Taken from closed steering group Evolution of the Real Fish Fight: Ian Kinsey
We all pretty much agree on what we want for the fishing industry, a sustainable future for coastal communities. The Fishing industry has made considerable progress over the last few years in regards to selection and reducing discards - the very backbone of responsible fisheries ---- the getting there has been, and will be a "slippery slope" for some time to come.
An important part of making a good strategy when championing the fishing industry, is being clear of what is out there, both pro, and anti-fishing. We all have a good idea of the size and extent of the anti-fishing lobby, but what of the pro- fishing organisations?
We have many large and small fishermen's organisations around the UK and Ireland --- we need to bring them together in a "coalition of fishers for future", a new platform must encompass and give recognition to all the work these organisations have done through the years.
We have also science groups such as Cefas, Marine Scotland, Seafish and many more that have collaborated with the fishing industry through the Industry and Science Partnership, and not forgetting the WWF, who have supported the conservation credits scheme.
Let's not try to "invent the wheel again", but be a facilitator for all the good that is in the industry, be it either at sea or on land - catching, processing, marketing, science and management.