NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FISHERMEN’S ORGANISATION – 48TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Following a ballot carried out earlier in the week, the new team at the helm was introduced: President Paul Gilson, Chairman Chris Ranford and Vice Chair Phil Haslam, pictured here with NFFO CEO Mike Cohen.

The meeting was opened by President Paul Gilson, who welcomed everyone aboard the beautiful setting of the historic warship. After a roundup of the Federation’ year from CEO Mike Cohen, NFFO Chairman Chris Ranford gave his annual speech:

“Representing you as your Chairman this past year, well, I’ve certainly seen my surfing career fade away, but I’m on first name terms with the sleeper train staff from Penzance to London, and I might have made more money from train delay repay claims than the salary, but every part of it has been worth it. To stand beside the NFFO team and represent the industry far behind the scenes with the various government agencies and people in the room, it’s awesome to be a part of and ensure the fishing voice is heard loud and clear.

That aside, I am glad I personally live and work in a fishing community, so I can remind myself every day what is really happening, and how wild the world outside, looking in at fishing, can be at times. If you only followed the headlines in 2025, who knows what you might end up believing. I like the fact I can walk up to the coast path and watch the boats in Mounts bay, working all hours to hunt food. I like the fact I can wander down the quay in the early hours, and see what is being landed. And around lunch time I can walk past pubs, cafes, restaurants and check out the menus and see a range of seafood being proudly advertised: caught by our members, and consumed with smiles on faces. It is essential, in order to paint the picture of this to whoever we are engaging with, and to share stories and real life experiences with whoever we meet: be it the Secretary of State, Minister, celebrity chef, ENGO, school teacher, student or a parent. 

It’s an endless job to educate and re-educate, but one I enjoy and can draw from so much experience we have in the NFFO. I thank you all: our members, our president, our vice chairman, our Exec, the core team: bravo for standing strong in a tough year, keeping your cool, and working with facts, using common sense and as much calm as possible. A small team we might be, but I often find the NFFO voice is the clearest in the room, the most forward thinking, the most articulate, the most honest. We don’t come with problems, we bring solutions. Surely this approach pays off in the end.  

Looking forward, I do hope that 2026 is a little more simple…

Fishing needs space, not just at sea to do the job, but space to think, space to deliver our own solutions. It is not easy to simplify, it’s actually much easier to add another layer of complexity and assume we are doing the right thing. So I find myself looking for simplicity when wearing the chairman’s hat and presenting the fishing industry in a complex world. I was recently shown Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. A simple model that shows how people progress from the most basic requirements for survival to the highest levels of fulfilment and contribution. And when you look at the fishing industry through that lens, you see very clearly that fishing supports every level of human need. The case for our industry becomes undeniable. Fishing is not an extra part. Fishing is a foundation. 

The foundation for humans is for physiological needs to be met

At the base of the hierarchy is the need for food. Real food. Seafood remains one of the most positively potent sources of physical and mental nourishment. 2 portions a week according to the NHS. It’s in the national food strategy, finally: fish is part of the good food cycle and getting people off the junk food cycle. Upwards of 50 different species are landed on our quaysides, beaches, coves. Densely packed nutrients, omega 3’s, wild unprocessed protein: it’s not just food security, fish is a super food. Don’t forget that. 

Safety and security needs 

Next up the pyramid comes safety, stability and resilience. 

And in a world full of geopolitical risks, seemingly escalating each week, this foundation matters more than ever. When I see a boat steaming in or out to sea, or I walk down any quayside, I feel a sense of safety. I know that people are out there harvesting and preparing food. I see the supply chain in action and know these people have jobs, income, worth. I see lights on in dark winter nights, I hear forklifts buzzing all hours, keeping me awake, but knowing this isn’t a seasonal part time employer. Fishing is real life. 

Belonging and community 

The next level is belonging. Community. Connection. 

Earlier this year, as part of the regional committees tour in East Anglia, I found myself sitting in a shed –  a proper shed, wood burner on –  with Mike Roach, our President, and Charles Blythe, sheltering from a brutally cold north wind. We were meeting with local fishermen and taking the work of the NFFO into those quieter corners, ensuring they know who is representing fishermen, and ensuring our ear is tuned in to their local needs. I listened to fishermen share their challenges honestly, but also their hope and ambitions. They spoke openly about how the NFFO could support them. They spoke about learning from the past and moving forward.  That was community in action.

Esteem 

Next comes esteem. Pride. Respect. Recognition. 

I feel that the industry led movement to unite itself as a whole seafood sector is stronger than ever. Last week in Newlyn we hosted the Minister, where we met people from every step of the supply chain, not staged, just real life. All within a few early hours of the day, witnessing each piece of the puzzle mingle and work together and respect one another. Every one of them spoke with passion, belief, eager to share their knowledge, their solutions, their future. Standing in that space, surrounded by the buzz you can only find in a fishing community, you cannot help but feel the pride. 

Self actualisation 

Finally we reach the top of the pyramid. Self actualisation. The space where people and industries fulfil their potential, innovate and shape the future. This is where our industry stands some of the time, but it is where we need to stay more often. It is also where government needs to meet us and spend time working with us. Look at what we achieve when we operate in this space. Fisheries science partnerships, fishing gear innovation and technology advancements – certainly better than ban this or ban that – vast improvements in safer working conditions and safety equipment, mentorships and training schemes, young fishermen networks, women in fishing networks, raising prices of under loved species, engaging with competing sectors in a healthy environment, sharing data and evidence, moving us into a safer future and not standing on each other’s toes. 

So, Let’s spend more time here in 2026. Let’s find some space, so fishing can move forward.”

Listening to this was the Food Security Minister, Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP, along with members of the Defra fisheries team. The Minister’s speech acknowledged the importance of sustaining coastal communities and struck a positive note with her remarks about listening to and working with all parts of the fishing industry in the year ahead and using the forthcoming Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund to leverage lasting positive change. Shadow Food Security Minister, Neil Hudson MP, joined the meeting next and the final guest was Alistair Carmichael MP: the chair of the EFRA Select Committee, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fisheries and long-standing friend of the fishing industry.

Each of the three speakers’ contributions was followed by a lively Q&A session which demonstrated how willing our elected representatives, of all political parties, have been to engage seriously and knowledgeably with the fishing industry’s concerns over the past year.

The next 12 months will doubtless be challenging – once again – but it is clear that the NFFO remains well positioned to meet those challenges, with a strong leadership team in the Executive Committee and its new officers.