Representatives of the NFFO and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federations recently joined forces for a lobby day in Parliament, ahead of key decisions on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and therefore the CFP, lobbying to underscore the importance of the decisions due to be taken for the UK fishing industry at national and local levels.
A team of 20 port representatives were there to talk to local MP about their specific issues. The meeting was addressed by both Secretary of State Michael Gove and opposition fisheries spokesman Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth.
60 parliamentarians and researchers attended the event with representation from all political parties. Key civil servants from DEFRA attended.
‘The lobby was highlighted very publicly in the House of Commons to the Prime Minister in Prime Ministers Questions, with support for both the NFFO and SFF. Two questions were asked, with the first coming early in PMQs from Alistair Carmichael,’ an NFFO spokesman commented.
‘We have had a number of commitments from parliamentarians to help in further, practical ways, such as by speaking with their colleagues and front benches. The majority of those who attended signed our ‘pledge board’. The lobby day was highlighted in the House of Lords, by Lord Grocott, name checking the SFF and NFFO and asking for support for the aims of the lobby day.’
