Scottish Government to offer advice to Estonia on fisheries meeting
The Scottish Government is to support Estonia to host this year's EU fisheries negotiations.
The Scottish Government is to support Estonia to host this year's EU fisheries negotiations.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said an official would lend expertise to the country, due to hold the presidency of the EU Council in the second half of the year.
Mr Ewing previously met Estonian fisheries minister Marko Pomerants to discuss the partnership over the annual December fisheries council.
He said: "I'm delighted that the Scottish Government can use some of its expertise from years of fisheries negotiations to help Estonia host the 2017 December fisheries council.
"While we may have less than 10% of the UK population, Scotland landed 78% of the total UK catch of key stocks in 2015 and we are undoubtedly a key player in Europe's fishing industry.
"This is an opportunity to impart some of our knowledge and experience on the breadth and depth of fisheries concerns.
"I look forward to working with Estonia later in the year and building on the strong successes at the 2016 negotiations, which secured increases for the majority of our key species and additional fishing opportunities worth around ÂŁ47 million."