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Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE).
– Mr President, the purpose of the European Fisheries Fund should
be to implement the common fisheries policy, according to Mr Borg. In
Scotland, though, a more accurate description of the need would be to
compensate for the disastrous effects of the common fisheries policy on
our communities and it is a worry that the total fund projected is about
the same for 25 as we have had for 15 Member States.
I support most of the amendments from the Committee on
Fisheries of this Parliament, with the exception of vessel construction.
In particular I support changing the presumption from fleet reduction to
adaptation, so that account can be taken of individual circumstances in
areas. I support highlighting the importance of aquaculture, priority for
small-scale inshore fisheries and the compensation proposed for enforced
tie-up. I welcome the fact that the Commission considers fisheries
important enough for its Fisheries Commissioner to be here for this
debate. It is a pity that the Presidency did not do likewise, but then
that is all too typical of UK governments and how they see fisheries,
particularly in Scotland. |
