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Peterhead Port Authority has announced it will stall the introduction of a new Direction regarding the Fish Market to facilitate dialogue
Peterhead Port Authority has announced to Stakeholders this afternoon that it will stall the introduction of new rules regarding the Fish Market in order to facilitate dialogue on the issue.
On Wednesday last, 25 January, fish buyers boycotted the Peterhead Fish Market and fishing vessels due to land that day, stayed away from the harbour, as fish buyers mounted a protest to a new Direction regarding bid-sharing practices.
In a statement released to Stakeholders this afternoon, PPA Chief Executive, Simon G. Brebner wrote:
“The feedback from Buyers, Sales and Catching sectors in response to PPAs recently announced Fish Market Direction has been considered by the PPA Board and it has been decided that to enable a period of further dialogue with all Stakeholders, the implementation of the Direction will not commence on 1st February 2023.
“In the interests of all Stakeholders, PPA is committed to the principle of ensuring compliant trading throughout its Port Estate including the auction conducted at its Fish Market and the objective during this period of dialogue will be to achieve a collective understanding of Fish Market practices, the applicable legal parameters and the effect of the Direction. PPA is concerned in particular that the feedback suggests certain misunderstandings have arisen about the effect of the Direction.
“We will therefore in the coming days be contacting Stakeholder representatives about the process for further dialogue including the early formation of a Working Group. It is hoped that all Stakeholder groups will engage constructively in this process.
“Certain Stakeholders have also made specific requests to PPA for further information about the Direction including the applicable legal regulation and we will be responding directly to these requests.
“The Direction includes a prohibition on coin tossing as a means of deciding bids and it is welcomed by PPA that this practice has already been discontinued.
“PPA reserves all the statutory relates in relation to this matter and we’ll keep the progress and effectiveness of the dialogue process under close review, and this will determine further decisions on the implementation of the Direction.
“In the meantime, it is hoped that normal trading patterns at the Fish Market can be resumed, this being a necessary background to the effective dialogue process which is envisaged.”
