It might not be quite as suspicious as it first seems. They apparently have to contact those who wrote to them (myself included) to ask permission to pass on their private correspondences, details, etc.. And we can refuse that request.I got my FOI request documents from CSFC and DEFRA last week, but CSFC have kept several documents back "in the public interest" so I think it is fair to say they have something to hide, as I can see no justification for secrecy about the management of a public resource.
Amongst the documents kept back are the consultation responses, as apparently it is "in the public interest" not to release them until a report on them has been prepared for the Committee by the Chief Fisheries Officer (who's idea the whole scallop ban was) I have appealed against this, pointing out that the public interest lies in making the whole process as transparent as possible.
All the information given to the Committee so far has been very biased in favour of the ban, so I think the Chief Officer wants to keep the consultation responses out of the public eye, and just give the Committee his biased version of them (no actual lies of course, just a very selective use of information)
I have turned the heat up so should get the withheld documents pretty soon
cheers
dave
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If the fisheries folk are recruited from fishing communities, as I would expect, then any priorities/preferences/bias may be deeply held. Their friends, families, community and colleagues would leave no paper trail.