Mr MacMullen said that this problem would remain unless the government is prepared to "improve the process of consultation between stakeholders." He added that Seafish believe that much greater clarity is required regarding the roles of various government agencies in the legislative process.
As Lord Greenway noted in his opening remarks to the session at which Seafish gave evidence, "fishing is the area most likely to be adversely affected by these proposals."
Mr MaCmullen said that as such, Seafish are calling on the UK government to consider safeguarding the traditional rights of access of fishermen "in the same way as the Scottish Government has pledged to consider a presumption in favour of existing activities (i.e. fishing) in the provisions of the Scottish Marine Bill."