Key high value fish stock increase

Monkfish, megrim and West of Scotland langoustine stocks are increasing, according to new scientific assessments published today.

The increased quotas for these high value stocks that are of vital importance to our fishing communities could potentially provide an additional £11 million to the Scottish fleet.

Annual scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) – an international network of marine and fisheries scientists – helps to inform the fisheries negotiations to decide how much quota our fishermen will receive in the coming year.

Responding to ICES advice, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, said:

“It is encouraging that increases have been advised for our key stocks of monkfish, megrim and West of Scotland langoustine, which could provide an additional £11 million to the Scottish fleet. This latest advice shows that we are moving in the right direction.

“The publication of this advice is the start of the annual process to determine what next year’s quotas will be and there is still much work to be done until we reach a final agreement.

“This advice will help to shape the priorities we will take into the autumn’s talks to secure the best possible deal for Scottish fishermen and our transition towards a whitefish discard ban, which is being phased in from 1 January 2016.”

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