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| Mackerel men - typical Under 10m boats head for the market. |
Representatives from the coves of Cornwall led by local MP Andrew George are meeting with the fisheries minister Richard Benyon today. They go to press their case for less drastic conservation zones as outlined in the recently published MCZ areas from Finding Sanctuary, part of the national scheme to introduce protected areas around the UK coast. Under the current proposals, Cornwall is due to lode 20% of its fishing grounds to protected areas. Many of the cove fishermen rely on some of these areas to carve a living and feel that the tiny numbers of fish they catch using traditional hand and line or small nets hardly warrant blanket restrictions on their fishing activities.
Many of the Under 10s fleet are represented nationally by NUTFA - who in their latest newsletter called for the formation of a PO (Producer Organisation) - which would seem illogical as there are no fish to manage for the Under 10m boats as compared to POs like the Cornwall Fish Producer's Organisation who represent the Over 10s. This once again highlights the stark contrast between the industry in England compared to that, of say France, where there are powerful local bodies like the Commitee de Peche Locale - with national representation and direct contact with the government departments to cite their grievances. The more socialist tendencies of French culture in this case mean that the fishing communities of France are well served by strong, well co-ordinated shore side bodies able to represent all sectors of the industry at local, regional, national and ultimately pan-European levels.
Up-to-date hard facts, figures, catch data and statistics are all readily available for the French fleet and anyone who needs to get a picture of the industry at local or national level - not something that could be readily achieved when collating similar data from English fishing activity.
"Nutfa is also meeting with Defra officials shortly to discuss the ability of the under ten fleet to set up a PO. Whilst it recognises that there is little point in having a PO if you have no fish to manage, the combination of both EU and UK official comments on the allocation of fish has encouraged Nutfa to pursue the issue as a basis for future proofing the sector in the event that the current situation alters. The EU Fisheries Commissioner was clear at the recent meeting with Nutfa that the discussion regarding ITQ’s would be focused on consideration only at Member State level, she said, “I am not talking about privatisation, I am not talking about ownership rights, but about giving user rights for ten years, after which this right returns to the state”. Nutfa continues to make clear their reservations about the introduction of ITQ’s, not least for the threat they pose to inshore fishermen without the resources enjoyed by many offshore operators. Experiences in other countries have shown the danger that such a system can represent to small scale fishermen, often resulting in a complete loss of quota from the inshore sector. At the same time, it was leaving no stone unturned and the discussions with Defra on a Producer Organisation were happening in the light of clear messages from Government that they were intent on dealing with what the Minister has described as the biggest challenge facing him and his great commitment to finally sorting the situation out.
Jerry Percy said, following the round of recent meetings, “we must all remember that we are arguing from within the asylum and that unless we get a root and branch reform of the CFP, we are all doomed, irrespective of sector. From a UK perspective, the new Minister has, for probably the first time, the ability to speak directly with the likes of Nutfa as well as with representatives of the over 10 sector. He has the opportunity to really make a difference in both the short and long terms and we welcome his promises in this respect. It will be up to under ten fishermen to make their views known so that Nutfa can clearly reflect them to the Government and others. Believe me, this is the end game for the under tens, irrespective of whether you fish quota, non quota or shellfish. Nutfa doesn’t have the massive resources of other organisations but does have the commitment to fight to the finish for the interests of under ten fishermen but it is down to individuals to support the organisation if they want to make their voice heard and have any chance of a viable future."
Extracted from the latest news - NUTFA.