SCOTTISH and English fishing leaders have recently met government and environmental groups as part of a high level engagement over the creation of the new marine protected areas around UK waters.
The fishing industry does not oppose these new zones in principle (also called MPAs) - the first came into existence off Lundy a few weeks ago - but is anxious to ensure that a proper balance is struck and the interest of the industry are maintained.
The recently formed coalition of the Scottish Fishermens Federation and the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) held its first talks with Defra, Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
The fishing coalition says that along with the arrival of offshore wind-farms, the establishment of MPAs represents the biggest potential threat to fishermen’s access to their fishing grounds that the industry has faced in its entire history.
"There are now legal obligations on ministers both at European level and domestically to introduce MPAs in UK waters. The statutory nature conservancy agencies at present have a massive budget to provide advice to Government on the implementation of both European and domestic MPAs. They are driving the MPA agenda forward at breakneck speed."
The coalition said that inevitably for a first engagement, this meeting was a ground clearing exercise for all involved when some important points were clarified, which included recognising the coalition as the principal body for engaging with statutory advisors and Government decision makers.
It adds that the immediate priority is for every fishing organisation to register itself as a member of the MPA Fishing Coalition c/o 30 Monkgate
York YO31 7PF
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