There is no doubt that year 2009 was full of challenges for the NFFO and it is difficult to escape the conclusion that although some of the emphasis and focus of work will shift, the workload will be no lighter in 2010. Hill said that exceptionally, the breakdown of the EU Norway negotiations in December means that we will be back in that particular front line in January.
January will also see the launch of a major new initiative to ensure that the fishing industry has a strong, clear and united voice, as the Government and its statutory advisors on conservation move to introduce a network of marine protected waters around the UK. The Commission’s attempt to wash its hands of this failure of governance will not be allowed to stand and the Federation will be working through the RACs, other fishermen’s organisations and gear suppliers to challenge the gauge on both technical and legal grounds.
The NFFO took a leading role in shaping the CFP reform responses by the regional advisory councils and Europeche/ACFA. The establishment of massive offshore wind-farms, potentially displacing fishermen from their customary fishing grounds, is another major theme in the Federation’s work.
Hill told that its main aim is to strengthen the NFFO regional committees over the next 12 months ant to find ways of continuing the sterling work in the ports and with the inshore fleets started by Alan McCulla. From their outset the NFFO has devoted a lot of its resources and energies to working in and through the RACs. There will be no easing up in this area and Irish Sea fisheries management, long term management plans, Celtic Sea cod, CFP reform and a host of other issues will be progressed through this channel.
