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THE ever-vigilant National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations is gearing up for an extremely busy autumn on a number of important issues affecting its members.
Although the number of stocks under long-term management plans are increasing, (theoretically reducing the significance of the EU December Fisheries Council) the Commission is suggesting that all stocks suffering from “data deficiencies” should be subject to a 25 per cent catch reduction.This proposal, says the NFFO, "ensures that we will have to fight to block this perverse and entirely counter-productive approach".
It said: "At the same time, the STECF/ICES report on the EU Cod Management Plan points to the need for serious changes and the first issue to address is what kind of interim arrangements should apply for 2012 given that the present pre-programmed reductions delivers high levels of discards. One of the clear lessons from an analysis of the current plan is that a tailored approach is required for the Irish Sea.
"Whilst ICES advice has now acknowledged the misalignment of the Celtic Sea total catch there is frustration at the slow response from the Commission to requests for a mid-year increase in the TAC."
The Marine Conservation Zone development is another issue worrying the NFFO and it said consideration of the management measures that should apply within these zones was coming to a head along with the consequences of fleet displacement if the process fails to deliver a balanced and well founded approach. At these can range from additional monitoring to complete closure to fishing vessels; how the issue will be dealt with will be critical.
The NFFO adds: "On the shellfish front, Defra is keen to move forward to address latent capacity through the extension of a rights-based system to the crab and lobster fisheries. This needs a great deal of thinking through to get the right balance between progressive conservation and flexibility for the inshore fleets and the Federation’s Shellfish Committee will be working to strike the right balance."
The consultation exercise on how to address the quota shortage facing some under-10-metre fisheries has turned a spotlight on the wide variety of views even within the inshore sector. Making progress in moving towards a system that delivers viability, stability and flexibility requires a great deal of work and the federation will be at the heart of those discussions. Time would also be taken up with regional advisory councils, CFP reform and other related matters.
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