The idea to replace catch quotas with an annual allowance of “days at sea” for each vessel was put to MEPs in Brussels.

The idea received a lukewarm response from the Scottish commercial sector, SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: “I think he is trying to impress MEPs that he is prepared to be radical. We welcome that. But, regrettably, complicated problems seldom have a simple solution.”

Mr Borg said fish stocks could be managed by just regulating fishing “effort” – the number of days vessels can spend at sea. Ending quotas would tackle the problem of “discards” – throwing dead fish back into the sea to avoid breaking quota limits.

“Replacing TACs (total allowable catches) and quotas by effort can be a very effective way of reducing the environmental impact of fisheries, and in particular of discards,” said Mr Borg.

SSACN do not believe this is the case, all it means is that practices such as high grading will increase as any opportunity will be taken to maximise revenues within a given time period.

It is intended a vessel owner could decide to either use his “effort” rights himself or to rent them or sell them to another vessel owner, which according to Borg: “…… could in turn help us to achieve the objective of having a smaller fleet commensurate to our resource base.” he said, adding: “For some, this may be radical thinking, but we need to explore every option if we are to make our fisheries policy truly fit for purpose.”

Mr Armstrong said: “If the fisheries commissioner is genuinely suggesting that catch limits should be scrapped, then he would probably be knocked over in the rush at the quayside to accept the offer.

“But I am equally sure that, if radical simplification is being offered, then scrapping of days at sea would be the first choice at the same quayside.

“Every fisherman will agree that there must be an enforced limit to what can be taken from the sea – nobody wants to see overfishing and the consequent downward spiral of commercial suicide.

“However, the consequences of using days at sea as the only control measure will require a great deal more thought.

                  Angling Scotland 2010

                      Angling Scotland

          Royal Highland Centre Edinburgh

            6th and 7th March 2010

                Email: Exhibitions@nelton.co.uk

River oil pollution investigated         22nd August 2009

Environmental inspectors are investigating oil pollution in the River Carron near Falkirk. Residents in the Carron area phoned the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) on Thursday afternoon after detecting a strong smell of fuel. One local woman said that the substance was very visible on the surface. Sepa said it had traced the potential source of the leak but could not comment further at this stage. Duncan Clark, from Sepa, said: "The timely notification allowed us to begin investigations as soon as possible and to ensure effective action is taken to protect the environment. "In an effort to reduce the impact of the oil, an oil clean up contractor has deployed oil absorbent equipment in a tributary of the River Carron."         New midge repellent to be tested on Loch Ness runners   Hundreds of competitors taking part in a race on the banks of Loch Ness are to trial a new midge repellent. Up to 1,000 athletes will take part in the First Monster Challenge, a 120km running and cycling race round the shores of the loch in the Highlands.And researchers from the University of Aberdeen will transform the event into a major survey to test a new spray which they hope will finally defeat the dreaded midge.   Competitors will be urged to put on the repellent, which is a puffer spray made from natural chemicals, as they take part in the race. The decision to use the event, organised by transport company FirstGroup, was prompted by last year's race. Organisers say feedback was mostly positive - except for complaints about a spate of midge attacks at one point on the course. One participant was said to have received hundreds of bites. So the transport group has teamed up with scientists to use the race, which takes place in September, as a test-bed for the spray. The tiny swarming flies are a persistent nuisance for tourists, and there have long been fears the insects are a turn-off for visitors. The vicious sub-species in Scotland is known as the Highland Midge, and occurs in abundance in the north and west of the country over summer. Female midges bite, and are attracted to carbon dioxide and other chemicals released from human breath. Scientists estimate that in one hour a swarm of the insects can inflict around 3,000 bites and 40,000 midges can land on an unprotected arm over the same period. Tourism chiefs put the cost of the biting pests at £286 million a year, as annoyed visitors flee to locations which are not plagued by the insects. The new midge repellent is based on chemicals discovered by the University of Aberdeen and Rothamsted Research. It was formulated as a puffer repellent by Atrium Innovation. Researchers claim the repellent could be "the most effective ever invention to combat the midge". Professor Jenny Mordue, from the university's department of zoology and an expert in midge behaviour, was involved in developing the spray. She said the event was an opportunity for "a monster trial in the age-old battle between man and midge". "I am confident the results from the experiment and survey will help shape and develop our strategies on how best to combat the midge," she went on. "If all goes well, we will finally have a solution in the battle to protect people from the dreaded midge." The First Monster Challenge takes place on September 13, around the shores of Loch Ness. Competitors work in teams of four to complete the eight stages of the event. The repellent is to be tested at a specific stage in the race, where athletes were plagued by midges last year. Two tents will be used to test the new formula. In one, the repellent will be released into the atmosphere and in the second it will not. Researchers will then see which attracts the most midges. Athletes and spectators will also be asked to fill out a questionnaire about how susceptible they are to midge bites. Prof Mordue said if the experiment went well, the new substance could be developed into creams, lotions and even specially designed clothing or badges impregnated with the chemicals. But it would still be one or two years before it would be available, she added. She said: "It is a totally different mode of action, totally new. It stops the insects from flying towards you. "It is developed from natural chemicals that we give off." This is in contrast to synthetic alternatives currently available, she went on, which only repel the insects once they make contact with skin. Participating athletes are being urged to raise money for Save the Children.