Gary Hodgson, chairman of NFFO’s new Shellfish Committee, is determined to go ahead with a re-examination of brown crab and lobster conservation measures. According to him NFFO members should get involved through its Regional and Shellfish Committees and contribute to defining the Federation’s policy stance.
As several questions raised to the Fisheries Minister at the NFFO’s Annual General Meeting last summer, Defra are again examining options to tighten conservation measures on crab and lobster fisheries. Gary Hodgson also said that it is important that they do not make the same mistakes that occurred in the whitefish sector. Although shellfish stocks are generally good we need to be forward thinking in order to safeguard the industry’s long-term future.
He also warned that decisions must be supported by an adequate evidence base and not rushed through in a hurry. That requires an in-depth assessment of the options, including the consequences for each region, and this needs to be supported through the broad involvement of all parts of the industry. It is true that the Federation has been active in the UK Nations and Republic of Ireland Crab Interests forum that first convened last September and meets for its third meeting this Thursday (2nd April) in Dublin.
