Will the Cabinet Secretary outline how the now-disbanded Inshore Fisheries Groups will be replaced in order to develop meaningful stakeholder engagement with coastal communities interested in fishing and conservation issues of regional and local significance?
The Welsh Government restructured its fisheries liaison groups on a trial basis late in 2016 to improve stakeholder engagement and encourage members to take a more active role. The membership of the Wales Marine Fisheries Advisory Group (WMFAG) was extended to include representatives from all fishing associations in Wales and the chairs of the Inshore Fisheries Groups (IFGs). A number of species focussed task and finish groups were also established to enable those with particular areas of expertise to inform and drive priority work streams on individual fisheries. While this trial was running, the Inshore Fisheries Groups were temporarily suspended.
These changes were reviewed at the October 2017 meeting of the WMFAG when members decided the changes should continue because the new engagement structures were working well. On their advice, the trial was extended to October 2018, when the position will be reviewed again. In the meantime, WMFAG meeting papers and progress reports are provided to Inshore Fisheries Groups members to enable them to raise issues through their WMFAG representatives or directly with the Welsh Government.