News/ United Kigdom
Women are in
Excerpted from news item FAL approves corporate membership with the Irish’ by Morag Ledingham, The Buchan Observer, 27 March 2003. (www.buchanie.co.uk/archived/2003/Week_012/news/fish_fal.asp)
Following a report by Fishermen’s Association Limited (FAL’s) Cornwall director Sheryll Murray on the Women in Fisheries’ Conference at the University of Brest in February, and considering the hugely significant campaign by the Cod Crusaders, FAL’s board also decided to create a women’s section to recognize and benefit from the undoubted contribution which women have made to the socioeconomic development of the UK fishing industry.
Among the early initiatives for such a section would be establishing networks with the well organized women’s organizations in France, Spain and Finland, to learn from their best practice.
The board also agreed that there would be a deferred membership arrangement to facilitate transfers of skipper/owners from their existing associations to FAL.
FAL chairman, Tom Hay said: This has been an historic day for the association. With the undoubted support of our friends in Northern Ireland and the formation of a women’s section, FAL is moving in to a new era.
We are facing extremely difficult times at present but where there is a will there is a way. We have shown over the past eight years what can be done by a small UK association against tremendous odds, both from within the industry and from certain political parties.
