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ALL the signs are that 2012 will be a pivotal year for the fishing industry, says the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations.
Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and the review of the EU cod management plan were two developments this year with a huge capacity on their own to shape our future – " for either good or ill".
The NFFO said during the course of the next 12 months it was likely that important decisions will be made in domestic fisheries policy. The shape of the concordat between Defra and the devolved administrations will be revealed at some stage, and there will be further steps to resolution of the difficulties facing parts of the under-10-metre fleet
"We expect also that there will be progress in the implementation of a new approach to managing shell fisheries . These will all bring impacts - but for better or worse remains to be seen. At the same time the industry will have to continue to deal with huge new developments such as the establishment of network marine protected areas and massive offshore wind farms which both have the capacity to displace fishing activity from its customary grounds."
"There are some who believe that our future is largely preordained and shaped by bigger forces than our relatively small but still important industry. But that is to surrender before the fight has begun. The NFFO will be found throughout the coming year alongside our friends and allies at the heart of all of these issues, arguing for rational, fair and evidence-based policies consistent with a profitable and sustainable future."
The NFFO said that one way in which the future can be better than the recent past is by developing and implementing well-thought-through long term management plans.
"With a destination in sight and the means to get there agreed, much of the heat can be taken out of TAC decisions and steady progress can be made in building stocks. The North Sea RAC will be continuing its work on a long term management plan for nephrops and the North Western Waters RAC will be building on foundations already laid on the development of a multi-annual plan for the mixed demersal fisheries in the Celtic Sea."
Given that many of the more knotty problems in fisheries management arise from the multi-species and multi-gear character of many of our fisheries, the RACs also have the intention of organising a conference this year on mixed- fisheries. This should provide a useful platform for building these and other management plans.
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