Campaign cast to promote fish conservation

SCOTLAND'S fishing industry received a welcome boost yesterday as the government announced plans for a major campaign to promote the conservation credentials of the white fish, pelagic and shellfish fleets.

A new fisheries outreach project has been established to encourage as many fishermen as possible to gain recognition for their sustainable fishing practices through certification by the Marine Stewardship Council.

More than half of all Scotland's fisheries are already MSC-certified or in the process of being assessed.

Announcing the £200,000 initiative in South Queensferry, environment secretary Richard Lochhead said: "The future health and viability of our fisheries is dependent on our stocks being harvested in a responsible manner. I am extremely proud of Scotland's conservation credentials."

Bertie Armstrong, the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said: "This is welcome news for the Scottish fishing industry. The catching sector is committed to sustainability and has made a great start on certification to prove it.

"Today's announcement creates the right encouragement for different sectors of the fishing industry to achieve independent certification through the Marine Stewardship Council scheme."