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Fishing producers lose quota reallocation battle Fishing producers lose quota reallocation battle
(35 minutes later)
The High Court has ruled in favour of reallocating some fishing rights from big producers to small-scale fishermen. The High Court has ruled in favour of redistributing some fishing rights from big producers to small-scale fishermen.
The UK Association of Fish Producer Organisations had challenged a decision to reallocate unused quota worth more than £1m. The UK Association of Fish Producer Organisations had challenged a decision to reallocate unused quota, essentially a licence to fish, worth more than £1m.
It claimed the government could not do this without its consent. It argued the move was unlawful under both EU and domestic law, but the judge ruled there was no discrimination.
Critics have described the association as representing "the fat cats of the fishing industry who control over 90% of the quota". Jerry Percy, who represents some of the small-scale producers, said the decision had "historic implications".
Fishing quotas are a licence to make a living from the seas. Without them, it is not possible to legally catch and sell fish.Fishing quotas are a licence to make a living from the seas. Without them, it is not possible to legally catch and sell fish.
Small-scale fishing round Britain's traditional ports has suffered because crews have been unable to negotiate control of enough of the quota to stay in business. Members of the UK Association of Fish Producer Organisations, mainly large-scale fishermen, currently control more than 90% of the overall fishing quota for England and Wales.
Small-scale fishing around Britain's traditional ports has suffered because crews have been unable to negotiate control of enough of the quota to stay in business.
But large fleets have left about 800 tonnes of their quota untouched for years, so the government decided to confiscate that amount of the quota to share out among small operators.But large fleets have left about 800 tonnes of their quota untouched for years, so the government decided to confiscate that amount of the quota to share out among small operators.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) wants to redistribute "fixed quota allocations" from those who own vessels greater than 33ft (10m) to boats that are 33ft (10m) or under.