Small-scale and artisanal fishermen from nine European member States met recently to forge a common voice in support of their sector.
Individuals and organisations from the UK, Poland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, collectively representing thousands of fishermen and women, agreed a Declaration that was subsequently presented to MEPs, the EU Fisheries Commissioner and the President of the Council.
Jerry Percy, Chief Executive to the New Under Ten Fishermen’s Association (NUTFA), was present, together with a delegation of inshore fishermen. He said the event was, a genuinely excellent weekend where, for the first time, small scale fishermen across Europe were able to agree a collective view as well as to celebrate a common heritage. The most exciting aspect was that the group of fishers debated and decided unanimously that we need a pan-European platform to represent the interests of the sector at a European level.
Recent statements by the larger European representative bodies that they represented smaller scale interests were met with derision and laughter, whilst of course some of the threats and opportunities facing inshore guys differ according to local issues across Europe, most of them are similar. The meeting gave us the chance to understand and take these differences into account in drawing up the common Declaration. At the same time, we could not have asked for a better reception from the Commissioner, officials, many MEPs and the President of the Council. I think that, like the fishermen themselves, they are at last waking up to the fact that four out of five fishers in Europe are defined as small scale, deserve to be heard and when they do come together, have a powerful voice.
The overwhelming aim of the pan-European platform is to ensure that the new CFP takes fully into account the importance of the small scale sector and the contribution it makes to coastal communities. These fishermen just go about their daily work without sometimes realising just how vital they are to the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of their respective areas right across Europe. It’s about time they were both recognised and rewarded for who they are and what they do.
Plans for a second meeting are well advanced, with the Commission offering to assist and support the initiative in order to ensure that the voice of the sector is heard within the CFP reform process.
2010 The Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association