| 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 |
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