France’s minister responsible for fisheries has signalled his intention to approve a quota exchance request for blue whiting to Poland, with the proviso that exchanges of this nature generate appreciable benefits for France’s fishing sector.
The request in question supports Compagnie des Pêches de Saint-Malo in operating factory trawler Annelies Ilena under the Polish flag to fish for blue whiting, using quotas that were previously fished by Joseph Roty.
Annelies Ilena has been brought in to replace the elderly Joseph Roty, which has been taken out of service after fifty years of operation, of which the last few decades have seen it fishing for blue whiting to produce surimi at sea.
There has been opposition from some quarters to this changeover, while a number of stakeholders have spoken out about the importance of this fishery and the opportunities it provides.
France’s Ministry of the Sea states that the blue whiting stock is in a good condition, and is subject to quotas based on scientific advice. Catches are taken using pelagic trawl gear that does not touch the seabed. The ministry also states that this venture has a genuine socio-economic importance for the French sector.
Compagnie des Pêches employs 300 people, including 70 seagoing crew, and much of this shore-based employment is based on further processing of surimi paste produced at sea. In addition to maintaining the employment of the crew of Josepth Roty, the company has committed reinvesting in a future project under the French flag.
The ministry states that these exchanges of quota of blue whiting for cod, two of which have already taken place since the beginning of the year, also allow the operation of factory trawler Emeraude, which operates under the French flag, adding that these exchanges of quotas between Member States take place on an annual basis and therefore do not constitute a definitive transfer of fishing quotas.
