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Published: 21 May, 2008 FISHupdate.com
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Jim Portus
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UK FISHERIES Minister Jonathan Shaw has told a delegation of UK fish producer organisation representatives that he wants to use the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) wisely, with industry co-operation, to deliver meaningful, long-term support that helps achieve profitability.
And he said he did not think "small comforts" with only short-term benefits were a sensible use of taxpayers' cash, although the Government will contribute willingly to well-thought-out schemes.
A delegation of UK PO representatives, led by Jim Portus, Chairman of the UK Association of Fish Producer Organisations (UKAFPO) met Mr Shaw yesterday and Mr Portus said today:
"We had very useful discussions that included a frank exchange of views about the Scottish Government moratorium announcement and their forthcoming consultation about a proposed Scottish quota management and licensing regime.
" UKAFPO members share the Minister's opinion that administration of UK quotas and licences should continue to be a matter for pan-UK consideration and any changes to the system should only happen after thorough and full stakeholder consultation.
"PO representatives and officials questioned the purpose and likely impacts of the move."
Mr Portus said the Minister had already expressed publicly his disappointment at the unilateral action by Scotland on a quota transfer moratorium that "creates additional risk and uncertainty for fishermen already under pressure."
Mr Portus added that the Minister had already announced his intention to establish soon a working group of industry representatives that, under an independent chairman, will help provide practical guidance enabling achievement of DEFRA's and industry's ambitions for and by 2027.
"The immediate concern for all, however, is that there may not be industry or infrastructure to follow the stepping-stones to sustainable and profitable future if the price of fuel does not fall very soon to an acceptable level. The Minister acknowledged the difficulties and wondered whether we had yet reached the peak. Each PO representative related to him the issues local to their fisheries, including the problem of crew retention as wages fall in the mirror of rising costs. POs asked whether a solution might lie in the application of tariffs on third-country imported fish products that compete for shelf space alongside UK fish."
The delegation also requested a more flexible approach to licensing that might offer owners alternatives to tie-up. In recent years, the Department had transferred unused UK fishing effort from Western Waters to other Member States. The UK should make better use of such opportunities, the PO members contended, rather than squander them.
"The Minister agreed that his working group could conduct a searching review of the licence system now that fleet structures are broadly in line with available resources," Mr Portus went on.
The Minister responded to a lengthy "shopping list" of assistance measures, including the following ideas:
To review the discriminatory light dues system that only applies in the UK.
To pay the VMS contract costs, including phone bills. (Already agreed in Scotland (£300K) and N Ireland (£100K))
To pay the (future) costs of electronic logbooks.
To pay financial support through the "de minimus" provisions up to 30,000 euros to each fishing enterprise over a three-year period.
Act to ensure UK fishermen do not face higher fuel costs than their competitors.
Act to ensure that fuel is delivered duty free to all fishermen, so easing cash flow.
To establish a fuel Task Force to bring forward steps to help the industry quickly. (The Scots have announced such a body.)
To finance life raft servicing costs (£400K agreed in Scotland).
To develop fuel efficiency through grant-aided research and innovation.
"He indicated that this raft of measures would not be enough to counter permanently the crisis caused by factors outside his control. He said he would rather use the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) more wisely, with industry co-operation, to deliver meaningful, long-term support that helps achieve the profitability we all desire. Government will contribute willingly to well-thought-out schemes, but he did not think small comforts with only short-term benefits were sensible use of taxpayers' cash."
The meeting also discussed the ongoing difficulties faced by the Department in managing the under 10m quotas.
"The Producer Organisations have responded by making gifts of quota, but key to our concerns," said Mr Portus, "is the enormous expense incurred by our members over years bringing the fleet of larger vessels into line with the available resources. There have been great changes in the make-up of the inshore fleet, with ‘super-10s' and catamarans taking the lion's share of the available quotas. Under the present system, there is no incentive for owners of such vessels to seek membership of POs."
The PO delegation had also proposed a three-year transition phase involving quota leasing and withdrawal over time of the "gifts" that led to the culture of dependency.
The Minister will make later this week his decision about distribution of Hague Preference gains, Mr Portus added. The North Sea whiting quota is most contentious, with several North Sea POs already close to, or having already exhausted their allocations.
"They will not be happy if his decision favours the under 10m fleet," Mr Portus added.
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