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New group aims to scrap CFP
UNITED KINGDOM
13th February 2003
Northern Ireland fishermen have thrown
their weight behind scrapping the CFP.
Photo © P Johnson
A new fishermen’s affiliation has been formed to achieve the objective of pulling Britain out of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation (NIFPO) is to team up with the Fishermen’s Association Ltd (LTD), which was set up several years ago with the express intention of ending Britain’s membership of the CFP.
The move virtually doubles the number of vessels in league to scrap the CFP. Attitudes have hardened following the end of year fisheries council although many of the worst-case predictions associated with CFP reform proved unfounded.
NIFPO Represents 120 members and three chandlers stores in Ardglass, Portavogie and Kilkeel while FAL claims to have 140 members from Shetland to Cornwall and the main supporter of the Save Britain’s Fish pressure group.
The groups met in Edinburgh on 6 February to discuss how they could promote and develop their mutual ambitions and aspirations for the UK fish catching sector.
A FAL spokesman said later: “This extremely positive meeting reached agreement in principle on an affiliation of NIFPO with FAL subject to the approval of the Boards of both Organisations in early March.
“One of the main objectives of this powerful grouping of interests will be to change the UKs political climate to secure National Control - the repatriation of the United Kingdom’s 200 mile/median line limits so shamefully surrendered.
“There is only one way to rescue the British fishing industry from certain disaster, and that is through the restoration of National Control by a United Kingdom Act of Parliament, over those waters legally under our jurisdiction in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.”
By Peter Johnson
FIS Europe
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