SOUTH & WEST WALES FISHING COMMUNITIES Ltd

Protecting, developing and representing the sustainable interests of fishing communities across South Wales
Registered No:  4713434
Registered Office: 
Valley View
Strawberry Hill
Little Haven
Haverfordwest
SA62 3UT
Richard Commission,
Caradog House,
1-6 St Andrews Place,
CARDIFF,
CF10 3BE		  

 

4 April 2003
Dear Sir J Madam,
THE ROLE OF THE WELSH ASSEMBLY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF COASTAL FISHERIES
I am writing on behalf of the South & West Wales Fishing Communities Ltd., a formally constituted Association of commercial inshore fishermen and charter angling boat skippers which represents the interests of the industry across South Wales. The Association is the principal contact point for consultation with the industry in South Wales and is actively involved in partnership with others in the sustainable development and regeneration of the sectors not only in Wales but also throughout the Irish Sea. The Association has only just become aware of the opportunity presented in recent months by the Richards Commission consultation. Even at this late stage it would hope that a submission might be considered and it would therefore wish to express the following views.
1. The Association is deeply unhappy and dissatisfied with the poor level of representation, support and commitment shown by the UK Government towards the Welsh inshore fishing industry both at a national and at an international level. Communications between this Association and the UK Minister, Elliott Morley, show clearly that the UK Government at the highest level has little understanding of or interest in the special circumstances and needs of the inshore fishing sector on which the Welsh industry is based.
2. It is believed that any representation on fishery management measures and issues made by the Welsh industry through the Welsh Assembly Government to Whitehall carries little weight and is watered down by DEFRA staff before any submission to the EC is made on behalf of the UK. The Welsh industry therefore feels isolated from the EC decision making process and believes that its needs are not being met. The fiasco of the recent Review of the Common Fisheries Policy is a case in point. None of the points made by the Welsh industry were taken forward by the EC and the Welsh industry has been left in an even more precarious and uncertain position than before and at a very real disadvantage when compared with its European counterparts.
3. The Association believes strongly that the Welsh Assembly Government should have jurisdiction over the management of the entire 12 mile zone around the Welsh coast through a single Sea Fisheries Committee for Wales, answerable directly to and funded directly by the Welsh Assembly. The Welsh Assembly Government should be empowered to have executive control over the fisheries and environmental management within this 12 mile zone within the framework of the CFP but separate from Whitehall and should have a direct role in the determination and development of the CFP, particularly as it impacts on the 12 mile zone.
4. The benefits of such a change include: -
  • Greater understanding of and empathy with the needs and realities of the Welsh inshore fishing sector
  • Greater speed and flexibility of decision making to adapt to changing circumstances and needs
  • Improved sense of ownership of and commitment to the process by both the industry and WAG
  • Improved working relationship between the industry and the Assembly
  • Improved ability to develop a cohesive, sustainable and readily adaptable industry in Wales to regenerate jobs and socio-economic prosperity in deprived coastal ! rural areas.
5. The proposed establishment of a Regional Advisory Committee for the Irish Sea is a step in the right direction but the Association believes that it will require strong input from the Welsh industry and the WAG and clear movement towards executive management status in the foreseeable future if it is to achieve its desired aims. If working properly and receiving the tight level of support from the WAG, the RAC for the Irish Sea will provide a means by which the Welsh Assembly can influence the development and management of Wales' valuable fisheries resources without the need to go through Whitehall. The Association would recommend that a Welsh "RAC" should be created to provide a forum for stakeholder participation and which would provide the link between the grass roots and the Irish Sea RAC. This is another positive example of where the WAG could and should establish an independence from Whitehall.
The Welsh Assembly Government has shown itself to be increasingly sympathetic to and supportive of the Welsh fishing industry in recent years and the industry itself is responding by re-establishing a belief in itself and its future. There is the beginning of a close working relationship developing between the industry and the Assembly, but this will only continue and flourish if the Assembly can be seen to be able to develop and implement its own policies within the broader framework of the EC legislation. The current Welsh dependence on Whitehall to dictate policy and hold the key to the destiny of Wales' fishing industry is unhelpful and debilitating and is undoubtedly holding back the process of realising the true potential of the industry to benefit the Welsh national and local economy as well as providing a seafood product range that will enhance the image of Wales on international markets.
I hope that the Commission will be able to consider these late suggestions and comments. If there is any further assistance that the Association can give, please do not hesitate to say so.
Yours faithfully,
David Gardner
Hon. Sec. South & west Wales Fishing Communities