The appointment of Richard Benyon as Defra minister in the House of Lords has prompted a rethink within the NFFO on its approach to the management of marine protected areas.

In a long blog post, NFFO sets out its views and concerns:

“To this point, our approach has been to challenge the Government’s shift from an evidence-based, adaptive, approach to one with more resemblance to a bulldozer. The appointment of the author of the highly partisan Benyon Report on Highly Protected Marine Areas to ministerial responsibility is a tipping point and suggests that this approach is a pointless furrow to plough …..

There is only one question now. What is Government policy towards the many hundreds of fishermen who will now be displaced from their fishing grounds? In English waters, Defra/MMO’s intention is to introduce management measures for 40 offshore MPAs over the next three years – an insanely rushed approach that will leave no time for careful consideration, collation of evidence, or dialogue. Inshore, the picture is worse. Inshore vessels tend to have a more limited range and IFCAs are already overwhelmed by the task of implementing MPAs within the 6mile limit. 60% of their activities now relate to MPAs ….

Meaningful discussion with the fishing industry on how to achieve the conservation objectives for each MPA site, whilst maintaining fishing activities consistent with those objectives, offers the most equitable and effective way to manage MPAs. This approach has now been abandoned in England ….

Defra is now intent on a reckless gung-ho approach to the implementation of MPAs in English waters. Serious displacement of fishing activities will be an unavoidable consequence ….

This ministerial appointment makes it clear that for English waters there will be no turning back to dialogue, evidence and collaboration. Defra Ministers are not going to go against the recommendations made by one of their number. Only questions relating to displacement remain ….

At present there is no policy on displacement. Nothing has been done to assess the extent of displacement. Nothing has been done to mitigate displacement. Nothing has been done to assure the fishing industry that its interests will be seriously taken into account or its views listened to.”

However, other than withdrawing dialogue and cooperation, NFFO’s future policy is not made clear, although “The repercussions of this volte-face will be profound. Aside from the consequences for individual fishing businesses and fishing communities, as the noose tightens on the inshore and offshore sectors, conflict and adversarial relationships can be expected to replace cooperation and collaboration.” does read rather as sabre-rattling.