Written - Future cooperation with other bodies involved in Inshore Fisheries Management

In September 2008, I announced that the Welsh Assembly Government would amalgamate the staff of the two Sea Fisheries Committees operating in Wales with the Welsh Assembly Governments Fisheries Unit and the Welsh Assembly Government would assume full responsibility for fisheries management in Wales from April 2010.

I believe this will offer a consistent management structure for the whole of Wales by simplifying the current regime. This proposal is part of an integrated approach to fisheries policy. This includes the transfer in April 2008 of Defra’s Marine and Fisheries Agency officers, who operate within 12 nautical miles, into the Welsh Assembly Government and the creation of a Welsh Zone by April 2010.

There has been some concern over the effective enforcement of cross border fisheries after Welsh Assembly Government takes full responsibility. In order to allay these concerns I can today announce that it is my intention for the Welsh Assembly Government to develop and sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with those bodies that are also charged with Sea Fisheries enforcement in areas adjacent to Wales.  

These agreements would underpin joined up and efficient fisheries management with the North West England IFCA (and transitionary body), the IFCA that covers the English Side of the Bristol Channel and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

I am pleased that the stakeholder advisory group have also met and started to consider how local and national stakeholder input can feed into fisheries management.  I am also announcing that I will ask the stakeholder advisory group to develop options for what appropriate reporting levels might be required to maintain the transparency of fisheries management.