An extension of Scotland's hugely successful Real Time Closures (RTC) programme has been announced by Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead.

The Scottish Fishermen's Federation will underline its environmental credentials with the launch of an environmental policy statement at its annual dinner in Edinburgh tomorrow.

ICELAND, the main supplier of fish and seafood to most of Britain's fish markets and processing factories, spent the weekend attempting to fight off the threat of economic meltdown.

A Scottish MEP will tell a conference on marine conservation today that it was an obscenity that an estimated 7.3 million tonnes of fish globally are dumped, dead, into the sea every year.

Scottish fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead revealed today that he had constructive talks with the Norwegian state secretary Vidar Ulriksen at the Scottish Parliament today.

GLITNIR, Europe's leading specialist seafood bank has been partially nationalised by the Icelandic Government as it became the latest victim of the credit crunch.

Brussels, 29th September 2008 -- British Ministers must use today's EU fisheries council as an opportunity finally to end the EU's cod obsession, which has had a disastrous knock-on effect on the entire whitefish fleet when certain species are abundant, Struan Stevenson MEP, Conservative fisheries spokesman in the European Parliament, said today.

At its 30th Annual Meeting held in Vigo, Spain this past week, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) addressed several issues important to long-term conservation of the marine environment, but failed to agree to protect areas of the deep-sea, which scientists had identified as vulnerable to the impact of bottom fishing.

Fishermen in Scotland are being forced to throw away up to £40 million worth of fish every year, fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead said today.

European rules mean almost a million tonnes of fish are discarded in the North Sea every year, with around 100,000 tonnes dumped by Scottish boats.

The level of waste caused by dumped fish and the damage it causes to the environment and the economy will be under the spotlight in Edinburgh tomorrow.

NORWEGIAN fish and seafood exports soared to a record 17.8-billion kroners (about £1.7-billion sterling) in the first half of this year, according to the latest figures from Statistics Norway. But shipments to Britain are down.

GIVING fishermen long-term quotas and the right to be able to transfer them can play a major part in conserving stocks, a new study has found.

Fishermen across Scotland are to play a central role in the improved management of inshore fisheries, helping to ensure a vibrant, prosperous and sustainable future for themselves and the communities they support.

Commenting on the news that the Commission is seeking to downsize the EU Fishing Fleet by 40 per cent, UK Conservative fisheries spokesman in the European Parliament Struan Stevenson MEP said: 'It comes as no surprise that further cuts are being sought by the Commission.

Two people had a lucky escape today when their small fishing boat capsized and sank in Studland Bay this morning and they were picked up by another vessel.

The sustainable future of Scottish seafood will be top of the agenda as cabinet secretary for rural Aafairs, Richard Lochhead attends a lunch organised by Seafish tomorrow.

THE price of fish and general seafood products coming out of Iceland - the UK's largest seafood supplier - is at a historic high when measured in foreign currency.

Figures published today by Scotland's chief statistician indicate the value of fish catches landed by Scottish vessels increased by one percent in real terms in 2007.The statistics show that 370 thousand tonnes of fish were caught by Scottish vessels last year with a value of £380 million.

Figures published today by Scotland's chief statistician indicate the value of fish catches landed by Scottish vessels increased by one percent in real terms in 2007.The statistics show that 370 thousand tonnes of fish were caught by Scottish vessels last year with a value of £380 million.

A LOCAL fishing leader has voiced his frustration with the way the industry is being managed after a meeting of the new Scottish fisheries Council, in Edinburgh yesterday.

AS Iceland's new fishing quota year gets under way, it is revealed that the number of large and medium sized trawlers has fallen considerably in the past few months.

Fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead yesterday (September 9) announced new measures to reduce discards of Scotland's valuable fish stocks.

Chairing the third meeting of the Scottish Fisheries Council, Mr Lochhead confirmed that a 'Discards Summit' will take place in Edinburgh on September 25.

West coast fishermen are alarmed at the prospect of a 25% cut in total allowable catch for 2009, suggested by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas.

Commenting as the Scottish Fisheries Council meets in Edinburgh, Liberal Democrat Fisheries spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

Owners and the master of the Belgian beam trawler Neptunus were ordered to pay a total of £43,374 in fines and costs by Lowestoft Magistrates on Monday September 8th after pleading guilty to fishing with blinders in both trawl nets.

The Marine Institute (Foras na Mara) has today (8th September) welcomed the European Commission's European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research: A coherent European Research Area framework in support of a sustainable use of oceans and seas. The strategy is one of 65 key actions designed to support the implementation of an Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union (October 2007).

The Scottish Fishermen's Federation will be pressing for a fair deal for Scotland's fishing industry at tomorrow's meeting of the Scottish Fisheries Council in Edinburgh.

Setting out the Scottish Government's plans for the year ahead, First Minister Alex Salmond included the Scottish Marine Bill – a bill for the 'protection for the Marine Environment'.

Retail analysts Verdict Research found that fish, along with meat, has shot up by almost 23 per cent in the past 12 months. The figures come amid growing concern about the high cost of food, which is exceeding the official inflation rate.

THE skirl of the pipes today marked the opening of the major Fishing 2008 show in Glasgow.

FISHERMEN are going to have to learn to deal with the impact of soaring fuel bills and act accordingly, even if this means more fleet consolidation, an industry leader warned today.

THE Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF), the umbrella body for the four main Fishermen’s Organisations in Ireland, has said it is determined to play a central role in enhancing safety standards on board the Irish fishing fleet.