Work together now, say industry leaders

Fishing and oil representatives have urged both sides of the referendum debate to put their differences aside and work together for the benefit of the country.

Shetland Fishermen’s Association chairman Leslie Tait urged the two sides to put their differences aside and work with the fishing industry in the isles to help it see off the threat from the discard ban.

“When it comes to the major issues that the fishing industry faces, such as the discard ban, we are seeking confirmation that the Scottish government will use its devolved powers to back our communities in their fight against clumsy and unworkable legislation handed down from Brussels,” Mr Tait said.

“Now that the period of uncertainty about how we will be governed is over, I sincerely hope that politicians and officials with responsibility for fisheries policy will focus their minds on helping to build a workable future for the men who go to sea and communities that depend on fish catching.”

Meanwhile, Oil & Gas UK says it looks forward to continuing to work closely with both UK and Scottish governments.

Chief executive Malcolm Webb said:  “The referendum campaign rightly revealed the important role the offshore oil and gas industry plays in our economy, both in Scotland and in the rest of the United Kingdom.

“This is understandable given this industry remains the UK’s largest corporate taxpayer and largest industrial investor, and its crucial role in helping assure thousands of well-paid highly skilled jobs as well as our energy security.

“To safeguard the industry’s future, it is particularly important that that the government now presses swiftly ahead with fiscal reform as well as the implementation of Sir Ian Wood’s recommendations to maximise the economic recovery of our oil and gas resource.  The industry must not delay either in a cross-sector effort to bring its escalating costs under control.

“There has been a great deal of discussion about how much oil and gas resource remains to be produced from the UK continental shelf.  Oil & Gas UK’s position remains that there could be between 12-24 billion barrels of oil and gas still to recover but that the above three pivotal challenges need to be resolved if we are to stand any chance of reaching the top half of this range.

“We will continue to work with both UK and Scottish governments on our mutual goals.  This is not just to maximise the economic recovery of the substantial remaining potential of the UKCS oil and gas resource but also to strengthen its supply chain across Scotland and in all other parts of the United Kingdom.”