Today the UK Government reached a deal for the UK fishing industry, achieving quota increases and ensuring sustainable fish stocks.
This announcement, which is important for South West fishermen, follows negotiations at the annual EU Fisheries and Agriculture Council where fishing quotas for 2016 were agreed.
Decisions were based on three clear principles: following the available scientific advice; achieving sustainable levels of fishing and reducing discards.
Commenting from Strasbourg, the Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar Julie Girling said:
“We must ensure the future prosperity of our regional and national fishing industry and the outcome today is a good deal for Fishermen across the South West.
For months now fishermen have been telling me that implementing the discards ban from 1st January next year will be difficult without some extra flexibility on quota. They’ve also been telling me that the large amounts of haddock in particular that they’re finding at sea will act as a “choke” species. So I’m delighted that George Eustice has brought home a 50% increase in haddock quota amongst other successes. Our fishermen need support to help their business’s thrive and allow them to deliver the sustainable fish that consumers demand.
Whilst some concessions have had to be made and cuts made to ensure the future viability of fish stocks, the negotiations show it is possible to get UK-led reform in the EU which works for fishermen and for consumers.
The fight isn’t over, there is still more to do to reach Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) for all quota species by 2020 and to deliver the full discard ban, these changes will really contribute towards bringing discards to an end by 2019.”
More information can be found in the Government press release at:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tough-decisions-reap-benefits-for-uk-fishermen As a result of UK-led reforms to ensure EU fisheries become more sustainable, the scientific evidence for many of our iconic species was positive this year. This has resulted in the UK being able to secure big quota increases for valuable fish such as: English Channel: +80% PlaiceNorth Sea: +15% Cod, +47% HaddockCeltic Sea: +20% HakeWestern Channel: +15% Sole The UK also successfully negotiated a number of further concessions. These include: Days at sea kept at 2015 levels rather than reducedMaintaining 2015 quotas for a number of stocks, including:Irish Sea: PlaiceCeltic Sea: Monkfish, Skates and Rays, Pollock And accepting proposals for cuts where necessary to protect stocks, including:Irish Sea: -55% SoleNorth Sea: -3% Turbot and Brill, -19% Nephrops Bristol Channel: -9% Plaice.
