The National Federation of Fisherman’s Organization’s (NFFO) — the body representing fishermen’s groups, individual fishermen and producer organizations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland — is offering to broke a meeting with Greenpeace to identify more “real and tangible ways” the environmental group can contribute to the sustainable and commercial goals of the U.K. fishing industry.
The two organizations have been at odds following the publication of Greenpeace’s “Wolf in Shrimp’s Clothing” report, which the NFFO said contained “flawed research.” The NFFO said that Greenpeace’s course of action is “divisive and destructive” to the industry.
“If the NFFO is influential, it is because it is energetic and advances credible policies but mainly because it is supported by the voluntary work of dozens of real fishermen — not campaigners — including many owning small boat vessels. So which organization can truly claim to represent and be represented by real fishermen?” said Ned Clark, inshore fisherman and chair of the North East Committee of NFFO.
“We have publicly addressed many of the inaccuracies contained in Greenpeace’s report, but they still seem set on continuing a public spat which holds no benefit to fisherman they purport to support. As such we would like to meet with them not only to be transparent in how we work, but to offer the opportunity for Greenpeace to be involved in the range of real initiatives we have underway that are focused on improving both the sustainability and livelihoods of the small boat fisherman.”
The core of the Greenpeace claims center around the assertion the NFFO does nothing to support the inshore fleets, NFFO said. However, according to NFFO, much of its work throughout the year is of direct benefit to the whole of the fishing industry, including the small-scale fleet. This including working with scientists to address data deficiencies and raise TACS, working on fishing vessel safety and addressing the impact of marine protected areas.
