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The NFFO has criticised NGOs who abandon a working relationship with the fishing industry in favour of litigation and vigilantism
The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) has criticised non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that have decided to abandon having a working relationship with the fishing industry, and who have instead embarked on adopting legal action and acts of vandalism.
In their article ‘Lawyers, Boulders and Money: A future in which fisheries policy is driven by Vigilantes and Litigation?’, the NFFO paints a bleak picture for the relationship between the NGO’s and the fishing industry, if certain organisations continue on their current path.
In their article they write:
“In an important and disturbing change, environmental NGOs have now apparently abandoned any pretence of working collaboratively with the fishing industry. With one or two honourable exceptions, most have embarked down the road of confrontation and litigation.”
The NFFO hits out at individuals they believe are responsible for driving an agenda against the fishing industry itself and say that they are unwilling to come to the table to discuss issues.
“Greenpeace’s recent vigilante activity in the Channel and Dogger Bank, supported by Charles Clover and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is but the most extreme symptom of this change in direction. Less directly reckless, but toxic nonetheless, is the hovering threat of judicial review against management authorities by environmental NGOs.
Vigilantism and legal terrorism signals a dramatic alteration in approach and modus operandi. Both fisheries regulators and the fishing industry will now have to adapt and respond to this new hostile operating environment.
Gone is any pretence of working with fishermen – or even the right kind of fisherman. Anyone in the industry who thinks that Greenpeace will stop at a ban on bottom trawling is deluded. Even fishing passively for crabs with pots is now in the spotlight for possible contravention of environmental legislation.
Having effectively destroyed the European advisory councils as functional representative organisations through entryism tactics, NGOs are moving on to deal with Brexit.
But where will these confrontational and litigious tactics take us?”
The full article can be read here.
