Marine Fisheries Agency hosts joint EU fisheries protection operation and conference
Four Fishery Protection ships from three European member states arrived in Chatham today (March 21st) after joint operations at sea which began on Monday March 19th. For the joint operations Royal Navy Fishery Protection vessel HMS Tyne was joined by Protection Vessel Barend Biesheubel from Holland. They were in the North Sea and the eastern English Channel.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Four Fishery Protection ships from three European member states arrived in Chatham today ( March 21st ) after joint operations at sea which began on Monday March 19th.
For the joint operations Royal Navy Fishery Protection vessel HMS Tyne was joined by Protection Vessel Barend Biesheubel from Holland. They were in the North Sea and the eastern English Channel.
Royal Navy Fishery Protection vessel HMS Severn was partnered by French protection vessel P.A.M Themis for a joint operation in the eastern English Channel.
The ships were coordinated by the Marine Fisheries Agency Operations London HQ which uses satellite tracking to monitor the position of European fishing boats every two hours.
The Fishery Protection Vessels swapped fisheries officers and observers. However, hampered by bad weather, only one boarding was carried out to check logbook, catches and fishing gear.
Berthing at Chatham will be followed by a conference organised by the UK's Marine Fisheries Agency in conjunction with the Community Fisheries Control Agency, attended by the European Commission and 50 delegates from nine member states.
Marine Fisheries Agency operations director David Holliday said:
"Preservation of European fish stocks is a priority both for fishermen and the marine environment.
"It is vital that fisheries protection in European waters is even-handed and the rules to conserve fish stocks are fairly enforced. We want fishermen to be assured that every effort is being made to treat all nationalities exactly the same.
"The point of the MFA joint operation and conference is to co-operate, consult, and compare how, our member states' fishery protection measures are working. And how we can work together more closely with our European partners to further improve and co-ordinate our operations.
"The MFA is also determined to encourage a culture of compliance with the rules within the fishing industry - and this can be better achieved when fishery protection measures are even-handed and are seen to be even-handed."
Editors' Notes
The MFA conference takes place in the Bridgewood Manor Hotel, Chatham, between 21st and 23rd March.
The Marine Fisheries Agency is an executive agency which is tasked with service delivery, inspection and enforcement provided by the government to the fishing industry and other marine users in England and Wales.
The MFA has overall responsibility for the enforcement of the Common Fisheries Policy ( CFP ) and its associated regulations within the 60,000 square miles of English and Welsh waters.
The Community Fisheries Control Agency was established in 2005 to organise operational co-ordination of fisheries control and inspection activities by member states, and to assist them co-operate with effective and uniform application of the Common Fisheries Policy rules. It is currently based in Brussels.
MFA's key objectives are :
* to be a key partner in the management of marine fisheries
* to enforce fisheries regulations, professionally, consistently and fairly
* to contribute to the sustainable use of the marine environment
* to provide advice which informs effective policy and helps customers abide by it.
Public enquiries 08459 335577; Press notices are available on our website http://www.defra.gov.uk Defra's aim is sustainable development To subscribe or unsubscribe to Defra's mailing list go to: http://www.gnn.gov.uk/ Once on the GNN website see Sign up http://www.mfa.gov.uk
Marine Fisheries Agency, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR Website: http://www.mfa.gov.uk
VAT number 888800181 Registered office 3-8 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2HH
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