Commenting after the new cod recovery plan was agreed at the EC Fisheries Council in Brussels today, Liberal Democrat Fishing spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

"This further acceptance of the need for a more regionalised approach to fisheries management is welcome. It is vital that fishermen are properly incentivised and rewarded for taking appropriate action rather than constantly threatened with penalties.

“There is still a way to go before all the details of this new framework are fleshed out, but I am encouraged by this latest step towards less micromanagement from the centre".