Efforts to ensure Scotland’s fishermen are suitably rewarded for adopting conservation measures step up a gear today.

Fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead is in Aalborg to address the Danfish International Conference. He ll also hold key talks with ministerial counterparts from Denmark, Germany and the UK.

Scotland has been working very closely with Denmark, Germany and the UK to explore what additional benefits can be delivered for fleets and the environment by expanding the use of CCTV.

Mr Lochhead is now seeking additional catch quota opportunities for vessels using CCTV next year. Developing more intuitive means of counting effort as actual fishing time, not just time away from port, is also a priority. This is potentially a major step in raising awareness of the benefits of CCTV as a management tool.

A Scottish CCTV pilot launched in August involving seven vessels is already producing hugely impressive results. This type of initiative rewards management measures, while at the same time cutting discards.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Mr Lochhead said: ‘I am determined to help find a way forward that will see our fishermen not only survive the current storm caused by economic pressures and European restrictions, but emerge even stronger.

‘We cannot afford to ignore problems such as discards and wait until 2013 for the broken Common Fisheries Policy to be overhauled. Decisive action is needed now to help secure a more sustainable and profitable future. We will do whatever it takes to ensure our fishermen are rewarded with catch quotas and effort that is actual fishing time, not simply time spent at sea.

‘Our fishermen are already international leaders on conservation issues. And by working with the industry and other nations I believe that we can make discards history. Allowing fishermen to catch for the market will help both the industry and the environment.

‘Scotland and Denmark share an appetite for change and it’s clear that CCTV has the potential to be an extremely powerful tool. It can deliver the confidence and evidence to managers and consumers alike that our fishermen are responsible and are not actively wasting valuable resources.

‘The initial results of our trial are very promising. We hope that the Danish and Scottish experience of CCTV will provide enough justification to allow a trial of a catch quota system next year.

‘I am calling on the Commission to keep an open mind and allow us to demonstrate innovative fisheries management. In return we will provide robust evidence to support our push to retain more control and flexibility in managing our fisheries.

”Scotland has already designed and implemented measures to improve fisheries management, and I am proud to see them at the forefront of developing new thinking for the future. New tools, new ways of working, and new attitudes are required if Scotland is to continue to set the pace in Europe.’