10 July 2013
"The NFFO represents all sizes of vessel and regrets that the issue of quota distribution ended up in the courts. Indeed the Federation made a number of attempts to mediate between the parties to achieve an amicable out-of- court solution.
“We remain of the view that now the CFP reform is out of the way, the industry should sit down with Government to agree a system of use-rights that provide the stability that the industry looks for, whilst recognising that fish are a national resource and that ministers have the authority to make changes to the UK quota management arrangements.
“We doubt whether this judgement heralds a radical redistribution of quota, as suggested by some of the more hysterical commentators and note Richard Benyon’s commendation at the NFFO’s recent AGM for our collaborative approach to resolving the quota shortages facing some under-10 metre vessels.
“Producer organisations are voluntary groups of fishermen who manage their fishing rights cooperatively. As such they represent a valuable model for the industry and are to be encouraged. The NFFO has been working recently to extend the advantages of professional quota management (such as quota swaps and transfers) to groups of under-10m fishermen.”
Barrie Deas, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO)