2 September, 2005

THE NEED to give the inshore fisheries sector a louder voice was highlighted at the European Parliament's fisheries committee, earlier this week.

Members of the North Sea Commission fisheries group travelled to Brussels to convince the Parliament of the benefits of a North Sea Inshore Fisheries Forum.

Director of the North Atlantic Fisheries College, in Scalloway, Peter Dryburgh, told MEPs that the sector was facing many challenges.

"Many people around the coast depend upon the coastal seas for their living. Activities such as tourism and transport are very important to coastal communities. Coastal waters can be rich sources of fish and shellfish and contain special habitats and species which are important from a conservation standpoint.

"The inshore fisheries sector currently faces heavy challenges from other activities in coastal waters. There is increasingly heavy use of these waters for recreation, aquaculture, transport and power generation.

"There is also strong pressure for the designation of closed or managed areas for conservation purposes to protect vulnerable species and habitats," he said.

Ann Bell, the North Sea Commission fisheries advisor, said the proposed forum could serve a number of functions, including:

- promoting greater participation in the management of coastal waters by local communities and encouraging more devolution of management powers for inshore fisheries;
- bringing fishermen, environmental interests, leisure anglers, conservation agencies and local communities together to seek appropriate protection measures for inshore waters;
- seeking solutions to the conflict which often exists between the inshore sector and others fishing in coastal waters;
- representing inshore interests on the North Sea Regional Advisory Council, by seeking direct membership of the Executive Committee, or active observer status;
- considering the advantages and disadvantages of transferring inshore fishing rights to local fishers or local communities and seek to promote this where necessary;
- thinking globally but acting locally, sharing expertise for the benefit of inshore fishers and their local communities.

The NSC fisheries group will now prepare a detailed proposal regarding the structure and funding of the Inshore Fisheries Forum.

It plans to hold a seminar early 2006 to bring together all interested parties from around the North Sea with regard to setting in place a North Sea Inshore Fisheries Forum.