The British Ports Association (BPA) has launched its ''fisheries manifesto'' aimed at boosting UK fishing ports and coastal communities.
The BPA argues that increasing landings boosts the wider economic benefits of fisheries to coastal communities. The manifesto outlines three recommendations to help transform the industry: land all UK fishing quota into UK ports; create a transformational fisheries fund open to all UK fishing and secure the long-term future of the industry and maintain favourable access to European markets.
Richard Ballantyne, chief executive of BPA, said that Brexit was an opportunity for the UK. “For the first time in 40 years the UK will soon be setting its own fisheries policy. This could be a once in a generation opportunity for UK fisheries,” he said.
Just over a third (36%) of fish in UK waters is caught by UK boats. The BPA argues that this £260m of UK quota which was landed outside the region in 2017 could instead be supporting 20,000 jobs in the country, pointing out that one job in fish processing creates up to six extra jobs in the wider economy.
As part of the campaign the BPA is calling on parliamentary candidates to commit to supporting the report’s aims and is asking that all UK prospective parliamentary candidates sign up to its pledge to back UK fishing.
“It is critical that a transformational fund is put in place to support this transition towards prosperity and that government policy is put to work to support coastal communities by ensuring that more seafood is landed in the UK,” said Mr Ballantyne.
