Cross Party Group Details

Cross Party Group Title:

Cross-Party Group for Fisheries and Aquaculture

Group membership and office holders

Name of Group Chair:

Mabon ap Gwynfor – Plaid Cymru

Names of other Members of the Senedd:

Vikki Howells - Labour

Sam Kurtz - Conservative

Name of Secretary and Organisation:

Helen Duggan - Seafish

Names of other external members and organisations represented:

Jim Evans – Welsh Fishermans Association

Andrew Tait – Fishermen’s Mission

 

 

 

 

Other meetings of the Group since the last AGM

Date of Meeting:

4 December 2023

Attendees:

Meeting planned but cancelled due to no Members of the Senedd available to attend except the Chair.

Summary of the issues discussed:

Meeting postponed until 2024

Date of Meeting:

16 September 2024

Attendees:

Name:	Title/Organisation:
Mabon ap Gwynfor	CPG Chair
Sion Edwards	Interpreter
Helen Duggan	Seafish, CPG Secretary
Jon Parker	Aquaculture Industry Wales (AIW)
James Wilson	Menai Mussels industry
Lewis Le Vay	Bangor University
Meg Haines	Car-Y-Mor
Jane Roche	Catch of the Day
Andrew Tait	Fishermen's Mission
Justin Whitford	International Aqua Tech Ltd (AIW member)
Julie Hill	Lobster Pot
Jack James	Pontus Research
David Fletcher	Research & Development Consultant
Aoife Martin	Seafish
Lynn Gilmore	Seafish
Jesse Drake	Seafish
Graham Black	Seafish Wales Advisory Committee Chair and Seafish Board Member
David Jarrad	Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB)
Paul Howes	Swansea University
Lissa Clayton	Syren Shellfish
Jim Evans	Wales Fishermen’s Association (WFA)

 

Summary of the issues discussed:

Jon Parker presented an update on behalf of Aquaculture Industry Wales. A need for parity in funding and a better understanding of the potential positive impact that collaboration between industry and research communities can have was highlighted.

The Bangor cluster are on a different path but share the same values as AIW. Work continues with Bangor University, Seafish and other key actors to progress research and collaborate on the barriers, opportunities and benefits to increasing production. There is a need to re-establish secure and stable market access to balance supply with demand.

Aoife Martin shared a presentation outlining the work supporting the aquaculture sector that Seafish are progressing in Wales, alongside wider Seafish products and services of relevance. Key points included how:

·         James Wilson and Lewis Le Vay are members of the Shellfish Stakeholder Working Group, which works on improving water quality to support the growth of the UK aquaculture industry;

·         The Menai Straits is being featured in work to increase understanding of ecosystem services and public good benefits, so that policy makers and consumers understand the potential;

·         Innovative uses for mussels are being explored to find ways to increase demand;

·         Seafish are working in collaboration with Cefas to expand the economic research and performance data that’s available; and

·         A ‘road map’ for a resilient Welsh seafood supply chain is in development, collating input from industry, academia and Welsh Government.

An open discussion on aquaculture in Wales followed. Key topics raised include the:

·         Growth opportunity presented by Recirculating Aqua. Systems (RAS);

·         Lack of funding and limitations of annual budgets;

·         Political agreements affecting EU market access;

·         Challenges presented by marine planning and spatial squeeze;

·         An improved Welsh Government governance structure around fisheries;

·         Opportunity for Wales to lead in some areas, with relatively small investment required.

·         Lack of a clear strategy for the Wales seafood industry, and the potential for the ‘roadmap’ mentioned above to provide welcome focus for action.

The absence of Senedd Members attending this and previous meetings was noted.

 

Date of Meeting:

n/a

Attendees:

n/a

Summary of the issues discussed:

n/a

Professional lobbyists, voluntary organisations and charities the Group have met during the previous year.

[names of lobbyists/organisations/charities should be included as follows, e.g.]

Name of Organisation:

n/a

Name of Group:

n/a

Name of Organisation:

n/a

Name of Group:

n/a

 

Annual Financial Statement

Cross Party Group Title:

Cross-Party Group for Fisheries and Aquaculture

Date:

06/10/24

Name of Chair:

Mabon ap Gwynfor – Plaid Cymru

Name of Secretary and Organisation:

Helen Duggan - Seafish

Title	Description	Amount
Group’s Expenses	None	£0.00
Costs of all goods	No goods bought	£0.00
Benefits received by the group or individuals members from external bodies	No benefits received.	£0.00
Any financial support or other support.	No financial support was received.	£0.00
Total		£0.00

Services provided to the Group, such as hospitality.

All hospitality paid for [include the name of the group/organisation].

Date	Name and description of provider	Costs
		£0.00
Total		£0.00