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News: Gary Taylor appointed Chair of UK Fisheries Ltd
UK Fisheries Ltd 16 May 2025
Gary Taylor appointed Chair of UK Fisheries Ltd
UK Fisheries Ltd, operator of Britain’s last remaining distant-waters freezer trawler Kirkella, has appointed former senior Defra executive Gary Taylor as Chair of the Board in a move that significantly bolsters trade negotiations expertise at a crucial time for this threatened sector of the fishing industry.
Between 2010 and 2016, Gary served as Head of the Defra International Fisheries team, where he was responsible for policy development in international fisheries, advising at ministerial level and leading the UK delegation in key quota and trade talks. Since 2016, he has acted as a respected industry consultant, authoring a range of key reports including the Brexit Balance Sheet for the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations.
“We’re delighted to welcome Gary to the board,” said Baldvin Thorsteinsson, partner in the shareholder group of UK Fisheries. “His deep understanding of fisheries operations and negotiations, acquired over more than thirty years in the industry, will be of enormous benefit as we approach the next round of quota talks and look to support the UK government in winning a fair deal for all British fishers.”
Top of Gary’s agenda will be the autumn round of talks with Norway and other partners around the North Sea, waters from which, prior to 2019, UK Fisheries used to be able to supply one in eight portions of cod and haddock served in Britain’s fish & chip shops. Following a series of annual talks in which distant-waters whitefish quotas were effectively given away, that proportion is now roughly one in thirty – and the balance is now imported.
“I’m really excited to take on this new challenge and contribute to reversing the fortunes of this vital industry at a time of increasing challenges to our food security,” Gary Taylor said. “If the UK government really gets behind us we can not only save the last vessel in this hugely important fleet, we can also start to rebuild this hard-hit sector, securing its future for our crews and their family and, we hope, investing more in the years to come. We have the will, we just need the government to give us the means to do so.”
Prior to his role as Head of the International Fisheries Team at Defra, Gary held a number of positions in the fisheries and food industries at Defra and the Food Standards Agency.
Media Enquiries:
UK Fisheries: media@ukfisheries.net
Videos
Images
Kirkella trawling
Kirkella on Humber
Kirkella drone footage
Kirkella drone footage
Kirkella drone footage
The Kirkella Naming celebration lunch at the Cutty Sark Museum
The Fish Fryers free fish & chip event at Cutty Sark Gardens for 2,500 locals
The City of Hull Brass Band at Cutty Sark Gardens
Sir Barney White-Spunner, Chairman of the Advisory Board, UK Fisheries, at the Kirkella Naming celebration dinner at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Kirkella sailing upstream through Tower Bridge
Kirkella sailing downstream through Tower Bridge
HRH The Princess Royal with Graham Barney, Factory Manager, Kirkella
HRH The Princess Royal with Charlie Waddy, First Mate, on the bridge of Kirkella
HRH The Princess Royal unveiling a model of Kirkella presented by UK Fisheries to the National Maritime Museum
HRH The Princess Royal Naming Kirkella at Greenwich
HRH The Princess Royal meeting Stig Maersk, Musical Director, and players in the City of Hull Brass Band
HRH The Princess Royal making her address at the Kirkella Naming Ceremony in Greenwich
2,500 local people in Greenwich enjoying free Kirkella-caught cod & chips
Sir Barney White-Spunner, Chairman of the Advisory Board, UK Fisheries Ltd
UK Fisheries infographic
Kirkella poster
Cutaway illustration of Kirkella
UK Fisheries Ltd logo
