Tuesday 16 December 2014
"The sea around us taking stock of our fish oceans and people" a PEW presentation today at 10pm (5pm ET)
Check out this presentation from PEW Trust.
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| Click here for the presentation. |
Follow the event with #PewSea
“MINISTER SHOULD RETHINK DECISION ON AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE MMO”
The issue here is the long-term damage being done by the continuing ineffectiveness of the MMO in managing the UK fisheries it is ultimately responsible for - and, unlike the fishing communities that it is supposed to be serving who by its actions are fast disappearing, the MMO can simply be re-created.
The NFFO releases a statement saying an 'ad hoc' approach to a review is no longer satisfactory.
“Minister should rethink decision on an Independent Review of the MMO” In a recent statement, the NFFO has argued that the Minister’s decision to reject calls for an independent review of the Marine Management Organisation’s fisheries functions is a mistake. In a reply to a Federation open letter, Fisheries Minister, George Eustice, has argued that if there have been problems with the MMO in the past, they are now on the way to being resolved.
If you think the MMO needs to be the subject of an independent review then sign the online petition to the Government here:
The NFFO has responded as follows:
“The problem is that we have been trying this ad hoc approach for some time now, with no sign that it is making any difference. MMO Chief Executives have come and gone and still the organisation shows no sign of getting a grip on its central functions.”
“The Minister seems to show little awareness of the breadth and depth of the malaise affecting the body that holds fishermen’s livelihoods in its hands. Fooling himself that all is well in the essentials is to gamble with those livelihoods. The catalogue of problems is too wide and appears to be too deep seated, to be dismissed with soothing words. They include data-collection and data-management, quota and effort management, vessel (satellite) monitoring systems and electronic logbooks, as well as the administration of EFF grants.”
“When a former DEFRA Director of Fisheries takes the view that papering over the cracks in the MMO won't work and that an independent review is required, it is time to listen. When numerous members of Parliament expressed the same view, as they did in the recent annual fisheries debate in Westminster, it is clear that a review is overdue.”
“You can't help but have some sympathy for the MMO in all this. It is a body which had to start almost from scratch when in the transition from the Marine Fisheries Agency to Marine Management Organisation, and in the shift from London to Newcastle, it lost most of its staff and therefore, experience. It was also unfortunate in losing, in short order, both its first chairman and its first chief executive, after some kind of personality clash got out of control. For a long period there was a standard denial of any kind of deep seated problem although the evidence pointed elsewhere.”
“Since then, it has not been possible to fault the MMO, either for acknowledging that there are indeed a range of fundamental problems and for their willingness to address them. The difficulty lies in the lack of actual visible progress. Assurance has followed assurance but the problems on the ground remain legion and now forward progress can be seen. Political decisions lie at the heart of the MMO’s problems and we consider that it is going to take a political decision to fix them.”
“This is why a short, authoritative, independent review is necessary. If the MMO cannot heal itself, it is vital that the Government intervenes to put things on track. We cannot continue stumbling on with a dysfunctional delivery and enforcement agency, and with soothing words that add up to nothing.”
“Given the multiple challenges facing both the industry and the fisheries management systems posed by the impending implementation of the EU landings obligation, there is no time to lose in getting the MMO into a state that it can meet those challenges.”
“An independent review would be the quickest way to identify the underlying issues and get the MMO on to the road to recovery.”
The NFFO releases a statement saying an 'ad hoc' approach to a review is no longer satisfactory.
“Minister should rethink decision on an Independent Review of the MMO” In a recent statement, the NFFO has argued that the Minister’s decision to reject calls for an independent review of the Marine Management Organisation’s fisheries functions is a mistake. In a reply to a Federation open letter, Fisheries Minister, George Eustice, has argued that if there have been problems with the MMO in the past, they are now on the way to being resolved.
If you think the MMO needs to be the subject of an independent review then sign the online petition to the Government here:
The NFFO has responded as follows:
“The problem is that we have been trying this ad hoc approach for some time now, with no sign that it is making any difference. MMO Chief Executives have come and gone and still the organisation shows no sign of getting a grip on its central functions.”
“The Minister seems to show little awareness of the breadth and depth of the malaise affecting the body that holds fishermen’s livelihoods in its hands. Fooling himself that all is well in the essentials is to gamble with those livelihoods. The catalogue of problems is too wide and appears to be too deep seated, to be dismissed with soothing words. They include data-collection and data-management, quota and effort management, vessel (satellite) monitoring systems and electronic logbooks, as well as the administration of EFF grants.”
“When a former DEFRA Director of Fisheries takes the view that papering over the cracks in the MMO won't work and that an independent review is required, it is time to listen. When numerous members of Parliament expressed the same view, as they did in the recent annual fisheries debate in Westminster, it is clear that a review is overdue.”
“You can't help but have some sympathy for the MMO in all this. It is a body which had to start almost from scratch when in the transition from the Marine Fisheries Agency to Marine Management Organisation, and in the shift from London to Newcastle, it lost most of its staff and therefore, experience. It was also unfortunate in losing, in short order, both its first chairman and its first chief executive, after some kind of personality clash got out of control. For a long period there was a standard denial of any kind of deep seated problem although the evidence pointed elsewhere.”
“Since then, it has not been possible to fault the MMO, either for acknowledging that there are indeed a range of fundamental problems and for their willingness to address them. The difficulty lies in the lack of actual visible progress. Assurance has followed assurance but the problems on the ground remain legion and now forward progress can be seen. Political decisions lie at the heart of the MMO’s problems and we consider that it is going to take a political decision to fix them.”
“This is why a short, authoritative, independent review is necessary. If the MMO cannot heal itself, it is vital that the Government intervenes to put things on track. We cannot continue stumbling on with a dysfunctional delivery and enforcement agency, and with soothing words that add up to nothing.”
“Given the multiple challenges facing both the industry and the fisheries management systems posed by the impending implementation of the EU landings obligation, there is no time to lose in getting the MMO into a state that it can meet those challenges.”
“An independent review would be the quickest way to identify the underlying issues and get the MMO on to the road to recovery.”
Fishing industry 'on the precipice’ as key quota talks take place in Brussels
Proposed cuts to the amount of fish the Westcountry fleet can land must be scaled back by 90% or risk pushing the industry “over the precipice”, a leading spokesman has said.
Crunch Brussels talks started today to determine the size of catch permissible for the region across a range of species.
Fishing leaders have described the proposals to remove as much as 12% of the total annual catch – worth an estimated £10 million to ports in Devon and Cornwall – as potentially devastating.
Fisheries Minister George Eustice dismissed the “apocalyptic” vision of the industry when new quotas kick in next year and has pledged to “deliver a fair deal for our fishermen across the UK”.
The Cornwall MP has insisted he will be pushing at the meeting of EU ministers for quota to be the same level as this year in many cases.
Jim Portus, chief executive of South Western Fish Producer Organisation, is currently at the talks lobbying for a reduction in cuts to key stocks of around 10% of the current recommendations.
Speaking from the Belgian city, Mr Portus told the Western Morning News that cuts in quotas for Dover sole, plaice and angler fish amounting to £3 million would be unsustainable.
“The industry can cope with some cuts but I want them to be minimised so that rather than losing 12% we see something closer to 2%,” he added. “I don’t believe for one minute that we are going to achieve the status quo of opportunities in every stock. “All ministers are going to have to explain to the world the motives behind their decisions in terms of how they match the science and whether it is appropriate to take a graduated approach rather than slipping the industry over the precipice in one year.”
The EU Fisheries Council is set to continue today with a resolution expected sometime in the early hours of tomorrow(Weds). Monkfish, megrim and sole – the most important fish to Devon and Cornwall – face an annual cut of up to 35%. Haddock, which represents 5% of the value of fisheries landed in the region, faces a reduction of up to 40%. The meeting comes as commercial fisheries in North Devon are already reeling from the early closure of skate and ray landings this year, which has resulted in jobs being lost and boats tied up.
Mr Eustice said: “We have a strong track record of leading the pack when it comes to fisheries including securing reforms to the broken Common Fisheries Policy so regional differences are now taken into account in decision making.
“Having heard from different parts of our fleet I will be representing the entirety of UK fisheries to achieve our shared goals of a thriving fishing industry, sustainable fish stocks and a healthy marine environment.”
Paul Trebilcock, of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, said the minister had recognised the “potential implications” of the tabled cuts going ahead. He said: “We have given him the scientific evidence and ammunition – it is now a case of deploying this in a way which improves the proposal.”
Read more from the Western Morning News or on Twitter @WMNNews
Crunch Brussels talks started today to determine the size of catch permissible for the region across a range of species.
Fishing leaders have described the proposals to remove as much as 12% of the total annual catch – worth an estimated £10 million to ports in Devon and Cornwall – as potentially devastating.
Fisheries Minister George Eustice dismissed the “apocalyptic” vision of the industry when new quotas kick in next year and has pledged to “deliver a fair deal for our fishermen across the UK”.
The Cornwall MP has insisted he will be pushing at the meeting of EU ministers for quota to be the same level as this year in many cases.
Jim Portus, chief executive of South Western Fish Producer Organisation, is currently at the talks lobbying for a reduction in cuts to key stocks of around 10% of the current recommendations.
Speaking from the Belgian city, Mr Portus told the Western Morning News that cuts in quotas for Dover sole, plaice and angler fish amounting to £3 million would be unsustainable.
“The industry can cope with some cuts but I want them to be minimised so that rather than losing 12% we see something closer to 2%,” he added. “I don’t believe for one minute that we are going to achieve the status quo of opportunities in every stock. “All ministers are going to have to explain to the world the motives behind their decisions in terms of how they match the science and whether it is appropriate to take a graduated approach rather than slipping the industry over the precipice in one year.”
The EU Fisheries Council is set to continue today with a resolution expected sometime in the early hours of tomorrow(Weds). Monkfish, megrim and sole – the most important fish to Devon and Cornwall – face an annual cut of up to 35%. Haddock, which represents 5% of the value of fisheries landed in the region, faces a reduction of up to 40%. The meeting comes as commercial fisheries in North Devon are already reeling from the early closure of skate and ray landings this year, which has resulted in jobs being lost and boats tied up.
Mr Eustice said: “We have a strong track record of leading the pack when it comes to fisheries including securing reforms to the broken Common Fisheries Policy so regional differences are now taken into account in decision making.
“Having heard from different parts of our fleet I will be representing the entirety of UK fisheries to achieve our shared goals of a thriving fishing industry, sustainable fish stocks and a healthy marine environment.”
Paul Trebilcock, of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, said the minister had recognised the “potential implications” of the tabled cuts going ahead. He said: “We have given him the scientific evidence and ammunition – it is now a case of deploying this in a way which improves the proposal.”
Read more from the Western Morning News or on Twitter @WMNNews
Bring a smile to Shaun's face - make it £20,000 for Christmas!
Sales of the book of the fishing community men and women of Newlyn who are the 'Salt of the Earth' have now reached over £19000 - Mission skipper Jjulian Waring is dreaming of making it £20,000 by Christmas Eve - help spread the word!
Monday 15 December 2014
Radio 4 talks to Paul Trebilcock from the CFPO.
Fisheries ministers from all over the EU are meeting in Brussels today to negotiate an agreement on quotas. Quotas are set to achieve what it calls Maximum Sustainable Yield, the number of fish scientists say can be aught in order to preserve future stocks. Farming Today speaks to Paul Trebilcock from the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation as they prepare for cuts to their quotas next year.
Monday's mix of fish from the inshore boats this morning - best quality today!
The final resting place for another example of wooden fishing boat history as the trawler Wayfinder begins to be broken up...
on the market the buyers have the very best quality fish to chose from this morning...
like these freshest of red mullet...
a curly conger...
and plenty of boxes of inshore line caught and netted fish...
like these pristine whiting...
beautiful bass...
just gleaming in the market light...
in the harbour one of the fleet with a ghostly figure on deck heads out through the gaps...
the crane is put to good use to ensure this boat does not move in the high winds due later in the week...
while many of the harbour buildings enjoy the newly switched on Christmas lights.
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