Official Report 282KB pdf
The next item on the agenda is consideration of the Agenda 2000 consultation paper on EC structural assistance in the fisheries sector. Our timetable requires us to deal with it today. I have read through the document; I assume that all members have done so, too. We will take the document heading by heading and invite comments as we go through it.
Do we have to deal with this matter today and never again?
Our comments must be passed on today.
The document is being considered by the Fisheries Council in October and comments from the Scottish Parliament must be fed into the process through Westminster. Effectively, today is the last opportunity for the committee to comment on it.
This is definitely the last opportunity?
Yes.
In recent years, European funding has been extremely important to fishing communities.
Could you adjust the microphone a bit? The sound system in this room is not all that it might be, I fear.
I am sure that everyone on the committee is aware that in recent years European funding has been vital for our fishing communities. PESCA funding, for example, has initiated many good things in the industry. Local authorities and fishing organisations around the country have made submissions on the issue, because they want many of the effective initiatives to continue, albeit in a different form, so as to maintain momentum and continuity.
Is it fair to say that at the moment it would not be constructive to go through the document on a point-by-point basis?
Yes, because it is a draft regulation, not a final regulation.
Having suggested that we go through the articles, I am keen that we take this opportunity to comment on them. Does anyone have comments on a specific article in the document?
In article 15 there is a great deal of emphasis on local management of fisheries. That is important, in terms of both conservation and local input. I am referring to page 46.
Are there any other comments on article 15?
Yes.
For the benefit of John Munro, I repeat that today we have an opportunity to comment on this document. Given the time scale and the way in which information will be fed forward, this may be the last opportunity that we have to do that. I am, therefore, keen to ensure that anyone who wants to comment on the articles is able to do so.
It is imperative that most of the measures that are before us form part of the new structural assistance. I know that the industry will support the continuance of those measures in the new programme, especially measures such as fleet renewal and modernisation, from which—unfortunately—our industry has not been able to benefit. The issue is not so much the content of the measures, but how they will be implemented. However, the committee should support the inclusion of all the measures in the new programme.
I have read the document and there is nothing in it that I object to.
It is of value to us that the European Committee has examined this and made comments, which run along the lines that the structures for delivering support are appropriate. As Rhoda mentioned, regional management of fisheries and the renewal of the fleet must be done in a particular way. As far as it is possible to judge on a quick look, the regulations point in the right direction.
Will we note that the committee is generally content with this document?
Yes, but it would be useful to see a synopsis of the submissions received from local authorities and other organisations.
We can ask the Scottish Executive rural affairs department to give us a summary of the responses received during the consultation.
It might also be useful to consider the process of how the consultation was carried out. The European Committee considered this before the recess. It might have been helpful for members of this committee to have received a little more advance notice that this was coming up for discussion today.
Does anything prevent us from making recommendations to the rural affairs department once we have seen the synopsis?
Nothing would stop this committee from commenting on any aspect of this matter at any time. This is an opportunity to feed into this consultation process.
In article 16.1A—
I cannot hear what Mr Munro is saying.
We will have to shout.
Is the microphone not working?
Pull it closer.
Article 16.1A refers to the cessation of fisheries caused by biological factors. That seems relevant to the ban on scallop fishing in the Minch, but it is not effective until 2000. That fishery has been suspended for the past three months.
We will examine scallop fisheries at our next meeting, on 21 September.
No.