21 February 2014
The NFFO’s Executive Committee has given its full backing to the MPA Fishing Coalition. At its recent meeting it voted funds for MPAC to continue its work in holding government to account in the establishment of a network of marine protected areas in UK waters. It is understood that the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has made a similar commitment.
MPAC is credited with having
brought a sense of realism to the implementation of marine protected areas – and
halted a headlong rush to establish protected areas on poorly considered
grounds. By insisting that the fishing industry has a genuine voice in the
designation of marine conservation zones, and that both designation and
management measures are always based on sound evidence, MPAC has striven to
reduce the effects of the displacement of fishing activity from its customary
grounds.
Chaired by fisheries
scientist, Dr Stephen Lockwood, MPAC holds regular meetings with DEFRA, the
MMO, Natural England and the IFCAs, to discuss the programme of marine
protected areas, as it unfolds.
MPAC has to date been
supported financially by a wide range of fishermen’s associations and
individual fishermen fearful of their livelihoods. Support has also been
received from fishermen’s organisations in the Netherlands, France, Ireland and
Belgium, also fearful of the impact of poorly designed and located MPAs.
The value of MPAs in
protecting vulnerable species and seabed features is fully recognised by MPAC.
The issue in not whether there should or should not be MPAs. It is about a
rational, fair and balanced process in their establishment them, against a
sometimes irrational push by naïve enthusiasts, who see MPAS as an
all-embracing solution for overfishing – and all the other ills of the marine
environment.
The NFFO provides the
secretariat for MPAC.