Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has unearthed that the Fisheries Patrol Vessel (FPV) Lady Megan, bought by the Welsh Government for £2.6m, has only undertaken 50 patrols during the last three financial years.
The information was disclosed to the Member for Aberconwy by Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, who stated:
“Fisheries Patrol Vessel (FPV) Lady Megan has undertaken 24 patrols out of Conwy during the last three years, 26 patrols have also been undertaken by FPV Lady Megan from other North Wales marinas during this period. A shortfall in crew, and maintenance work, has impacted the number of days Lady Megan has been able to patrol. We are taking steps to address this issue.”
The fisheries patrol vessels fleet are supposed to protect Welsh waters from illegal fishing activity and safeguards Wales’ fishing industry and coastal communities.
Commenting on the response received from the Minister, Janet said:
“The Welsh Government has a long history of badly managing their vessels. In 2019 I disclosed that a fleet of three had only seen a total of 63 patrols in 26 months, and now, we know that the FPV Lady Megan has only undertaken 50 patrols in 1,095 days!
“Safeguarding Wales’ fishing industry is a priority action, so none of the excuses outlined by the Minister are acceptable.
“Should the fleet be operated by a private business, I am quite certain that they would have dealt with any staff shortages and maintenance work promptly.
“It is in the best interest of Aberconwy and Wales for the Minister to take steps to address the scandalous fact that she has a multimillion pound ship doing close to nothing most of the year.”
ENDS
Notes:
AM highlights Welsh fishery protection fleet has spent too much time in Conwy marina
£2.6million spent on New Welsh Government Fishery Patrol Vessel at Conwy Marina
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi canfod mai dim ond 50 patrôl mae’r llong Patrôl Pysgodfeydd Lady Megan wedi’u gwneud yn ystod y tair blwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf, llong a brynwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru am £2.6m.
Cafodd y wybodaeth ei datgelu i'r Aelod dros Aberconwy gan Lesley Griffiths AS, y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru, a ddywedodd:
“Mae’r Llong Patrôl Pysgodfeydd Lady Megan wedi bod ar 24 patrôl o Gonwy yn ystod y tair blynedd diwethaf, ac mae wedi bod ar 26 patrôl arall o farinas eraill yn y Gogledd yn ystod y cyfnod hwn. Mae diffyg criw, a gwaith cynnal a chadw, wedi effeithio ar nifer y dyddiau y mae'r Lady Megan wedi gallu patrolio. Rydyn ni’n cymryd camau i fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn.”
Mae'r fflyd o gychod patrôl pysgodfeydd i fod i amddiffyn dyfroedd Cymru rhag gweithgarwch pysgota anghyfreithlon ac mae’n diogelu diwydiant pysgota Cymru a chymunedau arfordirol.
Wrth sôn am yr ymateb a gafwyd gan y Gweinidog, dywedodd Janet:
“Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru hanes hir o reoli ei llongau’n wael. Yn 2019, datgelais fod fflyd o dair llong ond wedi bod ar gyfanswm o 63 patrôl mewn 26 mis, ac erbyn hyn, rydyn ni’n gwybod mai dim ond 50 o batrolau mae'r Lady Megan wedi bod arnynt mewn 1,095 o ddiwrnodau!
"Mae diogelu diwydiant pysgota Cymru’n flaenoriaeth, felly nid yw dim o'r esgusodion sydd wedi eu hamlinellu gan y Gweinidog yn dderbyniol.
“Pe bai'r fflyd yn cael ei weithredu gan fusnes preifat, rwy'n gwbl sicr y bydden nhw wedi ymdrin ag unrhyw brinder staff a gwaith cynnal a chadw yn brydlon.
“Mae er budd gorau i Aberconwy a Chymru i'r Gweinidog gymryd camau i fynd i'r afael â'r ffaith warthus bod ganddi long gwerth miliynau o bunnoedd yn gwneud fawr ddim y rhan fwyaf o'r flwyddyn.”
DIWEDD
Nodiadau:
AM highlights Welsh fishery protection fleet has spent too much time in Conwy marina
£2.6million spent on New Welsh Government Fishery Patrol Vessel at Conwy Marina
