NFFO in Norfolk

Legal Injunction

Dong Energy’s legal injunction to exclude local fishermen
from their customary fishing grounds, to make way for a seismic survey in
preparation for a wind-farm on the Race Bank, had sent shockwaves through the
local industry. It has always been possible in the past, where necessary, to
negotiate reasonable access and compensation arrangements with offshore
developers and there is now great concern that this resort to legal action sets
an unwelcome precedent for the future.

Whilst the NFFO studies the legal implications of this
departure, it is making sure that the general public are aware of Dong Energy’s
bullying tactics, which including serving fishermen with legal notice at 5pm on
Friday night to appear in Court in London on Monday morning. The Daily
Telegraph and BBC have carried the story in a sympathetic manner and further
pieces are in preparation. Members of the public too have expressed disgust at
the way the local fishermen have been treated.

The NFFO has over 30 years’ experience of working
collaboratively with various offshore developers to ensure that their projects
are completed with minimal disruption to fishermen’s ability to pursue their
living. The Race Bank development has clearly been mishandled and the company
has resorted to legal action to force inshore fishermen from the grounds on
which they rely for a significant part of their income. Part of the problem has
been that compensation offers have been made to some fishermen, different
offers made to other fishermen, then withdrawn – the whole approach has been
chaotic. The absence of a coordinated approach by the fishing industry has
allowed the company to dictate terms.

Marine Protected
Areas

Also high on the Norfolk agenda were concerns about
potential loss of access through the implementation of a network of marine
conservation zones and other marine protected areas. Although potting is
regarded an one of the more environmentally benign methods of fishing, concern
that during periods of moral panic a fundamentalist anti-fishing agenda will
emerge, affecting even pot fisheries within designated zones. The Federation’s
work within MPAC to hold the government to account through a proportionate and
evidence based process has therefore been important and will continue to be so.

Shellfish Policy

Naturally enough, shellfish policy was also to the forefront
in the concerns expressed at in Cromer, Wells and Lynn. The Federation will be
holding a Shellfish Summit, in London, on 14th October to which
shell-fishermen from all parts of the coast will be invited, along with Defra
policy officials, stock assessment scientists, IFCAs etc. The aim is to hear
all points of view before drawing up further developments in NFFO shellfish
policy. This model has been very successful when used in the past and has
informed our current approach to regionalised technical measures and a cap on
licences for the high volume part of the crab industry. Support for the
existing minimum landing size of crab in North Norfolk,( reflecting local
biological and habitat conditions and linked to a ban on the landing of berried
crab and lobster), is a good example of the kind of tailored conservation
approach that emerged from those earlier discussions.

Regional Committee

All the signs are that the fishing industry in
Norfolk needs a means of coordinating its activities. The way this is done in
other parts of the country is through an NFFO regional committee. Once
established, with respected representatives, the committee can play a central
role in coordinating and expressing the views of the industry and providing a
strong voice for the industry in Norfolk. The Federation will be organising an
initial meeting as soon as is practicable.