The group accuses the government of failing to secure a fairer deal for smaller operators. It is said that the Under Ten Fishermen’s Association (Nutfa), gave Defra until 23 May to come up with a revised quota system. As the deadline has already passed and nothing has been done on the part of the government the Colchester-based group has instructed lawyers to bring legal action.
According to the members of the group many owners of the boats which are under 10m long are being forced to throw away most of their catch. It is also said that Nutfa claims this amounts to discrimination in the way quotas are allocated. Andrew Craig, company secretary and treasurer, informed that they are not fighting the quota given to the UK, they are fighting the way in which it’s being distributed among the UK fleet.
He added that some sectors of the industry are being given far more quota than they need, while others are deprived of quota all year and have to dump enormous quantities of fish. According to him if protest is successful, boats under 10m may be able to claim compensation for financial loss. He said these claims would go back many years and are expected to be substantial.
Defra commented that decisions on quota shares were based on the best information available at the time. It said that the difficulties of the inshore fishermen are considered and fisheries minister Jonathan Shaw is working closely with the industry to come up with solutions.
