Britain’s fishing industry Jim Portus exposes the government’s betrayal of the fishing industry

 

Britain’s fishing industry Jim Portus exposes the government’s betrayal of the fishing industry

The UK’s fishing industry was almost universally ecstatic about the referendum vote to leave the European Union in June 2016. Meanwhile, United Kingdom Independence Party leader Nigel Farage stated at the time that the way the UK would deal with its fisheries would be the acid test for the whole of Brexit.

The industry was under no illusion that the vote to leave the EU would be the start, not the end, of a process that could take a decade to complete. Many feared that the UK’s fisheries would yet again be used as a bargaining chip by the government, with EU access to Britain’s waters traded away for a favourable deal on trade, exports, finance or access to EU markets.

The Fisheries Bill, however, included the welcome announcement that once the UK had withdrawn from the European Union we would proceed with plans to take back control of our own waters and set our own quotas for fisheries. This reassurance was reinforced by the announcement that the UK would also be withdrawing from the London Fisheries Convention, the legislation that allows foreign vessels to operate inside the 12-mile zone.

The Fisheries Bill received Royal Assent in November 2020. For the fishing industry, very little changed legalistically between June 2016 and December 2020, when the Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement was announced. The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020, and the final transition period ended on 31 December that year.

But 2020 had proved to be a very frustrating year for the fishing industry. The Covid-19 pandemic meant that travel was curtailed from early March, so Zoom and Teams became the norms of communication. David Frost, appointed as the UK’s chief negotiator, began formal face-to-face negotiations with EU officials in April. Within weeks, however, the scale and severity of the Covid-19 pandemic became clear, and the planned negotiations could not continue. The talks were therefore placed on hold and the agreement on fisheries was pushed back from July to December, to align with the wider trade deal. Although DEFRA kept the fishing industry updated as Lord Frost negotiated, fears were rife of a sell-out repeating that by Prime Minister Edward Heath in the 1970s.

At last, on Christmas Eve 2020, the fishing industry saw the details of the withdrawal terms. The industry had been given assurances by the top levels of government – the Prime Minister, senior cabinet ministers and the chief negotiator – that the industry would not be sold out in negotiations with the European Union. But in the event, any trust our industry’s members might have had in the government was shattered. UK fishing rights had indeed been sacrificed to secure the trade deal. The UK gained only a very modest increase in quotas for our fishing boats over a five-and-a-half-year adjustment period; the increase was equivalent to around 25 per cent of the value of fish previously caught by the EU fleet from UK waters. In the first year, just 15 per cent would be added.

In the end, our industry was duped.

The question is whether or not fishing, having exhausted its status as the Brexit poster-child, had become an embarrassment for the government – to become a lasting symbol of political failure to secure for the UK what is considered by many to be our finest national asset.

The first eight months of 2021 were as testing as most of 2020, because of Covid-19. As infections increased and restrictions remained, it was a period of uncertainty and volatility for many UK seafood businesses. New requirements to trade with the EU came into effect. Many exporting businesses experienced major disruptions early in the year, with increased transit times and costs still being an issue at the end of March.

Resilience

But by summer 2021 the situation for the catching sector had become much calmer. As hospitality businesses re-opened, the trade in fresh fish products improved markedly with prices rising to levels last seen in 2019. All the saleable fish that was caught went at good prices. However, nothing could replace the income lost throughout 2020 due to Covid-19, and many smaller businesses were on the brink of collapse.

Nobody would have wished for a combination of Covid-19 and Brexit impacting the fishing and processing sectors at the same time, but it happened. The resilience of the industry has been tested and its survival is proof that seafood is a much-valued commodity.

The UK has some of the best fishing grounds in its Exclusive Economic Zone, but sadly far too much is taken away from it by foreign fishing boats. Even so, fish stocks have been steadily recovering and rising in biomass since about 2008, when the last decommissioning took place. There is optimism for the future of the stocks and therefore for the UK fleet prospects post-Brexit.

As the UK is about to enter negotiations for 2022, all of these factors will be in play, along with the mother of all headaches on how to manage non-quota species. The Specialised Committee for Fisheries and associated annual negotiations will be of central importance, but we have yet to see how this novel process will function in practice.

Some doubt that the UK industry will ever get back what was ceded by Edward Heath when he signed the Treaty of Accession to join the European Economic Community (EEC) in January 1972, but access rights probably go back to 1964 and the London Fisheries Convention, so we cannot blame all the wrongs of the Common Fisheries Policy on the EEC / EU. The UK government has had its eyes open all the time, even while it has shrouded the facts from the eyes of the fishing industry.

Fraudulent flagging 

Another scandal has always been the abuse of the Red Ensign by foreign-owned fishing companies masquerading as British to reap our fish resources for their reward. There have been attempts, such as the Merchant Shipping Act 1988, to rid the UK Register of flags of convenience and quota-hoppers. But this is the realm of the Department for Transport, which has bigger fish to fry in the form of the commercial shipping register. The Fishing Vessel Register should have different rules of establishment and much stronger economic links to the flag state. Now that the UK is no longer subservient to the rulings of the European Court of Justice, a government is needed that is willing to tackle this thorny issue head on, and ensure that British fish is caught by British fishermen on vessels proudly and legitimately flying the Red Ensign.

In 2016, Nigel Farage happily associated himself with Fishing for Leave, a campaign group that became the public face of the fishing industry when Save Britain’s Fish, which had tried to unite the industry to force change, was disbanded. When, a week before the Referendum, I stood on the bridge of the Atlantic Challenge PD197 with her owner-skipper, John Buchan, in the Pool of London, eating grilled kippers with Mr Farage, none of us had any idea that history would be made.

And no idea how frustrated the industry would feel five years later.

Full story and others in the 2021 Maritime Foundation online magazine.

Seven new industry experts have been appointed to the Fishing into the Future (FITF) board of trustees.

 

Seven new industry experts have been appointed to the Fishing into the Future (FITF) board of trustees, expanding the geographical reach of the Trusteeship and enriching the expertise available to guide its charitable activities.

Fishing into the Future is an independent UK charity with a mission to deliver long term, sustainable and prosperous fisheries through collaboration, effective dialogue, and mutual understanding between fisheries management, science and industry stakeholders. Their unique approach ensures that charitable activities are relevant and guided by industry, maintaining minimum of 2/3rds of the Trusteeship as active industry representatives.

Stories from FITF trustees.

As of October 2021, seven new Trustees have joined the FITF board of Trustees, creating renewed momentum and new perspectives to guide future projects. The new Trustees are currently getting involved in ongoing work to develop community learning resources that will support the transition towards co-management and more collaborative science, as well as preparing the launch of a new website “the Fishing Porthole” that will provide a one-stop-shop for learning, sharing & working together.

Emma Plotnek, FITF Executive Director said:

“We are already supported by a wealth of experienced, forward-thinking people and by growing our Trusteeship it shows people in the industry believe in our core values and potential as a charity. We are injecting new ideas and energy into the charity and are striving to ensure we represent the different scales and geographies within the industry, as well as include more women and young voices.”

The new trustees include:

• David Anderson, CEO of the Aberdeen Fish Producers Organisation Ltd.; 
• Orkney based Hannah Fennell, Head of Orkney Fisheries Association and Researcher; 
• Trevor Jones, fisherman, fish farmer and expert in fishing safety based out of North Wales; 
• Northern Irish fisherman Jimmy Kelly, based out of Portavogie; 
• Norfolk-based vessel owner Ashley Mullenger, better known on social media as the “the Female Fisherman”; 
• Mike Park, CEO of the Scottish White Fish Producer Organisation; 
• Neil Witney, owner and skipper of About Time NN8 based out of Newhaven in East Sussex.

Newly inducted Trustee, Ashley Mullenger, said:

“It’s both an honour and a responsibility to be inducted onto the board of Trustees, despite being relatively fresh in my career as a fisherman, it's clear how important it is to understand the science that drives our management policies, whilst also engaging the fishing community in our various upcoming projects, which will help us to play a clear role in the future of the industry"

If you would like to get involved with the charity you can visit the website, follow them on social media or contact the FITF Executive Director, Emma Plotnek, for more information.

Read about the FITF Board of Trustees on the FITF Website. Contact: emma@fitf.co.uk

Working document on the implementation of Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation.

 

Current discussion document appertaining to the CFP - which will impact on the UK even tough were are no longe a member of the EU and subject to the CFP.

As Halloween approaches it's the final #FishyFriday for October.

At first light, there's a brief respite in the overnight rain...

and it was down to the netters to provide fish this morning with hake from the Silver Dawn...

and Stelissa...

along with some seasonal scad...

good sized whiting from the Ygrainei to go with their shot of quality hake......

topped off by the ever-present haddock...

all of which put a smile on the faces of those lucky enough to enjoy the top quality fish landed every day in Newlyn...

one propellor ready for fitting...

as young Barry heads out of the gas and away across the bay looking for mackerel...

Whitelink Seafood's truck introduces a little colour on an otherwise dull, ovecast morning.

 

MINISTRY OF THE SEA - ACCESS TO FRENCH WATERS: TWO ENGLISH SHIPS WARNED, ONE OF WHICH IS DETAINED BY THE MARITIME POLICE.

This is how the story is being reported in French news sites (Google translation):Brexit. 

British trawler fined 75,000 euros Suspected of having caught more than two tonnes of scallops without a license, a British fisherman baffled in Le Havre risks a hefty fine. He denounces a political maneuver while France and the United Kingdom are at daggers drawn on post-Brexit fishing regulations.

Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP 

This photo taken in the port of Le Havre in northern France on October 28, 2021 shows the trawler 'Cornelis-Gert Jan' held by French authorities.

The captain of a baffled British trawler in Le Havre , suspected of having fished more than two tonnes of scallops without a license, risks a fine of € 75,000 and administrative sanctions, the prosecutor's office announced Thursday (October 28th).

Read also: 

France will ban British fishing boats from disembarking from November 2

"It's politically motivated" The vessel is accused of "having fished 2,160 kg of scallops in the French exclusive economic zone without holding a valid license for the area concerned," Cyrille Fournier, deputy prosecutor of Le Havre , told AFP. .

This is an “unauthorized maritime fishing offense in French maritime or salt waters by a vessel outside the European Union” ; he stressed.

"The captain of the ship therefore incurs a fine of € 75,000 on a criminal level as well as administrative sanctions" , added the magistrate.

The owner of the Scottish trawler detained and confused Wednesday by the French authorities said Thursday that it was a "misunderstanding" and denounced a political manoeuvr..

"I suspect it's politically motivated, we haven't had this problem (before)," Andrew Brown, spokesperson for MacDuff Shellfish based in Mintlaw, north of Aberdeen , told AFP. . He confirmed that the trawler Cornelis, specializing in scallop fishing, had been diverted to the port of Le Havre and its captain questioned.

A tense context Two English fishing vessels were fined by the French maritime gendarmerie during checks Wednesday in the Bay of Seine.

These controls, customary "during the scallop fishing season", are also "part of the tightening of controls in the Channel, in the context of discussions on licenses with the United Kingdom and the Commission. European, ” the ministry said in a press release.

France, in conflict with the United Kingdom over post-Brexit fishing licenses, announced on Wednesday the entry into force next Tuesday of the first retaliatory measures against the Channel Islands and London if the number of licenses granted to fishermen French remains insufficient.

Below are two press releases from the French Government relating to the two UK vessels that were boarded on Wednesday while scallop fishing in the Baye de Seine. It looks as though the vessels detained could be the scalloper, Cornelis Gert Jan as she is alongside the French navy vessel, Athos in the port of le Havre.

GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASE - This Wednesday, October 27, the patroller of the maritime gendarmerie Athos carried out several checks of the Seine bate fisheries. off Le Havre. 

In addition to the classic surveillance carried out during the scallop harvesting season. This operation is part of the tightening of controls in the Channel, in the context of discussions on licenses with the United Kingdom and the European Commission. Two English vessels fishing in French waters were reported. The first was removed for obstructing control. In fact, at first, he did not spontaneously comply with the request for boarding by the maritime gendarmes as provided for in the regulations. On the summons of the maritime gendarmes, he ended up undergoing control which did not reveal any other violation of the regulations on maritimes fisheries. This English fishing vessel was fined for obstructing control. The second English vessel fishing in French waters did not appear on the license Lists granted to the United Kingdom by the European Commission and France. 

The patroller of the maritime gendarmerie therefore summons the offending vessel to the port of Le Havre. Under the supervision of the liberty and detention judge, the diversion procedure may lead to the confiscation of the proceeds of the fishery as well as to the immobilisation of the vessel against the payment of a bond. This represents important economic consequences for the shipowner. The captain of the fishing vessel risks, for its part, penal sanctions, under the control of judicial self-government.

GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASE 10/27/2021

OBTAINING DEFINITIVE FISHING LICENSES THE GOVERNMENT TAKES STOCK WITH THE ELECTED AND ANNOUNCES RETURN MEASURES WITH REGARD TO THE UNITED KINGDOM

In the context of discussions between France, the European Commission and the United Kingdom to obtain fishing licenses under the trade and cooperation agreement, Annick Girardin, Minister for the Sea, and Clement Beaune, secretary State in charge of European affairs, exchanged this morning with the elected representatives of the territories concerned. The ministers recalled the actions taken vis-à-vis the European Commission and the British government in support of the requests which were presented by the fishermen from January 2021. A significant number of licenses are still missing to which French fishermen are entitled.

Since that date, intense work has been undertaken to obtain fishing licenses. Until today, the United Kingdom has not responded to our requests, and has even introduced new conditions not provided for in the trade and cooperation agreement.

Over the last few years, the Government has thus taken numerous actions to demand from the British answers on the number, dates and methodology of the issuance of these licenses.

• Several meetings with fishing professionals which made it possible to ensure the basis of our requirements;

• Different meetings with all the elected officials in the three regions concerned (Hauts-de-France, Brittany, Normandy), this morning again, the elected officials again insisted on the needadopt firm measures in all sectors. Solidarity with the last arch, they do not exclude from their rating actions concerning their bilateral cooperation;

• The adoption of a declaration with 11 other member countries reaffirming the European solidarity of the fishing states impact. and their concern over non-compliance with the agreement;

• Meetings with French MEPs, the European Commissioner in charge of Oche, Mr Sinkevicius, and the Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of relations with the United Kingdom, Mr Sefcovic associating the professional representatives of the French Oche;

• Different meetings between Annick Girardin and the British authorities, Victoria Prentis, Minister for Fisheries of the United Kingdom, as well as the Jersey authorities. Despite 10 months of intense discussions, the British government still has not honored its signature, so as of November 2, the government will adopt targeted measures, including:

• Ban on disembarkation of British Ache ships in designer ports; - Strengthening of sanitary and customs controls; - Conti, the safety systems for British ships; - Reinforcement of controls on trucks to and from the United Kingdom.

France also asks the European Commission to meet the partnership council as soon as possible, and to consider all European measures likely to restore the rights resulting from the trade and cooperation agreement, in particular the activation of corrective measures provided for in Article 506 of the Agreement. A second set of measures is being prepared. In this context, France does not rule out reviewing the energy supply supplied to the United Kingdom. No other subject of European cooperation with the United Kingdom will be able to progress without restoring confidence and fully applying the sire agreements. The State will continue to support the fishermen and the fishmonger through the recovery plan and the Brexit support plan announced by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister.

The Government maintains its wish to move forward with the United Kingdom in resolving these difficulties associated with the application of the agreement and expects concrete responses within a few days, both for the Channel Islands and for the 6/12 miles.

Tanslated by Google.

 

COP-26 How the MMO will meet the climate change challenge.

Newlyn 2004 storm surge - Without intervention, costal flooding will increase in regularity and severity. Video: ©Phil Lockley

Climate change is bad news for everyone, from the prospect of fewer and smaller fish in the sea to the communities that will be affected by coastal erosion and flooding.


Tom McCormack, MMO Chief Executive,

"I don’t think there has ever been such awareness of the threat of climate change to our planet. The news of wildfires, droughts, floods, heatwaves, and other devastating consequences of global warming is now so frequent and still so alarming.

And now there is greater understanding of how higher temperatures and rising sea levels cause seismic change – absorbing heat and carbon dioxide means altering the chemistry of seawater, changing currents and rainfall, shifting shores. This leads to transformation in marine life, from flux in migratory patterns of some species to affecting the growth of some species.

The good news is that while this is a global challenge, it can have local solutions, and the work we do together can help.

Our mission as England’s marine manager is to protect and develop our seas, coasts and communities for the benefit of generations to come. We also play a leading international role in Blue Belt, which works to enhance marine protection in over 4 million square km of ocean in the UK Overseas Territories."

The UK is hosting the COP26 climate change meeting of world leaders in November, and they will focus on the following goals:

Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach

Adapt to protect communities and natural habitat

Mobilise finance

Work together to deliver

Across MMO we are focussing on how the job we do fits with these goals and the UK’s climate strategy, which advocates marine planning, nature-based solutions, and sustainable fisheries management. You can find out more about the bigger picture in our magazine, Sea Views.

Here are just some of the areas we are showcasing as the conference approaches.

Marine Planning

We are now rolling out our new integrated marine planning framework for England. Working with developers, planning authorities and other decision-makers we are demonstrating how Marine Plans – the first ever for England - can ensure their activities happen in a sustainable and coordinated way and help protect and enhance our marine environment and are a valuable tool for those making a contribution to net zero.

mpa

The plans, which can be seen at Explore Marine Plans, provide one comprehensive view of the coasts, estuaries, and tidal waters around England’s seas - an area of 230,000 square kilometres - and take into account everything that exists in the local area, from shipwrecks to marine wildlife, and existing uses such as cables, dredging or fishing.

Sustainable fisheries

We are adapting together with the fishing industry to make fishing more sustainable in a number of ways, from collecting and using data more effectively to improving seafood labelling for better traceability and enhancing systems that provide certification for export.

The majority of fishermen and women are doing their utmost to ensure we have accurate records of what is taken from the sea, where and when. The fleet of smaller boats (under 12m) are making great strides in using new technology with over 80% now using the catch recording app and preparing to install vessel monitoring devices for the first time.

Fishing

At MMO, we have begun to phase in a new digital mobile app for our coastal officers to record inspection and sighting information, both at sea and on the coast, eventually providing a modern, more streamlined, and standardised process for inspection reports which will be of benefit for skippers and vessel owners.

Our weekly bulletin provides an update on developments and useful information for the fish and seafood industry every Friday. Read the latest edition.

Nature-based solutions

We are increasing the protection and management of our network of offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around England. Working with all users of the sea, we are assessing what is needed to protect MPAs and where necessary restore their species and habitats, while allowing continued sustainable economic and recreational marine activities.

There are 178 MPAs covering 40% of English waters – an area of over 92,000 square kilometres. The majority are inshore (within 12 nautical miles) and already have management measures in place. Our aim is that by 2024, the remaining 40 offshore MPAs (beyond 12 nautical miles) will also be appropriately managed.

planning

The UK has also launched plans to increase protection for England’s waters by piloting some marine sites as ‘Highly Protected Marine Areas’, where all activities that could have a damaging effect on wildlife or marine habitats would be banned.

To support the long-term, holistic approach of the government’s 25-year Environment Plan, MMO ran the Marine Pioneer project, designed to prevent irreversible damage to biodiversity and a loss of natural capital through integrated planning and delivery and better funding mechanisms.

Global influence

MMO plays a leading role in ocean protection and management as part of the UK Government’s Blue Belt Programme which this year exceeded its target of protecting and enhancing over 4 million square kilometres of marine environment around five UK Overseas Territories.

blue belt

Just recently, the government of the remote island community of Tristan da Cunha acknowledged the invaluable support of partners as it announced a management plan for its entire EEZ and ratified new legislation for a ‘no-take’ Marine Protection Zone of nearly 700,000 square kilometres, officially banning all extractive activities. This vast area of the South Atlantic is home to unique and rare species such as the Tristan albatross, sevengill sharks, Tristan rock lobster and northern rockhopper penguins.

Funding

The government’s £100 million UK Seafood Fund has been designed to rejuvenate the fisheries and seafood sector, take advantage of the UK’s additional fishing quota and bring economic growth to coastal communities.

The first £24m of investment to develop technology, trial new gear and support world-class research to improve the productivity and long-term sustainability of the fishing industry has been released. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has divided the fund between science and innovation, infrastructure and skills and training.

cornwall

The whole fund is designed to ensure industry is able to process more fish landed in the UK and create more job opportunities across the supply chain. It will also upskill the workforce and train new entrants, as well as investing in technology to put the UK at the cutting edge of new safe and sustainable fishing methods.

Since launching in April, the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) is providing financial support for projects in England that secure sustainable growth across the catching, processing, and aquaculture sectors, and that protect and enhance the marine environment. Find out more.

Vacancy - Newlyn Chief Executive Officer/Harbour Master

 

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Chief Executive Officer/ Harbour Master to continue the work of developing the port and fulfilling the Commissioners’ vision. The role is the public face of the harbour authority and plays a key role in engaging with the community. The CEO/HM position is a commissioner and will work in collaboration with the Board as the collective Duty Holder so as inform the future strategy of the harbour and its role in the Fishing Industry.

Located in the far Southwest, in the popular destination of Mounts Bay, Newlyn Harbour is a Trust Port set up by an Act of Parliament, with the responsibility to manage the harbour in an open and transparent way as detailed in the Port Good Governance Guide and related statute. 

Click here for full details of this vacancy including information on How to Apply.

Closing date for applications by 05/11/2021.