The Welsh Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (WFFA) is the Welsh industry’s voice at a national and international level. It was formed in April 2006 to preserve and promote the collective interests of Fishermen’s Associations in Wales.
The WFFA plays an active role in advancing the interests of Welsh fishermen at national and international levels through lobbying government officials in the Welsh Assembly Government, The UK parliament and at a European level.
The WFFA has four members, The Llyn Fishermen's Association, The Cardigan Bay Fishermen’s Association, the South and West Wales Fishing Communities Ltd and the Anglesey and North Wales Fishermen’s Association – which geographically cover the whole of the Welsh coastline – from the Dee to the Bristol Channel.
This is the first time such an organisation has been formed in Wales – and it is fortunate that we at last have a cohesive and audible voice that is being heard through the good relationship that has been developed by the WFFA with the Welsh Assembly Government.
National Issues which are of great detriment to local fishermen, such as the Common Fisheries Policy – which guarantees equal access to a common resource – gives the powerful trawler and beamer fleets of Europe free rein within our waters which have a hugely damaging effect on inshore fish and shellfish stocks and therefore livelihoods. A policy such as this cannot be fought or changed by one fisherman alone, but it can through the united voice of the Federation.
The whole ethos of the Federation is working towards unity and away from the insular nature that the fishermen are so used to, and it will only be through this unity that the fishing industry in Wales will survive and indeed prosper.
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