Letters / Fishing query
Magnie, having read your excellent contributions on the potential damage the fishing industry resulting from an independent Scotland re-joining the EU on fresh terms, I’ve put up your last letter (A fighting chance; SN, 08/09/14) as evidence for the No argument on blog debates and nobody has challenged your view until yesterday when a young chap called Toby Sandison asked the following question on the Shetland News editorial supporting a Yes vote (Shetland News says Yes to independence; SN, 16/09/14).
Here’s a copy of Toby’s comment:
“Toby Sandison (to) JohnTulloch • 21 hours ago
“Member States’ shares of the TAC were to be distributed “in a manner, which assures each Member State relative stability of fishing activities for each of the stocks considered.”
Under this principle of relative stability, which underpins the CFP to this day, Member States are allocated a fixed share of the Total Allowable Catch for a given fish stock, based on their fleet’s past record of fishing activity.
The Scottish fleet’s catch appears to be well documented – certainly since devolution if not before – so I am unclear on why our fishermen would not continue to receive their share of TAC through the principle of “relative stability”? It is certainly clear that the UK is not in a unique position in having an assigned national quota.
I initially read the letter here on ShetNews, which does not allow comments on submitted letters, or I would have asked these questions directly of Mr Stewart.”
Magnie, I think it’s important to bottom this one out and I’d appreciate it if you would reply to this, here, or preferably, as a reply comment to Toby on the article commentary, to allow further discussion, if necessary.
Many thanks.
John Tulloch
Lyndon
Arrochar
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
