Fishermen have been urged by St Ives MP Andrew George to take the initiative and assume greater control of the future management of fishing policy.
Mr George was speaking following new of the forthcoming launch of an initiative - Investinfish - to promote fishing stakeholder co-operation in Cornish and South West fisheries and also the forthcoming meeting, a follow-up to the initial stakeholder meeting in Concarneau last year, of fishing industry representatives from those fishing nation most interested in Area V11.
The MP said: "The Government and European Commission are currently moving at glacial pace in setting up Regional Advisory Councils. If the Government and Commission can't get their act together, then fishermen - and other stake holders who share their sense of impatience - must do it them selves.
"We all know that quotas are a blunt instrument which have failed to maintain a sustainable industry. Fishermen and other stakeholders must now assume greater control. The setting up of a Shadow Advisory Committee is an appropriate first step in filling the vacuum left by European governments and the Commission who seem incapable of taking action."
Commenting on the Investinfish initiative, Mr George said:"The initiative is an excellent on e to promote new management methods which put fishermen in the driving seat of setting the agenda.
"Headed up by the former chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, Nathan de Rozarieux, I am optimistic that this initiative could provide an excellent launch-pad for the new and devolved methods of fisheries management."
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