Racs – the basics

Regional Advisory Councils have been heralded as the beginning of a new era in European fisheries.  The North Sea RAC has been in existence for nearly 18 months and the North Western Waters RAC for only six months.  The NFFO has devoted a lot of time and effort into establishing RACs as an effective voice for fishermen and other stakeholders.  But are they a waste of time and money?

Racs – initial achievements

It’s true that these are early days in the RACs’ existence but even now it is possible to point to a number of issues on which they have already made a difference.  For example, it will be harder in the future for the Commission to apply badly thought through and economically disruptive closed areas.  The RACs have agreed a number of strict conditions that should be met before areas are closed.  Similarly, the RAC’s advice on the Shetland box, the Plaice box and the Trevose closure has been followed to the letter.  The signs are that the RACs will be hugely influential bodies.  Time will tell.

Racs – how to get involved

It’s true that in order to get your voice heard and taken seriously it’s best to be part of a regional and national body that has a seat on the RAC.  However, all of the main RAC meetings are open and accessible and fishermen are welcome to attend and speak, at the discretion of the chairman.  Suggestions can be put directly to the RAC secretariat but, are more likely to succeed if they have the backing of the national organisations.

RAcs - Current issues

Acoustic pingers, deep water gill net ban, simplification of the CFP, Channel scallops, revised technical conservation rules, flatfish management plans, maximum sustainable yield and long term fisheries objectives, defensive mapping to give fishing a stronger voice against seabed developers, review of cod recovery measures, discard reduction, Irish Sea discards assessments, better fisheries governance, socio-economic study, better fish stock assessments, dialogue with ICES scientists, Trevose closure, monkfish, whiting, windfarms and impractical marking of gear rules, to name but a few.

Racs and the EU Commission

The Commission has established the RACs and pays £200,000 every year to run each of them, so it would be ridiculous if they didn’t listen very carefully to the RACs.  It is significant that the Norwegian Government has been present at every meeting of the North Sea RAC since its establishment, so clearly Norway thinks that RACs are going to be significant bodies in the future.  If RACs produce well considered, evidence based advice, that is subsequently not followed by the Commission, then the Commission will have to provide a very good explanation of why not.  Some people think that RACs could be a step towards self-governance, where we manage our fisheries ourselves with minimal involvement by politicians.  But RACs will have to walk before they run.

Racs – next steps

It’s true that RACs provide a forum where stakeholders exchange views.  However, the signs are that they will meet their main obligation which is to produce serious advice on the management of fisheries for their regions.  This advice will be backed by evidence gleaned from various sources, including scientists, economists and above all from the industry itself.  So whilst there will inevitably be a lot of talking, the aim is to produce concrete advice that will be influential with the Commission and Council of Ministers.  Whether RACs live up to their hype or not, it would be difficult to be any worse that the consultation arrangements that delivered such measures as the days at sea regime, the North Sea haddock box and the 8% margin of tolerance between logbook and landing declaration.  Of course, there will be strong and weak RACs but that’s up to the people involved.

Who’s involved?

National and regional fishing organisations, processors, green NGOs and other stakeholders.  The fishing sector holds two thirds of the seats.  In the North Western Waters RAC more regional bodies are invited because the area is so large and diverse.  Only the national organisations sit on the Executive Committee.  The NFFO sits on the Executive Committee of the North Sea RAC and the North Western Waters RAC and holds the chair of the North Sea Demersal Working Group and so is well positioned to have its views are taken into account.  It is also represented on the Pelagic RAC and the External Waters RAC.

Where can I find out more?

Websites:

North Sea RAC                           www.nsrac.org
North Western Waters RAC       www.nwwrac.org
Pelagic RAC                                www.pelagic-rac.org