Fishery interests urged to consult

SEAFOOD-SECTOR body Seafish is urging anyone with a stake in fisheries to get involved in the consultation and implementation process for the European Union’s Water Framework Directive.

The directive will have implications for fisheries and aquaculture activities in freshwater, estuarine and coastal waters, said Seafish, adding: “There are concerns that the directive may lead to new demands for regulation of fishing and aquaculture activities in areas deemed environmentally sensitive.”

Seafish technologist Marcus Jacklin said: “The fishing industry cannot afford to be left out of this process.”

The directive came into force in 2003 and requires that all inland and coastal waters out to one nautical mile in England and Wales and three nautical miles in Scotland achieve ‘good environmental status’ by 2015.

It is being implemented on a regional basis and is expected to become the major driver for better water management in the UK and the other EU member states.