UK Fishing Body Offers Fishermen EU Funding to Improve Vessel Safety
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THE National Federation of Fishermen's
Organisations (NFFO) is offering fishermen financial support in a bid to cut
accidents at sea.
Fishing remains 1 of the most dangerous professions in the UK, with 84 fishermen
losing their lives in the past 10 years. Funding is being made available from
the NFFO and supported by European Fisheries Fund (EFF), which will allow all
fishermen operating vessels under 15 meters to claim up to 70% of the cost to
bring their vessel's safety up to the:- 'Voluntary Code of Practice
Standard.'
Under the voluntary code, all vessels under 15m should be fitted with an
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), which transmits the position
obtained from a built in GPS receiver via satellite directly to rescue services
so the vessel can be easily located during emergency situations. Under the same
code, vessels 7m to 10m should also be fitted with emergency liferafts, which
this initiative will go toward funding.
The NFFO's Safety and Training Officer, Robert Greenwood, said:- "Anything
we can do to minimise the cost to our members in the aim of improving safety is
taken very seriously. Safety is often forgotten amongst the politics of fishing,
but for the NFFO improving safety is a key priority for all fishing vessels
regardless of size."
Currently the Code of Practice is voluntary, rather than mandatory, however the
NFFO is encouraging all member vessels to meet its requirement now to ensure the
safety of fishing crews and while the 70% funding is available.
It is expected that while these requirements are non-mandatory, eventually they
will be incorporated into law at which point they would become mandatory and
would no longer be eligible for funding from the EFF or future European Maritime
and Fisheries Fund.
David Fenner, Head of Fishing Vessel Safety at the Maritime and Coastguard
Agency, said:- "The next version of the Small Fishing Vessel Code is
planned to contain mandatory requirements for liferafts and Emergency Position
Indicating Radio Beacons. Subject to the necessary consultation and
Parliamentary process, it is expected that the new Code could come into force in
2016."
While a change in law is never certain, the NFFO believes it is good practice
for fishermen to meet these non-mandatory standards, particularly while partial
funding is on the table. Robert concluded:- "Should the new
Code of Practice come into force this project will ease the transition for our
members and improve the safety of fishermen in the UK."
