A proposal for eliminating annual fishing quotas rather than limiting the number of days vessels are allowed to fish has been proposed by European Union (EU) Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg. Its purpose would be to help lower discards, a currently massive problem, as fishers would be allowed to keep all of their catch.
“Replacing TACs (total allowable catches) and quotas by effort can be a very effective way of reducing the environmental impact of fisheries, and in particular of discards,” he stated.
Borg said the move would enable vessel owners to rent or sell any remaining days at sea allowance. Vessels would then be able to catch as much fish as they desire within their allotted time frame.
Industry is being consulted on the matter by the European Commission (EC) to overhaul the common fisheries policy. Efforts to scrap ships through the use of taxpayer funds has thus far failed, Borg said.
"Could a market-based approach, based on transferable fishing rights be the way to introduce a greater dose of economic sanity?,” he asked.
Read the complete story at FIS World News.
See also: BBC: Scottish Fishermen’s Federation welcomes EU suggestion to scrap quotas,
and: EU hints at scrapping catch limits,
and: EU fisheries minister calls for an end to dumping millions of dead fish,