Closed consultation

May 2020 catch limit consultation

From:
Marine Management Organisation
Published
23 April 2020

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Summary

May 2020 catch limit consultation

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Consultation description

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) sets monthly catch limits for quota species to ensure the UK stays within the overall limit set by the EU. These limits apply to all under 10 meter vessels and the over 10 meter vessels that are not in a co-operative (Producer Organisation)

  • Quota for Cod VIIb-k for the under-10m fleet is now at ~60% uptake and it is predicted that this will be fully utilised by the end of October unless catch limits are significantly reduced. The over-10m fleet have exhausted their quota for the year (having landed 500kg from an available 300kg) further landings are currently being supported by the under-10m allocation. Nationally uptake of Cod VIIb-k Cod is at ~40% and is also at risk of being fully utilised before year end. Currently there is no additional quota available but the MMO are doing all they can to swap in additional quota from other Member States.

  • The MMO intends to reduce the non-sector catch limits to 25kg for the under-10s and 15kg for the over-10s in an attempt to ensure a small allocation is available all year to cover minimal by-catches. These limits will be reviewed monthly and altered accordingly, they may be reduced further in June, July, August or increased if additional quota is sourced and there is scope to do so.

  • Conservation measures have been put in place in 2020 to ensure cod catches are reduced including the increased mesh size for trawlers operating in the mixed fishery. This together with typically lower catch rates in the spring and summer should allow the fleet to operate within these reduced catch limits.

  • The Cod VIIb-k quota is a by-catch only quota and the MMO asks all Fishers to do all they can to avoid catching Cod in this area.

  • Cod is subject to the landing obligation and as such any landings in excess of the monthly catch limits will, where appropriate, be dealt with through the use of proportionate regulatory compliance measures.

Please contact the MMO if you have any comment to make about the suggested catch limits which will be put into force on 1 April 2020.

Comments to be received no later than 08:00 Monday 27 April 2020.

Email: InshoreQuotaManager@marinemanagement.org.uk

Telephone: 0208 0 269 097

Documents

Under-10 meter vessels

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Over-10 meter vessels (non sector)

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Published 23 April 2020

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