THE UK-based National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations has said this year's annual round of EU fish quota negotiations have increased with intensity since preparations began last May.
Assessing the strength of the science had now become an integral part of the process of setting total allowable catches (TACs) not least as ICES estimates that the data deficiencies and other weaknesses in their assessments meant that the precise status of around 60 per cent of the stocks assessed was 'not known'.
The NFFO said: 'Equally, working with other member states to identify allies with shared interests is particularly important to the UK which because of its geography has a much wider range of quota interests than most member states.
'We meet directly with Defra officials on a number of occasions throughout the year to discuss and refine the UK’s TAC priorities, apart from the formal stakeholder meetings.'
The NFFO said it also planned to send a strong delegation to the December Council meeting next week 'to see through the work started earlier in the year in establishing UK priorities'.
'Sometimes the federation is called upon to make judgements in difficult policy areas where ministers are unsure of industry reactions; sometimes we provide technical advice. But the main purpose of attending and lobbying the Council is that whilst ministers are inside the negotiating chamber they are constantly aware that they will have to account for their actions on emerging from the talks.'
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