The MMO are running a discard reduction trial to reduce discards of sole from beam trawlers in the South West Area VIIe. This project is a follow up to the very successful Project 50%, which saw discards in the beam trawl fishery reduced by over 50 per cent. It will investigate how the use of catch quotas can further reduce discards of sole in this fishery.
MMO marine observers and remote electronic monitoring (REM) equipment, including CCTV, will be used to document and quantify the effectiveness of the catch quota system at reducing discards.
Applications are invited from beam trawlers who would like to volunteer to participate in this project and who expect to be fishing in the Area VIIe from 1 March 2011 to 31 December 2011. Only English-administered vessels actively fishing in a sole fishery in Area VIIe and in membership of a producer organisation are eligible. Vessels will be required to use selective gear as developed in Project 50%.
Successful vessels will be allocated up to 30 per cent additional sole quota to participate in the scheme. All sole caught, including juveniles will be counted against this quota and vessels will not be permitted to discard any sole. Once the sole quota has been caught, all fishing must cease. Additional allocations of other species may be available under scientific derogation and the catch quota terms would apply to any species for which additional allocation is granted.
Applicants are invited to bid for the amount of additional quota. Detailed information on the amount of quota is available in the information pack.
To apply, vessels should submit a completed application form along with details of last year’s catches.
