A fishy story

For the foreseeable future, it may not be much fun being a civil servant in the Executive's fisheries division. The Herald shows which way the wind is blowing:

Scotland's new fishing minister promised the industry they will have a voice in key decisions both at home and abroad during his first official engagement yesterday.
Richard Lochhead, cabinet secretary for the environment, told delegates at the Fish 2007 Exhibition in Glasgow that fishing would be a priority for the new SNP executive.
Mr Lochhead said he would be seeking the views of fishing sectors and giving the industry participation in talks.

Far be it from me to suggest that Ministers are in the fishermen's pockets or that they will not take decisions in the longer-term interests of the industry, but it is worth noting that Mr Lochhead (Moray) and Mr Salmond (Gordon/Banff and Buchan), not to mention Mr Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan), the grandly titled Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate, all have a significant constituency interest. I am sure that our new ministers will not blindly ensure that Scottish Executive policies for the fishing industry slavishly follow the dictates of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation.

Economists may wish to note that the economic valued added of the Scottish fishing industry is slightly less than that of the Scottish sausage industry, although the former commands rather more attention from politicians, civil servants and the media.