Scottish Government Wanted EU Fisheries Deal to Go Further & Faster – The Fishing Daily

Report on the Scottish Government’s Position on the 2038 UK-EU Fisheries Agreement and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

This report analyses internal Scottish Government documents concerning the 2038 UK-EU fisheries agreement. A significant divergence has been identified between the government’s private assessment and its public statements. This discrepancy has profound implications for several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The analysis focuses on the conflict between national fisheries management strategies and supranational cooperation, and its impact on sustainable marine resource management and the economic viability of fishing communities.

2.0 Analysis of Government Position and Governance Transparency (SDG 16)

Internal briefing notes reveal a contrast between the Scottish Government’s private endorsement and public criticism of the UK-EU fisheries negotiations. This raises questions regarding governance transparency and institutional integrity, key components of SDG 16.

• Private Endorsement: Documents indicate ministers were “impressed” by the EU’s approach and viewed the agreement as containing “very positive elements.” The government privately expressed a desire for negotiations to proceed “further and faster.”
• Public Criticism: In public, key figures, including John Swinney, described the negotiations as a “surrender,” creating a contradictory policy narrative.
• Call for Closer Involvement: Correspondence shows a commitment to a “collegiate approach” and a desire for deeper engagement in negotiations to ensure benefits for the entire UK, highlighting the importance of partnership under SDG 17.

3.0 Implications for Sustainable Marine Ecosystems (SDG 14: Life Below Water)

The debate over the fisheries agreement is central to achieving SDG 14, which calls for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources. The core conflict revolves around the most effective governance model for sustainable fisheries management.

1. National vs. Supranational Control: Critics, such as Scottish Conservative representatives Tim Eagle and Harriet Cross, argue that national control of waters is paramount for protecting fish stocks and ensuring fair access for the domestic industry. This aligns with SDG 14’s target to end overfishing and regulate harvesting effectively.
2. Return to Common Fisheries Policy (CFP): The Scottish Government’s private stance is interpreted by opponents as a willingness to rejoin the EU and its Common Fisheries Policy. The long-term sustainability impact of the CFP framework versus a national management system is a key point of contention.
3. Long-Term Management: A 12-year agreement allowing EU access has significant long-term consequences for fish stock health and the marine environment. The debate underscores the challenge of establishing policies that ensure the ecological viability required by SDG 14.

4.0 Socio-Economic Impact on Coastal Communities (SDG 8 & SDG 12)

The fisheries agreement directly affects the livelihoods and economic stability of coastal communities, linking the political discourse to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

• Economic Livelihoods: Political critics accuse the Scottish Government of “playing politics” with the livelihoods of thousands in the fishing sector. Ensuring stable and fair access to fishing resources is fundamental to providing decent work and fostering economic growth in these specialized communities.
• Sustainable Production: The terms of international fishing access are a primary driver of sustainable production patterns. The political debate highlights the need for a policy framework that protects the domestic industry’s ability to operate sustainably and profitably, in line with SDG 12.
• Industry as a Political Pawn: Concerns were raised that the fishing industry is being used as a “pawn” in broader political objectives related to Scottish independence and EU membership, potentially undermining the stable governance needed to achieve long-term economic and environmental goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The entire article revolves around a fisheries agreement, access to fishing waters, the management of fish stocks, and the fishing industry. This directly connects to the goal of conserving and sustainably using marine resources.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article repeatedly emphasizes the “livelihoods of fishermen” and the economic well-being of the fishing industry. The political debate is framed around the impact of the UK-EU agreement on jobs and the economic future of the sector.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The text discusses inter-governmental negotiations (UK, Scotland, EU), political accountability (accusing a minister of being “two-faced”), and the processes of creating and implementing agreements. It highlights the importance of transparent and inclusive institutions in policy-making.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The core subject is the UK-EU fisheries agreement, which is a form of international partnership. The article explores the complexities of this bilateral relationship and the need for policy coherence between different levels of government (Westminster and Holyrood) to achieve common goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  • Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing… and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks. The article’s reference to claims that “fish stocks around Shetland ‘are in rapid decline'” and the general debate over access to fishing waters directly relate to the need for effective regulation of fish harvesting.
  • Target 14.b: Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets. The call to “protect UK waters to ensure our industry gets the full and fair access to fish that it rightly deserves” reflects the principle of ensuring local fishing communities have access to marine resources.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all. The concern for protecting “the thousands of livelihoods associated with” the fishing industry is a central theme, aligning with the goal of securing employment.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article highlights a lack of transparency and accountability, with the Scottish Government’s public criticism of the deal contrasting with its private support. It also praises the EU’s “transparent consultative approach.”
  • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The Scottish Government’s stated desire to be “more closely involved to ensure the summit agreement delivers benefit for the whole of the UK” points to the need for inclusive decision-making processes.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. The political conflict described in the article, where different government bodies and political parties have conflicting public and private positions on the fisheries agreement, illustrates a challenge to achieving policy coherence.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

  • Implied Indicator for Target 14.4: The article’s image caption mentions a claim that “fish stocks around Shetland ‘are in rapid decline’.” This implies that the proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels (Indicator 14.4.1) is a key metric for evaluating the success of any fisheries policy.

• For SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

  • Implied Indicator for Target 8.5: The article’s focus on protecting “the livelihoods of fishermen” and the “thousands of livelihoods associated with it” implies that the number of people employed in the fishing sector serves as a crucial indicator of the industry’s health and the socio-economic impact of the fisheries agreement.

• For SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

  • Implied Indicator for Target 16.7: The Scottish Government’s demand to be “more closely involved” in negotiations implies that the level of participation and inclusion of sub-national governments and industry stakeholders in international negotiations could be used as an indicator to measure progress towards more representative decision-making.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thefishingdaily.com