As per the information released by the authorities fishing vessels are to be given long term quota shares guaranteed for periods of up to 15 years under radical proposals to reform the European Union Common Fisheries Policy. Iceland has already adopted this move. Environmental groups are already describing it as a virtual privatisation of the fishing grounds and some aspects are almost certain to attract criticism from fishing interests as well.
It is expected that discards will be outlawed. In the new scheme, boats would have to land all the fish they caught, and the whole catch would count against quotas. Media reports claim that there are “multi-annual plans” to restore fish stocks based on the precautionary approach; restoring fisheries to a level that provides maximum sustainable yield (MSY) – the level that will produce as many fish as possible each year without causing the stock to decline – “not later than 2015” and allowing nations to increase the use of selective fishing gear.
Reformation of CFP is purely intended to introduce individual transferable quotas – or ITQs – for all vessels over 12 metres in length which is likely to cause the biggest arguments both inside and outside the industry. Some boats under 12 metres which have towed trawl gear will also be included. It is expected that powerful fishing countries like Spain could come to dominate quota ownership. However, a survey of countries which have individual transferable quotas showed that fish stocks are in much better shape.
