protection of coral reefs off the North west coast of Scotland is an excellent example of work at the European Union level on this but a more integrated approach, perhaps with a Marine Act as proposed by the Royal Commission, would be extremely welcome."