April 2012

newsThe National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations

For all the latest news check our website www.nffo.org.uk

The NFFO has written to UK Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon, expressing concern over the Government’s piecemeal approach to resolving the under-10m quota issue. It also puts forward workable alternatives. The letter suggests that the current approach to quota redistribution is likely to alienate many in the industry – under and over 10metres - without satisfying those under 10s which face difficulties, or solving their problems.

The problems facing the under-10s have been built up over a number of years and are at their most acute in those areas like the Thames estuary or eastern Channel where options to

target alternative species are limited. Above all the problems are multi-faceted and will not be solved through changes to domestic quota arrangements alone. A comprehensive solution would tackle:

• The imbalance between quota availability and the capacity of the under-10m fleet, which has not had access to decommissioning funds on an equivalent basis to the rest of the industry over the last 20 years.

• The lack of access of the under-10 fleet to ongoing, tailored quota management on their behalf of the type offered by producer organisations on a daily basis to their members.

• The constraints imposed by EU quota shares, through a more intelligent and active

approach to transfers and swaps.• Redistribution of quota – which is fraught

with administrative, legal and ethical difficulties – as a last resort and only as part of a comprehensive package.

In truth, some parts of this package are being tackled by Defra, including the launch of pilots for regionalised under-10m quota management; but the absence of a cohesive approach and the sense that the “solution” on offer amounts to ongoing salami-slicing from producer organisations is leading to division and conflict rarely seen in the industry before.

The full text of the NFFO’s letter can be found on our website at www.nffo.org.uk

Under 10m quota debacle

The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations Newsletter

For all the latest news check our website www.nffo.org.uk

An NFFO delegation met recently with Dr Stephen Bolt, the Chief Executive of the Association of Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities, the new umbrella body for the 10 inshore fisheries conservation authorities, which have replaced the old sea fisheries committees. This was a useful meeting which allowed us to compare notes on the challenges facing the inshore fisheries.

The Association has been created to strengthen the visibility of IFCAS at national level and to facilitate coordination between the IFCAs - but not to speak on their behalf or to determine policy. This will be the exclusive competence of the 10 local IFCAs.

It is clear that perhaps the major challenge facing IFCAs over the next few years will lie in the application of management measures for those European Natura sites and domestic marine conservation zones which lie within the six mile limit. The Federation was able to share with the Association the vision, developed by the MPA Fishing coalition, of a consensus based approach to managing the sites in ways that provide the necessary protection for vulnerable species and habitats whilst minimising the

The NFFO’s Executive Committee met in York in February to review developments in the industry and to decide upon policy in several key areas.

Amongst the stances agreed was to exert maximum effort during the course of the coming year to secure changes to the EU Cod Management Plan consistent with rebuilding cod stocks and the wellbeing of the fleets, as well to to refine and complete the Federation’s policy paper on the Commission’s “non-papers” on CFP reform combined with a redoubling of efforts to ensure that the industry’s voice is heard in the European Parliament during the course of the coming year.

Following a successful trading year, NFFO Services Limited is making a grant of £100,000 to the NFFO Training Trust for expenditure in line with the Trust’s purposes.

displacement of fishing activity. Managing the areas outside the various marine protected areas may prove to be as much of a challenge because of the requirements of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive which applies stringent standards for good environmental status.

A regionalised approach to the management of the shellfish fisheries in which IFCAs necessarily play a central and dynamic role will be another major focus of IFCAs work which overlaps with the Federation’s policy.

The IFCAs have to achieve their goals within the context of budget constraints, and the complexities of government (Defra, Marine Management Organisation, Natural England, Environment Agency, not to mention the devolved administrations and European legislation.) The performance of the IFCAs will be reviewed after four years.

There was much overlap in the concerns and views of the Federation and the Association. Our strong emphasis on the regional dimension and tailored management measures and antipathy towards top-down one-size-fits-all solutions sits well with the IFCAs’ focus and responsibilities. We aim to work closely with the IFCAs and this was a good start.

Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities

Committee develops key policy stances

NFFO Services grant donation

Keep updated on fishing issuesIn addition to the NFFO website, which is regularly updated, the Federation is launching its email updates service to members. It will be free of charge and will alert members to all important developments in the industry generally and your sector specifically.

To access this facility you only have to email the NFFO at nffo@nffo.org.uk, providing your name, email address and vessel name and number.

You will then receive regular updates from the NFFO.

The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations Newsletter

For all the latest news check our website www.nffo.org.uk

Skipper Expo Int. Aberdeen2012 being held on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th June at the AECC, looks set to be an even bigger event with a greater geographical spread of companies preparing to exhibit. Last year’s show attracted over 2500 fishermen from all over the UK, Ireland, Europe, South Africa & the USA. With just under 3 months to go, this year’s show is already poised to become an even bigger international event as enquiries for stand space and show details have been flooding in since the start of 2012.

This year’s show will have more of an international feel with 70 companies already signed up from Russia, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Denmark, Holland, France, Newfoundland, UK & Ireland. Sales Manager, Sharon Boyle, said:

RACs are working with ICES to strengthen fish stock assessments, with the North West Waters RAC having appointed data coordinators for each stock that has been identified as suffering from data deficiencies. Other RACs are taking similar steps. ICES estimates that around 60% of stocks evaluated do not have full analytical assessments.

The task of fishing industry data coordinators is to work with their counterparts within the appropriate ICES assessment group to:

• Identify specific problems with particular assessments.

• Discuss remedial measures with the ICES scientists.

• Encourage and initiate steps to solve those data problems that the fishing industry can do something about.

There is a variety of reasons why ICES may be unable to provide a full analytical assessment with population estimates for a specific stock. These may include:

• Failure by a member state to fulfil its data provision obligations.

• Scientific modelling issues. • Weak landings or discards data.

RACs Work to Fill Gaps in the Science

• Absence of historic discard data.• The cost of collecting the data may be

disproportionate to any benefit.Dealing with this complex picture requires

dialogue and an approach tailored to the specifics of each stock. A mature dialogue between the RACs and ICES has developed over the last two years and the data coordinators are a concrete expression of the RACs commitment to improve the quality of the science on which important management decisions – including TACs – are made.

At the same time ICES is working on an approach to its advice which would avoid a repetition of last year’s debacle when the Commission’s approach to holes in ICES’ advice was to demand TAC cuts of 25% for any stock without an analytical assessment. Although member states decisively rejected that approach as blunt, disproportionate and downright unfair, efforts are being made within ICES to provide more nuanced and differentiated quantitative advice that could be used to underpin TAC decisions.

The NFFO through its membership of the North Western Waters and North Sea RACs is at the forefront of the engagement between the fishing industry and ICES scientists.

Marine Management OrganisationAn NFFO delegation met recently with senior staff of the Marine Management Organisation as part of our agreed programme of regular engagement.

The discussions were wide and deep and took place within a spirit of frank and open engagement. Difficult issues and concerns were raised, with information shared and solutions sought.

Key issues discussed included the implementation of the new EU Control Regulation, the impact of devolution on fishery activities, and the boarding policy of the MMO. Other issues discussed included contradictions in catch composition and discard reduction initiatives, marine conservation zones, and electronic logbooks and VMS.

“We are in a very fortunate situation with this show. Being in daily contact with the industry through our publication, The Skipper, we have built up a solid relationship and are in a strong position to deliver what the industry needs. Feedback from our exhibitors at last year’s show

has been fantastic, and some companies have even recommended our show to other

colleagues resulting in a number of new bookings. We are currently in the process of scheduling various UK sales trips in order to further promote Skipper Expo Int. Aberdeen 2012.”

Once again FASL have come on board as sponsors of the

show. Ross Dougal of FASL said: “Fishsalesmen’s Association

(Scotland) Limited (a constituent member of the Scottish Fishermen’s

Federation) represents the interests of the following Fishing Vessel Agents & Owners: Caley Fisheries Ltd., Denholm Fishselling Ltd., Don Fishing Company Ltd., L.H.D. Ltd., Peter & J Johnstone Ltd. and Westward Fishing Company. Between them, these companies operate

in North Shields, Aberdeen, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Buckie, Scrabster, Lerwick, Kinlochbervie, Lochinver, Ullapool, Mallaig, Macduff , Wick and Portavogie agenting 320 fishing vessels with part ownership in 125. FASL is pleased to have this opportunity to support Skipper Expo International in Aberdeen again this year.”

Among the companies new to the show this year are Annastone Creels of Northern Ireland who recently launched a new galvanised creel frame, Fitzgerald Marine of Cork who will be displaying the redesigned FM21,Fishering Service from Russia which specializes in pelagic fishing gear, Woodsons of Aberdeen, a marine Electronics sales & service company and naval architects, Marine Design International.

Organisers of the event, Mara Media have secured special accommodation rates at the Holiday Inn & Holiday Inn Express at the AECC, see our website for further details.

For further information contact Sharon on 00353 749548037/86 8401250 or email Sharon@maramedia.ie or visit www.maramedia.ie

See you there -Skipper Expo Int. Aberdeen 2012

The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations Newsletter

For all the latest news check our website www.nffo.org.uk

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www.nffo.org.ukNational Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations

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Fax: 01904 635431Email: nffo@nffo.org.ukproduced by Catch PR

CFP Reform: Commission ‘Non-papers’The NFFO welcomes the Commission’s clarification of key aspects of its CFP reform proposals in its recently published “non-papers”.

Regionalisation, transferable fishing concessions, a discard ban and a CFP based on maximum sustainable yield are central components in the Commission’s proposals, and yet are all subject to varied and contested interpretations. It is useful therefore to have some background explanation to the thinking behind them.

The Green paper, and subsequently the Commission’s CFP Proposals, advanced regionalisation of decision-making as the central means of making the CFP more responsive, relevant and effective by bringing management decisions closer to the fisheries concerned. The explanation now outlined in the Commission non-paper confirms however, that what is envisaged is a minimalist version of a regionalised decision making process. This is a disappointment and carries great significance for the reform.

We are concerned that in terms of delegating responsibilities to the regional seas level there will be a very wide gap between what was envisaged in the CFP Green Paper and supported by the RACs and the substance of post reform decision-making. Our fear is that very little will change if the role of regional cooperation is narrowly defined and restricted to implementing prescriptive requirements still agreed at the centre. A CFP which retains control over aims, objectives and timetables (as opposed to setting standards, determining overall strategy and intervening where there is a

default) will repeat the weaknesses seen in the CFP of the recent past. The current EU Cod Management Plan presents an object lesson in what to avoid.

On Transferable Fishing Concessions, the non-paper makes clear that the Commission’s rationale for embracing transferable fishing concessions is that the CFP has failed to deal with the problem of fleet overcapacity. Whilst we agree that transferable fishing concessions can be an effective way to manage quotas within each member state, we question whether the EU has legal competence in this sphere; moreover, we doubt the wisdom and logic of applying a top-down blanket approach to this area of policy when the stated orientation for the rest of the CFP is in the opposite direction.

With regards to CFP reform and the discard ban, the Commission acknowledges that fishermen across Europe have undertaken a number of good initiatives to reduce discards but considers that these are insufficient to assuage public concern about what it describes as “this wasteful practice”. It has therefore proposed a ban within a “gradual approach in three stages: pelagic species in 2014, most valuable demersal species (cod, hake and sole) in 2015 and other species in 2016”.

Whilst we share the Commission’s objective of minimizing discards, the idea of a ‘ban’ owes more to an overreaction to media sensitivities than the hard, practical task of addressing the various drivers for discarding and the development of equally different solutions for them. We are astounded that the non-paper says nothing about

the Commission’s own responsibilities to remove all legislation that currently generates discards. The catch composition rules and certain TAC decisions in mixed fisheries is an obvious place to start.

It is worth repeating that substantial progress has already been made in reducing discards and these initiatives have been notified to the Commission. At the same time we are uneasy about applying the word “ban” to the efforts to minimise discards. Although a “ban” plays well with those parts of the media which have focused on the discards issue, the most superficial enquiry will reveal that even in those countries like Norway which ostensibly have a ban on discards, this prohibition is necessarily far from absolute. Unless the aim is to close mixed fisheries down completely and immediately, the practicalities and realities of fishing have to be taken into account.

As far as Maximum Sustainable Yield is concerned, the NFFO believes there is nothing intrinsically wrong with identifying a level of fishing mortality that would consistently deliver high yields and then orientating management decisions to achieve that objective. The difficulty arises when a fetish is made of that objective and sight is lost of the necessary trade-offs, particularly in mixed and multi-species fisheries, that require balance with other objectives. Whilst we can see steady progress in our stocks towards some proxy of MSY, we are absolutely convinced that it would be a serious mistake to tie fisheries managers’ hands at regional seas level by making achievement of MSY a general and mandatory obligation.