NFFO Launches 2019 Manifesto: A Fair Deal for the UK Fishing Industry
The NFFO has today, launched its fishing manifesto which consists of three key themes;…
The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
As the UK leaves the EU and therefore the Common Fisheries Policy, this Bill is an important staging-post on the way to the UK’s new status as an independent coastal state. It will be important to manage our fisheries on a sustainable basis in this new future and this Bill provides the powers to control who fishes in UK waters and also to set safe limits for overall fishing levels. It provides for legal continuity as we transition away from the Common Fisheries Policy but also the means through which we can build a new 'fit-for purpose' UK fisheries policy.
Fishermen in the UK have waited for 40 years to address the imbalances within the CFP. These have worked systematically to the UK’s disadvantage and this Bill is an important part of that rebalancing process.
Under the UN law of the sea, we will be able to apply our own fisheries policies in our waters and negotiate fisheries agreements as an independent party, in the way that countries like Norway already do.
The Bill will provide the basis for an adaptive and responsive fisheries policy, capable of dealing with a dynamic industry and resource and evolving scientific advice. This contrasts starkly with the cumbersome CFP decision-making process which has proved so difficult to work with.
Parts of the Bill introduce new measures and will require scrutiny and discussion. Getting the balance right between an overall UK framework for fisheries and the authority delegated to the devolved administrations will be important and there is much still to be discussed in this area.
Likewise, the Bill’s provisions for charging fishermen require further explanation.
Overall, however, we consider that this Bill is an important and welcome gateway to a better future for the UK fishing industry.
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