27 September 2013
The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations has announced that Tony Delahunty, a fisherman from Selsey in Sussex and member of the NFFO Executive, has been unanimously elected to the position of Chairman Elect.
He will succeed to the position of
Chairman of the NFFO next year, when the current office holder, Paul
Trebilcock, completes his period of office.
Tony
operates an under-10 metre vessel targeting both shellfish and whitefish from
Selsey, is already Chairman of the NFFO’s South East Committee and represents
the South East on the NFFO Executive Committee.
Tony
Delahunty said, “I am grateful for the confidence of my colleagues on the NFFO
Executive. It is important that the Federation continues to reflect the diversity
of our fleets and I look forward to playing my part. What I have learnt since
becoming part of the NFFO Executive is that the Federation undertakes a huge
amount of work on behalf of the fishing industry and that work is enhanced and
strengthened by the support and involvement of grass roots fishermen.”
“There are
some enormous challenges on the horizon, not least the implementation of EU
discard ban. Fishermen must prepare by ensuring that the industry speaks with a
clear, strong, voice. At the same time, there are encouraging signs in many
stocks that the sacrifices over the last decade, and our work with fisheries
scientists, are paying off.
“The whole
question of the practicality of the new regime should now take place at the
heart of the debate. Unless the rules make sense at vessel level, the whole
exercise is at best futile and at worst could undermine the good work done so
far.”