Wales’ first fisheries strategy, which pulls together all aspects of fisheries including commercial aquaculture and recreational fishing, was launched for consultation on Thursday, 6 December, 2007, by Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones.
Fishing is one of the oldest of the rural industries and it continues to provide important employment in rural areas. Fisheries provide the economic and social heart of a number of communities around the coasts of Wales where the fishing industry is the main employer.
The Welsh fishing industry brings around £200m into the Welsh economy and supports about 3,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The draft strategy aims to look at the long-term future of fisheries in Wales, so that the industry can take advantage of opportunities in a sustainable way which does not impact on the environment.
Launching the consultation at Milford Haven Elin Jones said: “This is the first time that in Wales we have a strategy which brings together all aspects of fisheries. The vision for this Strategy is to support the development of viable and sustainable fisheries in Wales.
“There are many challenges ahead for the industry. We are all aware of pressures on natural fish stocks, and also the potential changes to our environment caused by climate change. The strategy focuses on these but also on the numerous opportunities.
“For example, the health benefits of eating oily fish are now well-known. This presents a clear opportunity for the Welsh fleet and the strategy asks for views on ensuring we are able to process more fish in Wales, which will reduce food miles and encourage local procurement. There could be scope for the industry to provide fish to Welsh schools for example, which will be good for the industry and provide children with a healthy diet.
“Aquaculture, the commercial rearing of fish in a sustainable way, is well established in Wales, and Welsh technology informs advances in this sector around the world. The strategy highlights this new technology, in particular the opportunities it offers for diversifying the species which can be farmed, enabling the supply of marine fish species to be increased against the background of diminishing natural stocks.
“I would urge people in the industry to contribute to the consultation so that we can then move forward with a final strategy outlining an industry which is sustainable, financially viable and well-regulated. I was pleased last week to announce that Wales had received £11m from the European Fisheries Fund which will help with our work of securing the future of the Welsh Fishing industry.â€
The strategy has identified a number of goals for the fisheries sectors which will service as indicators of the success of the strategy:
- Healthy Fish Stocks – development and management of fisheries at sustainable levels as a part of a healthy an productive ecosystem.
- Positive community role – recognition of fisheries as a positive contribution to the communities in Wales
- Environment – Fisheries developed and managed in a sustainable way contributing positively to the environmental policies of Wales
- Partnership Working – to further the partnership working already established between policy makers and those in the industry.
- Economic contribution – Maximising the economic importance and contribution of fisheries to the development of the ‘Wales’ brand on a Wales/UK/EU/International level.
The consultation process will run until 7 March, 2008
