McArthur welcomes reprieve for Orkney Fish Producers Organisation

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has welcomed news that the Scottish Government appears to have backed down from its threat to remove formal recognition from the Orkney Fish Producers Organisation.

The threat emerged over the summer at which point Mr McArthur, along with the OIC, made representations to the Scottish rural affairs secretary, Richard Lochhead urging him to ditch plans that threatened to undermine what local control exists over the management of fish quotas.

Responding to the latest development, Mr McArthur said: “It would appear that the reprieve for Orkney’s PO has only been granted until the end of 2014, providing a stay of execution for now.

“Whether this is to allow more time for evidence to be gathered or to get the referendum out of the way, only ministers will know, but there seems little justification for leaving the threat hanging that long.”