10/07/2013

Smaller Fishing Fleets Benefit From Quota Ruling

Smaller fishermen are to benefit from the redistribution of fishing rights, following a High Court ruling.

The Eu allocates fishing quotas, which is a permit to fish for anyone who makes a living from the sea.

However, in England and Wales, 90% of the fishing quota is controlled by the UK Association of Fish Producer Organisations (UKAFPO), which is made up of mainly large-scale fishermen.

Smaller operations say they cannot maintain a business as they are unable to negotiate enough percentage of the fishing quota.

It is understood that large fishing fleets have not used around 800 tonnes of their fishing quota for a number of years, so the government decided to step in and redistribute the excess quota about smaller operations.

The High Court today ruled in favour of the governments plan.

However, UKAFPO have said that they believe the ruling is unlawful under both EU and domestic law

(MH/CD)

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