Senedd Cymru

Welsh Parliament

Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig

Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee

Blaenoriaethau ar gyfer y Chweched Senedd

Priorities for the Sixth Senedd.

ETRA - 23

Ymateb gan: Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr Cymru Cyf

Evidence from: Welsh Fisherman’s Association

 

Welsh Fisherman’s Association Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr Cymru The national voice of Welsh fishermen www.wfa-cpc.wales

       

 

Email: Seneddeconomy@senedd.wales

 

 

Thank you for your kind invitation to contribute to the short and longer-term work planning of the

Economy, Trade & Rural Affairs Committee.

 

The Welsh Fisherman’s Association-Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr Cymru Cyf (WFA-CPC) is a third sector umbrella organisation established by the member Fishermen’s Associations in June of 2011 to represent the views and experience of the Welsh commercial fishing associations at a national level.

 

Our members are: -

South Wales and West Fishing Communities

Cardigan Bay Fishermen’s Association

Llyn Pot Fishermen’s Association

Llyn Fishermen’s Association

North Wales Fishermen’s Cooperative

 

Our collective vision is for a safe, prosperous and sustainable fishing industry that supports the integral economic, social and cultural wellbeing of our coastal communities.

 

For your interest we have attached two documents under the theme ‘Sea our Future’, one provides further background on the WFA-CPC and our vision for a sustainable future and the second presents a case for the reform of fisheries management in Wales with the latter setting out three key priorities for the new government administration.

 

These documents were circulated during the election period and remain relevant given that the

Programme for Government and the Legislative Programme make no provision for fisheries management;

therefore, the key priorities of the WFA-CPC and our members remain unchanged: -

 

·         Introduce a Welsh Fisheries Bill in this Senedd term:

·         Create a duty on Welsh Government to adaptively manage the exploitation of sea fishery resources in a sustainable way:

·         Deliver an independent review of fisheries management structures and resources in Wales in the first year of this Senedd:

 

Our members are increasingly concerned by the rapid development of marine renewable energy devices (off shore floating wind, sub wave and tidal wave) and the continued desire to introduce further marine protected areas that are stated Welsh Government policy and yet no policy exists for fisheries in Wales.

We continue to see marine environment and energy policies develop in isolation increasing the risk of further spatial implications and or impacts for the Welsh fishing industry which will ultimately result in either business failures directly or indirectly as a result of displaced activities.

‘Brexit and our Seas’ (2019) was the forerunner consultation to creating a post EU exit Welsh Future Fisheries Policy therefore the groundwork has been carried out to some extent, now that the UK Government and Devolved Administrations are engaged in drafting the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) under the UK Fisheries Act 2020, a fully joined up and forward-looking agreed Welsh Fisheries Policy would, in our view, be the first strategic priority for the Committee in the next six months.

 

In the longer term a clear Fisheries Strategy (essential to inform a Welsh position on the JFS) that is developed to minimise the risks associated with marine spatial squeeze whilst enabling the sustainable use of our naturally renewing marine resources and encouraging much needed investment throughout the seafood supply chain.  However a policy once agreed must be delivered, to that end, I would refer you back to the WFA-CPC key priorities (Sea our Future) and the case for the reform of fisheries management, only by examining the short and long-term priorities described above will the specific purpose of a Welsh Fisheries Bill be clear.

 

We apologise for the delay in reply and hope that we have interpreted your request correctly, if however, you require any further background or specific information please do not hesitate to contact the writer.

 

Yours sincerely

For and on behalf of

Welsh Fisherman’s Association-Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr Cymru Cyf

 

Jim Evans

Chairman