The UK government has published plans for the future of the sea fishing industry.
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The plan, ‘Securing the Benefits.” has been developed by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the devolved departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
It sets out a range of measures to secure a sustainable future for the fishing industry including seeking simpler rules and stronger focus on regional management in the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy and helping members of Regional Advisory Councils to maximise their contribution to the Councils’ work.
It proposes making more use of fishermen’s information in the assessment of fish stocks and developing on a regional basis a shared understanding with the fishing industry of what is needed to enable the different parts of the fleet to be profitable, considering where relevant the need for further selective decommissioning, improving arrangements for quota management in the UK, for example to provide greater clarity about the ownership of quota.
The plan also includes using grants to help the fishing industry apply to the Marine Stewardship Council or other organisations for certification that particular fisheries are sustainable.
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By GlobalDataThe plan responds to recommendations made in the ‘Net Benefits’ report published last year by the prime minister’s strategy unit. The prime minister commissioned Net Benefits after the state of cod stocks led to the introduction in 2003 of limitations on the time fishing vessels could spend at sea, and in turn to significant decommissioning of UK boats.
“I welcome this response,” said prime minister Tony Blair. “I am grateful to all those who gave their time to work out the next steps in the development of a modern and sustainable fishing industry. We can give a lead to this process during our presidency of the EU, focussing on simplifying EU rules and strengthening the regional focus of the management of fish stocks.”
“Securing the Benefits sets out how we intend to achieve a, profitable fishing industry while protecting the wider marine environment,” said marine and fisheries minister Ben Bradshaw. “It has been developed in close partnership with the fishing industry and other interested groups. We will maintain that partnership as we deliver the actions we have mapped out.”
“The fishing industry is of particular importance in Scotland,” said Ross Finnie, Scottish fisheries minister. “The measures we are taking forward together with UK partners will make a real contribution to securing its future. I am also setting out a number of additional measures which Scottish ministers will be taking together with our industry and others to ensure that Scotland’s sea fisheries are sustainable, profitable and well managed”.
“Fisheries in Wales are an important part of the rural economy,” said the Welsh Assembly Government minister for environment, planning and countryside Carwyn Jones. “The Net Benefits exercise gave the Welsh Assembly Government the opportunity to work more closely with the Welsh industry and this partnership will now be taken forward in the production of a Welsh fisheries strategy.”
“My administration looks forward to working closely with the other UK Fisheries Departments and stakeholders to deliver the actions and strategies outlined in the response,” said Lord Rooker. minister for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland. “My Department also recognises the importance of inshore fisheries and, in Northern Ireland, we shall undertake a full review of inshore fisheries management commencing Autumn 2005 and, following the review, will establish a standing inshore stakeholder advisory group to advise on development and management issues related to the inshore sector.”
The plan was welcomed by the Food and Drink Federation. “FDF along with other parts of the food chain has been working closely with UK government and the devolved administrations on how to take forward the recommendations, originally published in the report: Net Benefits, in March 2004,” said FDF deputy director general Martin Paterson. “We look forward to working with both the wider food chain and government in helping to put the strategy into place, and hope that the positive impetus from all sectors will continue.”
