Fisheries initiative in Wales

Elin Jones, the Rural Affairs Minister, has launched the country's first Fisheries Strategy to boost the achievements of the sector, according to the Daily Post.

The sector is widely recognised as being at the cutting edge, which has resulted in inward investment, particularly to Anglesey, with a real prospect of further investment to follow

Elin Jones

Rural Affairs Minister

The initiative intends to keep environmental concerns at its core, while channeling investment into the country's various fishing sectors, which are currently worth £200 million a year.

Recirculating aquaculture systems, which sees fish such as turbot and sea bass farmed in large tanks rather than the usual open-cage systems, are an example of environmentally-friendly aquaculture technology which is being invested in.

This would allow the industry to expand on the success of north-west Wales' mussel harvesting sector, while the strategy also suggests investment into the Welsh in- shore commercial fishing could provide further boosts.

Ms Jones told the newspaper: "The sector is widely recognised as being at the cutting edge, which has resulted in inward investment, particularly to Anglesey, with a real prospect of further investment to follow.

The Welsh Assembly Government is also considering proposals to take full responsibility for all sea fisheries on its coast.