Fishing industry sends message to Cameron over discards

David Cameron takes a trip onboard the Radiant Star.
David Cameron takes a trip onboard the Radiant Star.

Fishing industry representatives left Prime Minister David Cameron in no doubt about the need to tackle the European Commision over the discards ban.

The Prime Minister went to sea on board the Radiant Star on Wednesday on a short trip south from Lerwick and back.

The industry took the opportunity to highlight the lack of progress in finding a way to introduce the landings obligation without jeopardising the future of the local fleet.

Shetland Fisherman’s Association executive officer Simon Collins said: “We were very clear that the means must be found to overcome this blockage, which stands in the way of a very bright future for the industry here.

“The Prime Minister gets it. He clearly understands the limitations of top-heavy management from Brussels, with remote bureaucrats and MEPs trying to stuff unworkable regulations down our throats. We emphasised that there is nothing wrong with taking a second look at rules that don’t do the job they’re supposed to do.”

Mr Collins added: “We were also able to point to the dramatic recoveries in the key fish stocks around Shetland and demonstrate just how much of the UK’s fish are caught in our waters.”

As well as Mr Collins, Mr Cameron was accompanied by skipper Victor Laurenson, chairman of the Shetland Fish Producers’ Organisation; SFA chairman Leslie Tait; chairman of the SFA’s pelagic committee David Hutchison and chief executive of LHD Richie Simpson.

COMMENTS(9)

Add Your Comment
  • Matthew Whyte

    • July 24th, 2014 15:56

    cameron is english and only cares for the english vote when was the last time an english pm visited the shetlands or Scotland??

    REPLY
    • Ali Inkster

      • July 24th, 2014 16:47

      And if you gave a toss you would know that it is “Shetland” or “Shetland Isles” not “the shetlands”
      BETTER AF CLEAR O DA LOT O DEM

      REPLY
      • George Kippets

        • July 25th, 2014 14:04

        Seriously, where do people get this idea that saying & writing “the Shetlands” is wrong?

      • Ali Inkster

        • July 25th, 2014 16:38

        Fae da sem place dat we get da idea dat it wid be wrang to say or write the englands or the scotlands.

      • Shuard Manson

        • July 26th, 2014 0:26

        Now Mr Kipsy, Do you call them the Londons, The Northumberlands, the Sussexes, The Westerns?

      • Shuard Manson

        • July 26th, 2014 0:59

        Now Kipsy. Does du caa dem da Londons, Da Surreys, Da Westerns and da Sussexes? Perhaps if you want to stay onside you should call it as the Shetlanders do? Or should we kow-tow ta dee?
        I hope not.

    • Robert Duncan

      • July 24th, 2014 16:52

      Yesterday.

      Before that it was Margaret Thatcher, and in the interim period their was only one “English PM” in office. The other two before Cameron were Scottish.

      REPLY
    • Geoff Caruth

      • July 25th, 2014 12:03

      With respect-CAMERON is English? He is at least half Scots-his Father, Grandfather,Great Grandfather etc . were all born in Scotland.

      REPLY
  • joe johnson

    • July 25th, 2014 23:00

    What about Tony Blair and Gordon Brown? Tony Blair ( who was born in Edinburgh ) is half Scottish and Gordon Brown is Scottish and did they visit Shetland when they were prime ministers. No!

    REPLY

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