A scheme to make available 240 tonnes of quotas for cod, place, skate, rays, sole and other commercial species is to open shortly.
The concept is to lease quotas at below market rates under a trial to be delivered by the Cornish FPO, Duchy Fish Quota Company, and Cornwall Council. Funds raised will be reinvested back into the scheme to support fishers in the trial through training in project management, monitoring and reporting and marketing and promotion.
Applications to the Cornwall Community Quota Scheme are expected to open soon and priority is to be given to new fishers and those looking to operate larger vessels. The expectation is that these quotas will be allocated in the late summer
‘The CFPO welcomes the approval of the Cornwall Community Quota trial. Allocation of additional quota at a regional level for the benefit of active fishermen and coastal fishing communities is in line with the Cornish Fishing Strategy and we look forward to delivering this new approach,’ said CFPO CEO Chris Ranford.
The CFPO will ensure this additional quota is managed in a fair and equitable way and give consideration to different fisheries, seasonality, markets, innovation, supporting career progression and the long-term economic benefit to coastal communities.
A second trial will use a newly formed Quota Application Mechanism (QAM) to invite producer organisations with English members to apply directly. Producer organisations will put forward and explain how they would use extra quota and their applications will be assessed against environmental, economic, and social criteria with the highest scoring applicants being awarded the quota.
According to Defra, work carried out will build on the trial in 2025 and beyond, ‘with an eye to supporting the sustainability of the UK’s fishing stocks and the wider interests of fishers.’
