Protecting Scotland’s fishing fleet must be “top priority” in crunch talks affecting its future, an industry body said last night after a new row broke out over who should lead UK fisheries delegations to Brussels.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) said it would prefer to hear more about what was on the agenda for today’s European Union Agriculture/Fisheries Council meeting in Belgium, and also what it will mean for skippers.
Its comments came as a fresh controversy erupted over whether Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead should lead the UK team in the absence of his Westminster counterpart, currently George Eustice.
First Minister Alex Salmond was furious over the latest “snub” after it was confirmed that an unelected junior minister from the House of Lords, Lord de Mauley, was to head the UK team.
Mr Salmond, who criticised the decision in a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, said: “This encapsulates everything that is wrong with the UK Government’s attitude to both Scotland and Europe.
“David Cameron is breaking his personal assurance that where Scotland’s interests are at stake Scottish ministers can play a full part in EU meetings.
“This decision makes a mockery of the prime minister’s last-ditch attempts in the referendum to pretend that Scotland is an equal part of this family of nations.
“He is risking yet another farcical European outcome by sending a Lord with no knowledge of Scotland’s fisheries industry to negotiate on an important issue for Scotland, instead of allowing a cabinet Secretary with seven years of experience to take the lead.
“Richard Lochhead will be in Brussels tomorrow and the prime minister must see sense and allow him to lead these important fisheries talks.”
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The government takes its responsibility to act for all parts of the UK extremely seriously. Our ministers put our country’s interests first and foremost in all they do.
“We have consistently and successfully worked with the Scottish Government to argue for and to secure the best deals for our fishing industry.
“Their hand is strengthened by being part of the UK.”
SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: “We are fully supportive of the Scottish fishing minister taking the lead where appropriate, but equally we would like to see more noise being made about what is on the council agenda and how that affects Scottish fishing.
“Protecting the interests of our fleet must take top priority in the forthcoming negotiations on catching opportunity for 2015.”
Holyrood has longed argued that a Scottish minister should be allowed to lead some UK negotiations on fishing, because of this country’s dominant role in the industry.
Today’s talks are focused on deap-sea species and their protection.
UK Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss is also in Brussels for a meeting with the EU’s new fisheries commissioner, Karmenu Vella.