News

NFFO Elects Next Chairman

25 March 2019

The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations has elected its next Chairman.

Electronic Monitoring: Aiding a Culture of Cooperation or Surveillance?

18 March 2019

As the Government is poised to extend the use of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) across the inshore fleet in England, recent experience with electronic monitoring systems (EMS) illustrate two very different trajectories for fisheries management.

Fishermen urged to be Brexit ready by registering with the IMO

1 March 2019

Advice on preparing for the introduction of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) numbers as part of contingency planning

Pulse Voluntary Closed Areas Extended for Another Year

28 February 2019

The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and Dutch fishing associations VisNed and Ned. Vissersbond, have reached agreement on continuing voluntary closed areas for pulse fishing for a second year. The closed areas in which no pulse fishing will take place, are designed to ease pressure on areas sensitive for English east coast inshore fishermen.

Battle over Maximum Sustainable Yield

6 February 2019

The dangers of one-dimensional fisheries management.

Fisheries Bill

11 January 2019

Both sides of the Christmas break have seen intense activity at Westminster as the Fisheries Bill, the first piece primary fisheries legislation for decades, passes through the parliamentary process. The central purpose of the Bill is to provide UK fisheries ministers with powers to set quotas and control access over fishing in UK waters, when the UK leaves the EU - and therefore the CFP.

Fisheries Council December 2018

20 December 2018

The last Fisheries Council in which the UK will participate as an EU member state concluded in the early hours of 19th December. It was dominated by issues relating to chokes in mixed fisheries, particularly those for which zero catch advice had been given. As expected, whilst some progress was made at the Brussels meeting, many difficult issues remain to be resolved in the New Year and beyond.

The EU Landing Obligation: Contingency Planning for Chokes Must Begin Now

17 December 2018

December Council. Despite a four-year phase-in, it seems highly unlikely that the Council of Ministers, which begins today, 17th December, will resolve all the outstanding problems associated with the implementation of the landing obligation. 

Fisheries Council

11 December 2018

The December Council of Ministers will not only be the last in which the UK participates but one of the most complex. A perfect storm of conflicting regulations means that ministers face a number of unpalatable choices and trade-offs. These conflicts include:

Landings Obligation: Statement of Intent

11 December 2018

The EU landings obligation comes fully into force on 1st January 2019 and will then apply to all quota species, unless a specific de minimis or high survival exemption applies. The full implementation of the landing obligation presents a number of challenges for the fishing industry, fisheries managers, and enforcement authorities, on a scale of magnitude not seen before. The problem of chokes in mixed fisheries, and the challenge of monitoring and controlling fishing activities in diverse fleets across a vast marine environment are at the top of the list of those challenges.

Government Bolsters Position on Fishing ahead of Tuesday’s Vote

10 December 2018

The Government is pulling out all the stops on fishing ahead of Tuesday’s critical vote on the draft Withdrawal Agreement with the EU. Fishing has become a pivotal issue on both sides of the Channel, and the Government amendment, now proposed, will oblige any future Secretary of State to cede access to fish in UK waters only in return for fairer quota shares for the UK. As an example of where change is needed, the UK share of Channel cod is 9%, whilst the French share is 84%.

Fishing Centre Stage

26 November 2018

The Withdrawal Agreement and Political Statement on the UK’s future relationship with the EU has put fishing in the spotlight. The NFFO looks at what is at stake.

Withdrawal Agreement

15 November 2018

Like many others, we are studying the text of the draft EU/UK withdrawal agreement to understand its implications for the future of the UK fishing industry. Our provisional view is that this is an extremely important first step towards a new future for the UK as an independent coastal state, denied us 40 years ago when the UK signed up to the Common Fisheries Policy. It is, however, only a first step. Further challenges lie ahead in securing the actual access arrangements and quota shares consistent with that new status.

Inshore VMS: Consultation Response by the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations

9 November 2018

Defra is consulting on a proposal to require all vessels below 12 metres in length to fit and operate inshore VMS equipment when operating in English waters. This mobile phone based technology will allow regulators to track the location, speed and heading of fishing vessels in near real time. English vessels operating outside English waters would also be required to operate the equipment. Over-12 metre vessels (around 327) are already subject to satellite based monitoring. Around 2751 vessels would be included in the new arrangements. The purchase and installation costs would initially be met through EMFF. Reporting costs and replacement equipment would be purchased and installed at the vessel owners’ expense.

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

6 November 2018

Risk & Policy Analysts (RPA) Ltd have been commissioned by Defra to carry out work on the evaluation of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and its implementation in England and the devolved administrations, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

The fish markets in Newlyn, Peterhead and Kilkeel,

5 November 2018

and a  discussion of fishing post-Brexit, featured heavily on BBC Farming Today recently.

Publication of the UK Fisheries Bill

25 October 2018

As the UK leaves the EU and therefore the Common Fisheries Policy, this Bill is an important staging-post on the way to the UK’s new status as an independent coastal state. It will be important to manage our fisheries on a sustainable basis in this new future and this Bill provides the powers to control who fishes in UK waters and also to set safe limits for overall fishing levels. It provides for legal continuity as we transition away from the Common Fisheries Policy but also the means through which we can build a new 'fit-for purpose' UK fisheries policy.

Major Lobby Day Ahead of Key Decisions

15 October 2018

The NFFO and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federations, recently joined forces for a lobby day in Parliament, ahead of key decisions on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and therefore the CFP. The purpose of the event was to underline the importance of the decisions ahead for the fishing industry at national and local levels. A team of 20 port representatives were available to talk to local MP about their specific issues. The meeting was addressed by both Secretary of State, Michael Gove and Fisheries Spokesperson for the Official Opposition, Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth.

Bass may escape the landing obligation

19 September 2018

A consensus seems to be emerging that bass could be excluded from the landings obligation when it comes fully into force on 1st January. The exclusion of the species hinges on an interpretation of the “catch limits” which currently apply to bass. On the face of it, bass should be included in the landings obligation because a range of catch limits apply to different gears in which bass are caught; and the wording in article 15 of the CFP basic regulation which gives force to the discard ban does indeed refer to “catch limits.”

Scallop Wars

1 September 2018

The recent clashes in the Channel between UK and French fishing vessels over scallop grounds highlight a number of important issues.

Flags Deliver the Message

2 August 2018

Thousands of flags and wheelhouse stickers in fishing ports across the country are delivering the fishing industry’s message to the Government and politicians as the UK/EU withdrawal negotiations edge towards a critical stage. By flying the No Sell-Out flags, thousands of vessels, in dozens of ports around the coast, urge the UK negotiators to stand firm against the EU’s pressure to keep the status quo on access for their fleets and the current unfair quota shares. Cornish fisherman and NFFO Chairman, Andrew Pascoe, in a letter accompanying the flags, spells it out:

Netting fishermen’s knowledge on seals

17 July 2018

A new project is underway to help improve advice on ways to prevent seals from taking fish catches.

White Paper

4 July 2018

The Government has published its long-awaited White Paper on Fisheries. Sustainable Fisheries for Future Generations outlines the Government’s vision for UK fisheries post-Brexit. Unsurprisingly, its headline objectives are those associated with the UK’s future as an independent coastal state outside the Common Fisheries Policy.

Industry Unites to Fight for its Future

22 June 2018

The NFFO’s new Chairman, Cornish fisherman, Andrew Pascoe, has said that he is gratified to see the UK fishing industry uniting to ensure that we secure the best possible deal as the UK leaves the EU and the CFP.