The NFFO West Coast Committee along with Bella Murfin, Defra’s head of the Access to Fisheries policy team and Chief Fisheries Officers from the two North West SFCs has discussed the issues facing the sector at its latest meeting in Whitehaven on 18th November. It is told that the federation is making a profile of the Irish Sea which has suffered from a lack of attention from authorities in the past, an over bearing and blunt Cod Recovery Plan, contentious proposals on the nephrops fishery to cut the TAC and poor market prices which are painting a bleak picture for the region.
An update on Defra’a ongoing Sustainable access to inshore fisheries projects has been received by the Committee. Proposals for Natura 2000 marine protected areas intended for the protection Common Scoter and Red Throated Diver in Liverpool Bay and reef and shallow sand bank features at Shell Flats and Lune Deep off Fleetwood were discussed. Ron Graham, Chairman of the Committee said that the Committee welcomed the opportunity to impress upon Defra the serious issues they face in the region.
Graham also hope that the SAIF project will come forward with some sensible proposals for managing the inshore fleet. One improvement that is certainly needed is to bring quota management closer to the regions to better match quota provision with the available opportunities and seasonal cycles.
