The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation (NFFO) faces a busy year ahead as it prepares to tackle some of the industry’s main issues.
The NFFO said it will be concentrating on key aspects of the CFP reform, beginning with a meeting with the DEFRA Fisheries director this month.
Barrie Deas, chief executive, NFFO, told World Fishing & Aquaculture: “From my point of view, it is the regionalisation of the CFP that will be the single most significant development when we look back. So far, all that has been provided is a framework so there’s a great deal of work to do but if the CFP moves away from what some people say is the over centralised approach that it has now, to a more decentralised system, I think when we look back in history, that will be the most significant approach of this coming year.”
The organisation will also be hosting a workshop for fishermen, scientists, mangers and policy experts as part of the Fisheries Science Partnership (FSP) project to evaluate ways of providing fully documented fisheries.
Dale Rodmell, assistant chief executive, NFFO, said the aim of the project is “to define a circle of improved evidence and reduced wastage of the resource which in turn can lead to improved opportunity, profitability and sustainability”.
Other activities which also made it to the NFFO’s list for 2013 include continuing work on the adoption of a revised EU Cod Management Plan, ensuring fair treatment for fishermen through the MPA Fishing Coalition and working with the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) on the development of long term management plans for key stocks, among others.
