SCOTLAND’S FISHERMEN were last night at the centre of a public row between Holyrood and Westminster.

London ministers accused Richard Lochhead, the SNP fisheries secretary, of playing politics by announcing new proposals for fishing quotas.

UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw suggested the proposals might not be legal and would bring “risk and uncertainty” to fishermen.

And Europe Minister Jim Murphy accused the Scottish Government of trying to “pick and choose” the bits of devolution that it favoured.

The criticism came after Mr Lochhead published proposals for a review of the way fish quotas are managed.

In an introduction to the document, Mr Lochhead said, “The Scottish Government is seeking to withdraw from the CFP (Common Fisheries Policy)

“We are seeking to return greater responsibility for fisheries management to Scotland, for example through our conservation credits scheme and through this consultation.”

His proposals infuriated London, both on the content and in the general approach.

Mr Shaw on Tuesday fired off any angry letter to Edinburgh, complaining that Mr Lochhead had deliberately given Westminster only two days’ notice of complex proposals.

Mr Shaw asked for publication to be delayed so he and other UK administrations could fully consider them.

And he told Mr Lochhead, “The suggestions that Scottish ministers are seeking to withdraw from the Common Fisheries Policy is misleading and impossible for you to deliver.

“All European member states are party to the CFP and as an integral part of the United Kingdom, Scotland is also party to it.

“Given your position on European matters I find it hard to understand how you can seriously present this position to members of the fishing community,” he said.

After the proposals were published yesterday, Mr Shaw accused the Scottish administration of “unilateral action which tears up long-standing arrangements” for managing fishing licences and quotas.

He continued, “We also question whether this would stand up to legal scrutiny. It creates additional risk and uncertainty for fishermen already under pressure.”

He said DEFRA had no similar plans for England.

Europe Minister Jim Murphy said, “This is yet another example of the Scottish Executive trying to pick and choose the elements of the devolved settlement it adheres to according to political expediency rather than fact.

“The UK is the member state in Europe and Scotland’s voice is more than adequately represented by the government.”

He added, “The Scottish Executive talk about an independent Scotland within Europe—and yet they want to leave the Common Fisheries Policy.

“All member states are members of CFP. It’s time they were honest with the people of Scotland—their policies just don’t add up.”

A Scottish Government spokesman responded, “The proposals we are publishing will safeguard Scotland’s traditional fishing rights for future generations.

“They will also provide additional benefits for fishermen and fishing businesses. That is why our consultation is being welcomed warmly by many fishermen and others involved in this vital sector.

“Claims that we are creating uncertainty among fishermen are tantamount to scaremongering.

“We do not want to go down the road of individual transferable quotas that was mooted in the Downing Street report Net Benefits, which effectively amounts to the privatisation of fishing rights.

“The measures we are outlining will safeguard one of our national assets—our fish quota—for the long term benefit of our fishing communities.

“Our proposals will be consulted upon and I look forward to having a meaningful dialogue with those who care about the future of the fishing industry.”

Mr Lochhead launched his proposals at Pittenweem, the home of Fife’s fishing fleet, writes Gordon Berry.

He was joined by leaders from the national and local industry as he outlined a comprehensive period of consultation called Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future Of Quota Management And Licensing In Scotland.

Although he had come to Pittenweem for the specific purpose of launching the national review, the minister found himself facing a harbour uncommonly full of tied up boats tended by skippers and crews carrying out maintenance work.

At every turn he was questioned about the meteoric rise in the price of fuel, and was told by one skipper that the bill for filling up his 10-metre prawn boat has recently doubled from £1500 to around £3000.

The stark message from that skipper, Andrew Tod of the St Adrian 11, was that if the minister returned to Pittenweem at this time next year he might find no boats left fishing.

Many skippers, faced with a traditionally poor period for catching prawns in local waters, are finding it uneconomic to put to sea locally, far less undertake the long and costly journey to the west coast.

In relation to the direct purpose of his visit, Mr Lochhead said that the proposals now going out to consultation would give the Scottish Government greater control of fish quota while putting fishermen at the heart of management and strengthening coastal communities for generations to come.

The key recommendations include:

Safeguarding Scotland’s traditional fishing rights for now and the future by keeping them in Scotland.

Making sure Scottish fishermen get their fair share of quota providing stability and security so that businesses can plan for the future.

Making sure fishing quotas are only held by businesses who fish them.

Encouraging new blood into the industry by seeking to develop a new entrants scheme that will allow new fishermen to access quota.

Reforming licensing to make it simpler and user-friendly so reducing business costs.

The minister said that fishing provides the life- blood of many of Scotland’s communities and sustains tens of thousands of jobs.

“It is vital that we take steps to safeguard the historic rights for future generations. This review will help achieve that. The arrangements governing fishing rights are crucial as they provide access to our rich fishing grounds.

“That is why the proposals I have outlined today set out an ambitious new path for Scotland which will allow arrangements to be tailored to Scottish needs.

“The proposals show our commitment to a shared approach in fisheries management. And importantly, they will hopefully encourage new blood into the industry.

“They will also mean that any prospect of individual transferable quotas (ITQs) being introduced is dead in the water. ITQs are effectively the privatisation of fishing rights which we do not support. I have no doubt we have the support of Scotland’s fishing communities in taking this action.”

Attending the announcement in Pittenweem was Bertie Armstrong, the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation.

He said that quota is “the blood in the veins of the fishing industry,” so any changes to its management will get our full attention.

“We don’t know all the details yet—we will have to read the paper launched today—but over the 12 weeks of the consultation we will look most carefully at two main issues.

“Firstly what changes are to be made to distribution of quota—given that the quota ‘cake’ is a set size, any change will unavoidably have winners and losers; secondly will the new system continue to meet the requirements of the industry to freely and flexibly access quota?”

Jimmy Buchan, star of BBC’s trawlermen series and owner of the Amity, was not at the launch but said afterwards, “We welcome this important step by the Scottish Government as it will help reduce the loss of quota to active fishermen and hence the communities in which they live.”