The results of the UK referendum should be sending a very clear signal to Brussels that fishermen find EU fisheries policy too bureaucratic, especially in regard to the Natura 2000 regulations, according to Johan Nooitgedagt of Dutch PO De Nederlandse Vissersbond.
‘Rules are needed for fishing, but the discard ban took things too far, along with the loss of good fishing grounds,’ he said, but added that the discard ban had its origins in the UK, with TV chefs leading the way for it.
The UK referendum coincides almost precisely with the establishment in the Netherlands of the EMK group (Eendracht Maakt Kracht = Unity Makes Strength), a spontaneous movement focused on the problems of the discard ban and the loss of fishing grounds to MPAs and yet more windfarm areas that reduce available fishing grounds.
‘The lesson that the Netherlands needs to learn from the British referendum is that the voice of fishermen needs to be taken seriously. The links between policy and fishermen have been cut, and the British have demonstrated this. A great majority of British fishermen made their voices heard, although they may have yet to experience the consequences of this,’ he said.
‘The hangover from all this is huge. Where do we go from here? Fishermen should not be made to suffer by Brussels, and instead Brussels should be helping its fishing industry. Policy has to have some logic behind it,’ he said.
Johan Nooitgedagt said that now that UK fishermen have clearly voted to leave EU membership, Dutch fishermen feel that this is an example worth following and there is a very clear dissatisfaction among them.
‘Fishermen finally have good quotas, but have lost much of their fishing grounds, which is unacceptable. Now fishermen want to visible action and De Nederlandse Vissersbond will support them with every legal way we can. I have been in touch with the movement’s leaders and have urged them that a realistic and achievable plan with structure and vision is crucial,’ he said.
‘Fishermen have already been pushed as far as they can be, and are demanding a secure future and no additional threats to their livelihoods. Campaigning does not present problems, but action that is sympathetic to the public requires careful management. We wish EMK every success and will provide support in any way we can,’ Johan Nooitgedagt said.
