Port Meetings with Alan McCulla

Alan McCulla, Chief Executive of the Anglo Northern Irish Fish Producers’ Organisation, is to visit ports in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, on behalf of the NFFO, this year.  He’ll be meeting with local fishermen to hear about their problems and will advise them on the most effective way to make their voices heard and increase their influence over fisheries management.

Alan is looking forward to kick-starting his series of port meetings with the North East Committee’s meeting in North Shields, on the 17th January 2008.  He’ll also be visiting fishermen in other North East ports, accompanied by Ned Clark (Chairman of the NFFO North East Committee) on the 16th and 17th January.  Further dates will be announced shortly. 

He said: “These meetings are all about finding out what fishermen want and helping them to make that happen.  The NFFO is successfully engaging with the Commission - particularly through the Regional Advisory Councils - and Defra, but now the NFFO wants to help the fishermen they represent to do the same.  I don’t want to justify NFFO policy or convince people to join the NFFO, all I care about is helping fishermen to make their voices heard by using the most effective channel for their issue, whether that is through the NFFO or another route.”