|
Stephen and Michael Nowell were catching Dover sole in the Bristol Channel,
which is split into Areas 7F and 7G for quota allocation purposes. Quotas
are partly based on historic performance. Because the Belgian fishermen
caught a lot of Dover sole in the Bristol Channel in the 1970s, they now
have the lion's share of quota there.
For areas 7F and 7G the common or Dover sole quota allocations for 2004
are:
Belgium - 656 tonnes
UK - 295 tonnes
France - 66 tonnes
Ireland - 33 tonnes
The EC sets the quotas that each member state must live by. Fish producers'
organisations then decide how the quotas are going to be operated.
The Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation divides the quotas into a monthly
basis so once the set amount is caught, those fishing boats must tie up
for the rest of the month. The South West Fish Producers' Organisation,
which includes the busy ports of Plymouth and Brixham, operates the system
on an annual basis.
Other schemes have been set up to try to make the dwindling quotas more
flexible. The non-profit making Duchy Fish Quota Company buys quota from
vessels leaving the industry through decommissioning or retirement sales.
The quota is then leased, at market rates, to local fishermen
article copyright © WESTERN MORNING NEWS
 |
