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| Fishermen's Protection Society | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fishermen's Protection Society |
| Abbreviation | FPS |
| Formation | 19th century |
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Location | Coastal regions |
| Region served | International fishing communities |
| Leader title | Chair |
Fishermen's Protection Society is an advocacy and service organization formed to represent the interests of commercial fishing communities. It operates across coastal regions and ports to provide legal aid, safety training, market access, and political representation for crews, vessel owners, and processing workers. The Society engages with international bodies, regional authorities, and local institutions to influence fisheries policy, maritime safety standards, and trade arrangements.
The Society traces origins to maritime associations that followed events such as the Cod Wars, the Irish War of Independence maritime disruptions, and the aftermath of the First World War on shipping communities, drawing inspiration from groups formed after the Great Famine (Ireland) and the Highland Clearances. Early meetings often occurred in harbors similar to Lerwick Harbour and Grimsby Docks, while contemporaneous organizations included the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Commercial Fishermen's Association. The interwar period and the aftermath of the Second World War prompted expansion as governments enacted treaties like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and agreements influenced by the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. During the late 20th century, the Society interacted with institutions such as the European Commission and national bodies including the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (United Kingdom) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Ireland. Conflicts such as the Beira Patrol and policy shifts around the Common Fisheries Policy spurred campaigns and collaborations with unions like the National Union of Seamen and advocacy groups including Greenpeace and the Marine Stewardship Council.
The Society's stated mission aligns with objectives found in charter documents akin to those of the International Labour Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization fisheries guidelines: to protect livelihoods, promote safety at sea, ensure equitable access to fisheries resources, and uphold cultural heritage tied to ports such as Plymouth and Stornoway. Objectives include influencing multilateral processes at forums like the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for maritime security, contributing to regional plans such as those negotiated under the OSPAR Commission, and partnering with research institutions like the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science.
Membership comprises skippers, deckhands, processors, harbor masters, and fishery scientists affiliated with academies such as the Scottish Association for Marine Science and the Marine Institute (Ireland). Organizational structure mirrors models used by organizations like the Royal National Lifeboat Institution with elected councils, committees for safety modeled after the International Maritime Organization conventions, and local chapters in ports including Aberdeen, Hull, Bergen, and Reykjavík. The Society engages with trade unions such as Unite the Union and technical partners like Lloyd's Register and Bureau Veritas for certification and compliance work.
Programs include vessel safety workshops using standards from the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and training delivered with partners such as the Sail Training International and the Seafarers' International Research Centre. Market development activities connect members to buyers at events like the Seafood Expo Global and regional fisheries markets in Brittany, Cornwall, and Norway. Research collaboration occurs with universities such as University of St Andrews, University of Southampton, and Trinity College Dublin on stock assessments and gear innovation, while conservation work aligns with projects by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
The Society litigates and lobbies on issues involving access rights, quota allocations, and enforcement matters before bodies such as national courts, the European Court of Justice, and arbitration panels under the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. It has engaged with legislators in assemblies like the Westminster Parliament, the Oireachtas, and the Althing regarding treaties such as the Treaty of Lisbon and agreements like the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Campaigns have targeted regulatory frameworks including the Common Fisheries Policy reforms, contested practices governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora when listings affect bycatch species, and participated in negotiations around regional fisheries management organizations like the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission.
Economic programs provide microfinance modeled after initiatives supported by organizations such as the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, business development advice similar to services from the Prince's Trust, and post-harvest support akin to schemes run by the Food and Agriculture Organization. The Society assists coastal towns like Newlyn, Brixham, and Kilkeel with diversification projects, value-added processing training paralleling programs by the International Finance Corporation, and supply-chain linkages to distributors like Marks & Spencer and Iceland (supermarket chain). It monitors socioeconomic indicators used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and coordinates disaster relief alongside the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The Society has faced controversies comparable to disputes involving the European Fisheries Control Agency and clashes over resource allocation seen in the Turbot War, including tensions with conservation NGOs such as Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and regulatory bodies like the Marine Management Organisation. Internal challenges include debates over quota-sharing that echo disputes in the North Sea Cod management, governance criticisms similar to those leveled at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in other sectors, and accusations of favoritism tied to lobbying comparable to cases involving the Fishing Industry Associations. External challenges include climate-driven shifts documented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, trade shocks after instruments like the Common Fisheries Policy adjustments, and enforcement conflicts involving coast guards such as the Irish Naval Service and the Royal Navy.
Category:Fishing organizations