Fishing fleet must be cut by extra 13%: report

Creating a competitive and profitable UK fleet will require the removal of at least 13% of the whitefish fleet beyond the 2003 decommissioning scheme, according to a report by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit.

To keep certain stocks sustainable, the report also called for a reduction of fishing days in areas where fisherman have little control over the species of fish they catch, such as in the North Sea, Irish Sea and Channel mixed fisheries. A probe will be set up to consider the feasibility of restricting the amount of days fished instead of the amount of fish caught.

The report also warned that sustainability of fish stocks was only possible if the vast majority of the industry supported and obeyed the measures – without compliance, stock recovery and effective management is undermined, it concluded.

The report – 'Net benefits: A Sustainable and Profitable Future for UK Fishing' – which is published today, proposes possible methodologies for improving the fortunes of the industry and the communities which depend upon it.

The report also said that that the fishing industry will gain more from the UK staying in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), but at the same time called for major reforms to the CFP, especially to allow regional management of fisheries.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said: " I want the UK to give a lead in reforming the Common Fisheries Policy - by pushing the European Union further down the path of managing fish stocks on a regional level. This will give us more influence over the type of management regimes that best suit our fishing waters."

Other recommendations in report include: introducing individual tradable quotas to promote competition and give the industry a greater stake in the state of the stock; decriminalisation of most existing offences and replacement with administrative penalties; introduction of a smarter enforcement system; better transparency and sharing of information; and for the UK to continue to support a stronger EU enforcement role and ensure a level playing field for all EU fleets.

The Strategy Unit project team met over 130 individuals and representatives of groups throughout the UK. There were over 150 responses to the consultation paper issued on 10 June 2003.

The report has been presented to the government as well as Fisheries Ministers for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, for their consideration.

(gmcg)