APPENDIX IV APPENDIX IV 
ECONOMIC ROLE OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY 
Specific information regarding the importance of the 
fishing industry to the national economy was not readily 
available. Indications are, however, that the fishery in- 
dustry is relatively small compared to other United Kingdom 
industries. In terms of employment, there are only about 
23,000 fishermen. In total, about 100,000 people are in- 
volved in the United Kingdom fishing business, catching, 
processing, marketing, and distributing fish products to 55 
million potential customers. 
GOVERNMENT ROLE IN FISHERIES 
According to an official of the British Ministry of 
Fishing, the general policy of the United Kingdom government 
prior to 1970 was to supply food to the consumer at the low- 
est possible price. The government was also intent on keeping 
the fishing industry visible, thus supporting the industry 
for both social and economic reasons. 
This policy changed during the 1970s. The government 
now feels that more consideration should be given to fish 
conservation, an area which has received little attention in 
the past. Also, more emphasis is being placed on improving 
the fishing capability of the inshore domestic fleet. 
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food is 
responsible for fisheries in the United Kingdom, including 
England and Wales. Scottish fishery matters are the re- 
sponsibility of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries 
for Scotland. The fisheries branch of the Ministry of Agri- 
culture manages fishery affairs in Northern Ireland. The 
fishery departments are generally concerned with the formu- 
lation of United Kingdom fisheries policy in national and 
international affairs, the regulation and inspection of 
marine and freshwater fisheries, financial and technical aid 
to the industry, and the management of fisheries research. 
Another fishing organization, The Herring Industry 
Board, has powers to regulate the fishery for herring, to 
sponsor research and development work aimed at improving the 
herring industry, to develop markets and provide publicity 
for the herring and its products, and to provide financial 
assistance. The White Fish Authority has a similar role to 
play for the whole of the sea fishing industry apart from 
the herring fishery, and has its own industrial development 
unit to provide a wide range of technical services. Both 
have a number of common interests, and their administrations 
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