The previous chair, Fred Normandale, moves up to become NFFO President.
Davey Hill was successful skipper of the 22 metre prawn trawler Westerdale until last year and is taking some time off the sea to take an active role in the choppy waters of fishing politics.
Davey Hill said, “I am honoured to be given this opportunity to represent fishermen right across the country. I recognise that it is a tremendous responsibility and that many fishermen’s livelihoods depend on the decisions that are made each year in the corridors of power. That is why I am fully committed to making my time as NFFO Chairman count.”
“I am grateful to Fred Normandale and Elizabeth Stevenson and many others around the NFFO Executive who have offered invaluable support and advice. I am in the fortunate position of having fished in both the Irish Sea and the North Sea and bring that experience with me to the post.”
“This is clearly a very difficult time for the fishing industry and what my experience tells me is that the industry’s influence is very closely related to the degree to which we can speak with a united voice. I am committed to ensuring that the NFFO speaks for all fishermen no matter which part of the coast they fish from, the size of their vessel or their target species.”
“The oil price crisis and government support for the industry; the Scottish Executive’s unilateral proposal for a separate quota system; the imminent arrival of marine conservation zones and the annual round of TAC and days-at-sea restrictions: these are all major issues on which I intend the NFFO to be very active”
“I also want the NFFO to be a very open and accessible organisation and I will be working to ensure that, through our communications and through initiatives like Alan McCulla’s port visits that this will happen.”
