News

The NFFO has heavily criticised the appointment of what Defra is calling an “independent Science Advisory Panel”, which will advise on whether Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) proposals meet the government’s scientific criteria for delivering its much touted Ecologically Coherent Network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

NFFO Challenges MPA Science Panel

10 December 2009

The NFFO has heavily criticised the appointment of what Defra is calling an “independent Science Advisory Panel”, which will advise on whether Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) proposals meet the government’s scientific criteria for delivering its much touted Ecologically Coherent Network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Commissioner Challenged on “Cosmetic” TACs

10 December 2009

EU Fisheries Commissioner, Joe Borg, was challenged by the NFFO to move beyond TAC reductions and minimal by-catch limits, which provide an illusion of dealing with difficult by-catch issues, towards real solutions to difficult conservation issues.

Quota Negotiations for 2010

9 December 2009

Preparation for this year’s quota negotiations began in April, with preliminary discussions with Defra officials but have increased in intensity since ICES advice was published towards the end of May.

Norway Talks Break Down

9 December 2009

A short lived third round of EU Norway talks in Bergen this week failed to rescue the annual reciprocal agreement from breakdown.

“Work with the Industry Not Against It” NFFO South West Committee Tells Natural England on Inshore MPA Proposals

30 November 2009

The NFFO South West Committee questioned Natural England over its proposed inshore Special Area of Conservation (SAC) marine protected areas at its meeting in Exeter on 23rd November.

New High Level All-Industry Body Formed to Fight MPA Issue

27 November 2009

Launch of MPA Fishing Coalition Early Next Year

Federations Brief Westminster MPs

27 November 2009

The NFFO and Scottish Fishermen’s Federation recently briefed Westminster MPs in preparation for the annual fisheries debate on 1st December.

NFFO West Coast Committee Focuses on Inshore Issues

25 November 2009

The NFFO West Coast Committee brought together Bella Murfin, Defra's head of the Access to Fisheries policy team and Chief Fisheries Officers from the two North West SFCs to discuss the issues facing the sector at its latest meeting in Whitehaven on 18th November.

Commission Forced to Back Down on Technical Rules

23 November 2009

A Commission proposal to hand itself additional powers to apply technical rules has been decisively rejected by member states at a recent Council of Ministers in Brussels.

Battle to Curb Technical Conservation Fiasco

16 November 2009

Commission Proposals “Reckless and Irresponsible”The European Commission’s proposal for new technical conservation rules is a travesty, which breaks all the principles of good governance.

Edinburgh Conference Points the Way for a Reformed CFP

16 November 2009

NFFO Chief Executive, Barrie Deas, one of the speakers at the recent RAC conference on decision making within a reformed CFP, said:

10% Margin of Tolerance from 1st January

20 October 2009

The Council of Ministers, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, adopted a 10% margin of tolerance between logbook estimate and landing declaration, as part of a new EU Control Regulation, after the NFFO and its allies put up an epic effort to block the new rule.

North Sea RAC Condemns Rush to beat Lisbon

19 October 2009

The North Sea RAC has issued a stiffly worded press release criticising the Commission's drive to force through new legislation to beat the introduction of co-decision-making with the European Parliament.

MPs Warned “Short-sighted Greens Cannot Cripple MCZ Designations in Marine Bill”

19 October 2009

The NFFO is calling on MPs not to allow simplistic and ill considered green lobby calls to limit the extent to which the Marine Bill will allow the livelihoods of coastal communities to be accounted for in the designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs).

MFA Meeting on Current Issues

19 October 2009

Members of the NFFO Executive met with the Marine and Fisheries Agency in York recently, to discuss the main areas of concern on the MFA’s operational side.

Nobel Prize Boosts Prospects for CFP Reform

19 October 2009

The kind of CFP reforms pressed for by the NFFO, have received a tremendous boost by this year’s Nobel prize for economics.

Rush to beat Lisbon will result in Flawed Technical Rules

14 October 2009

Briefing Note on the Proposed Technical Conservation Regulation

New Start on Irish Sea Management

7 October 2009

The failure of cod recovery measures in the Irish Sea and what might be done to replace the current regime, was the subject of a major meeting, held recently in Belfast and organised by the North West Waters Regional Advisory Council.

NFFO Leads Campaign on margin of Tolerance

28 September 2009

The NFFO is spearheading a campaign to extract the margin of tolerance issue from the new Control Regulation.

Major UK fishermen’s federations meet shadow fisheries minister

21 September 2009

A meeting was held on Friday 18 September at the Northern Irish Parliament in Stormont

Marine Licensing: The Opportunities and Risks

18 September 2009

As the Marine Bill concludes its final stages in parliament before passing into law, the NFFO is now entering into detailed discussions to define the secondary legislation following on from the Bill.

Federation in Intense Dialogue on Marine Protected Areas

4 September 2009

Fishermen are more vulnerable than any other marine group, and marine protected areas had the capacity to disrupt, and even destroy fishing livelihoods.

“Make Your Voice Heard” Calls NFFO Shellfish Chairman

14 August 2009

A project to assess the relative merits of alternative management approaches for the brown crab fishery is now underway and will be speaking to fishermen across the UK and Republic of Ireland over the coming weeks.

Electronic Net Gauge

14 August 2009

The EU exemption from using the new electronic mesh gauge expires on 1st September.
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