Since the UK voted to leave the EU the proportion of questions the MMO receives from the public and media about commercial fishing has increased.
The latest information from the MMO: We previously committed to making more of this information freely available. This post answers some further general questions we’re often asked relating to commercial fishing activity in UK and English waters. How can I get a licence to fish by boat in the UK? Your vessel must be registered before you can get a licence. No new fishing vessel licences are created and there are a limited number of licences in circulation. The only way you can get a licence is by transferring an existing one to your vessel. You need a licence entitlement to do this. The MMO does not sell or provide these licence entitlements. Places they may be obtained include via trade media aimed at the commercial fishing industry. More information about fishing vessel licensing is also on our website. Is the MMO aware of the activities of foreign fishing vessels in UK waters? There are areas where EU fishing vessels are currently legally entitled to fish up to 6 nautical miles off the UK coastline, as part of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The MMO currently enforces compliance with the CFP in English waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone using a combination of monitoring and surveillance assets. We monitor fishing activity and vessel movements using our satellite vessel monitoring system (VMS). One thing this shows is vessels from other countries within UK waters. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment in detail on any ongoing enforcement operations. Where are the busiest fishing ports in the UK? Our annual statistics publication includes a range of information about the commercial fishing industry, including number of vessels and landings of fish into the top ports in the UK. Chapters 2 and 3 of the publication are particularly relevant. In 2016, the last year for which figures are available, Peterhead, Lerwick and Fraserburgh accounted for 49 per cent by quantity and 36 per cent by value of all landings by UK vessels into the UK. Answer to your question not here? Try reading our previous posts for details of how fishing quotas are currently set and more statistics on fishing, including activities by EU vessels in UK waters. Posted by: Amy Wardlaw, MMO, Posted on: 8 February 2018 - Categories: fisheries
At the close of the In advance of the start on 1st May of Judicial Review proceedings in the Royal Courts of Justice, Jim Portus, Chairman of the UK Association of Fish Producer Organisations (UKAFPO), made the following statement: "I reiterate that this Judicial Review action is about the decision of Defra Minister, Richard Benyon, to step outside the UK fish quotas distribution rules methodology that haves been established, used and understood by and with the consent of the whole industry since 1999. Since that year, Fixed Quota Allocation units (FQAs) have been attached to fishing licences, traded and subjected to taxation as business assets." "Indeed, since 1983 the UK fishing industry has not made one investment decision that was not guided by government and its obligations under the common fisheries policy. That is why we must have the same certainty and stability of opportunity within the UK management system as is required by the CFP and is enjoyed by fishermen in other Member States.“ The case was not about withholding fishing quotas from inshore fishermen, nor was it about who owns the quotas, although some observers made that erroneous assumption. We look forward to engaging promptly with officials at MMO as we are keen to re-establish the meetings and consultations so necessary to achieve efficient and effective use of all opportunities of quota and non-quota resources. "I am pleased to report that only a few days before the case, the English Producer Organisations met with under 10m fishermen thanks to the work of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO). We made good progress and we all agreed that co-operation can enable those under 10s who need quota to obtain it promptly and affordably." "We have been advised by our lawyers that we can expect to wait up to 6 weeks before the judgement is handed down." Jim Portus. Chairman UKAFPO. Monday, 6th May 29 April 2013.
Not the most comfortable ridfe to work - imagine steaming for 62 hours in this weather - even sleeping is hard work! Making the decision to fish at Rockall in order to avoid catching cod is not taken lightly. For starters just getting there involves a steam of over 60 hours - a round trip of nearly 6 days without a fish being caught - so the return in terms of the value of fish has to justify the long steam and the fuel consumed. Haddock, monk and squid are the three main species available to the boats who fish at the Rock. Weather is a real issue fishing Rockall - with the prevailing winds from the west - if the weather is extreme it is to far to risk running home in huge following seas - and dodging requires heading for deeperwater off the bank - going west! - next stop Newfoundland or Iceland! A reminder of just how bad it can get can be seen here with these two Spanish longliners.
