16 November 2015
The recently formed NFFO East Anglia Committee elected Steve Wightman, Lowestoft long-lining skipper, as its Chairman at its latest meeting in Norwich on 12th November. Steve is supported by three Vice Chairman covering the coast, including Dave Chambers, Neil Lake and Billy Gaff, with the intention of rotating the Chairmanship on an annual basis.
Steve
said: “I am pleased to be joined by
prominent industry representatives from around the coast. We have a diversity of shellfish and finfish
fisheries in the region and it is important that all are represented when
undertaking our work and forming policy positions”.
“There
is a lot of work to do. The region has
one of the greatest concentrations of designated and proposed MPAs in the
country, as well as offshore wind farms, and it is essential that we defend our
fishing grounds by having a collective voice making our case with reasoned
argument.”
“The
job is no less demanding to protect fisheries themselves. New proposals from the Commission on bass for
2016 that include a 6 month prohibition have come as a big shock. Although there is a need to return the
fishery to long term sustainability, it has to be done in a way that does not
sacrifice the very existence of the industry that is highly dependent upon it”,
he said.
Back
in the spring, when the Committee was formed, it was quick out of the starting
blocks to respond to the emergency whelk byelaw introduced by the Eastern IFCA
and in formulating a long-term proposal for the management of the
fisheries. Steve said: “this is the
first test to see the region’s industry as a whole come together to put forward
its own well thought out policy proposals that keeps the active fleet viable,
whilst maintaining the productivity of the stocks. This will be an important litmus test to see
how the Eastern IFCA reacts to our suggestions.
We are keen to build up a productive working relationship with the IFCA
and I think it is in all of our interests to see that happen.”
At
its meeting on Thursday, the Committee moved on from the whelk fishery to start
to examine brown crab management with view to developing its policy position
further at future meetings of the Committee.
In addition, the Committee:
- reviewed
emerging MPA proposals and management measures, as well as recent marine
renewables licence applications and fisheries liaison practices. - assessed
the progress of measures to introduce the demersal landing obligation and
potential difficulties for the local fisheries, including managing brown shrimp
by-catch, and zero TAC stocks such as spurdog as the landing obligation is
progressively introduced. - discussed
proposals for the under 15m safety code of practice regulations and the provision
of safety equipment and training support to members.
The next meeting of
the Committee is tabled for 4th February.