Newsletter Signup
Site Search
Scotland's Campaign
We're backing Scotland's campaign to boost fish consumption. Click here to find out more
Oil Price
Scottish Headlines
U.K. Headlines
| English white fish fleet banned from the North Sea until February |
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 25 January 2010 22:25 | |||
|
The North Sea (areas IVa, IVb, IVc) has been closed to vessels using towed gear of 100 mm and above for the rest of January.
The closure is from 00.01 on Jan 25 until midnight January 31 and will affect around 60 trawlers administered by the Marine and Fisheries Agency and the Welsh Assembly Government.
The MFA says that the UK is nearing its national effort limit for the TR1 North Sea (Whitefish) Gear.
This measure only affects the North Sea TR1 gear type. All other gears are unaffected by this change. Other gear types may still be used and fishermen may apply to use other gear types during this period.
The MFA says the decision has been taken because of concerns that the UK is in danger of breaching its 2009 – 2010 EU effort limit in the Cod Recovery Plan. Not to act would have risked large cuts in whitefish effort for our fleet in 2010/11.
Both the Scottish and Northern Irish ministers have stated publicly that if there is ultimately an overshoot attributable to their vessels they will have to bear the full weight of any penalty this attracts.
|