Posted on May, 03 2011

St Gallen, Switzerland: WWF has honoured fisheries industry figure Mike Park for encouraging sustainable fishing practices in Scotland and Europe.

"The world’s fisheries will be saved when fishers, fishing communities and businesses and environmentalists realise sustainable fisheries serve all our interests,” said Ms Yolanda Kakabadse, International President of WWF International.

“It is my great pleasure to recognise Mike Park, a leading Scottish fisheries industry figure, with The WWF Award for Conservation Merit for his recognition and constant promotion of the truth that we are all in the same boat on fisheries."

Park, Chief Executive of the Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association (SWFPA), received the award at a special ceremony at the global environment organisation’s Annual Conference, now being held in St Gallen, Switzerland. The award was established 30 years ago for demonstrated commitment to local, grass-roots conservation and can be awarded to individuals or institutions.

“We’re delighted that Mike Park has been selected to receive this conservation merit award for his vision and understanding of the inextricable link between healthy marine ecosystems and stable fish stocks and for acting on this vision in Scotland and beyond,” said WWF Scotland Director, Dr Richard Dixon.

Past recipients of the award include scientists, community and business leaders, and conservation campaigners from the Himalayas to the marine depths and institutions from the European Environment Agency to the Campfire Association of Zimbabwe.

“It is a very special honour and privilege to receive an award that gives so much recognition to the very special work and change taking place in Scottish fisheries,” said Mike Park.

“It is significant that my members now recognise that the health of the stocks is the real barometer of a fisher’s wealth."