This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23251821
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fishing quota: Big producers lose reallocation battle | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The High Court has ruled in favour of redistributing 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, essentially a licence to fish, 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 argued the move was unlawful under both EU and domestic law, but the judge ruled there was no discrimination. | It argued the move was unlawful under both EU and domestic law, but the judge ruled there was no discrimination. |
| Jerry Percy, who represents some of the small-scale producers, said the decision had "historic implications". | 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. |
| 'Ongoing imbalance' | |
| Members of the UK Association of Fish Producer Organisations (Ukafpo), mainly large-scale fishermen, currently control more than 90% of the overall fishing quota for England and Wales. | |
| Small-scale inshore fishing around the UK'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. | 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. |
| Mr Percy, chief executive of the New Under Ten Fishermen's Association Ltd (Nutfa), told the BBC the decision was good news for the long-term survival of small-scale fishermen, who could now catch more fish. | |
| The redistribution would involve "constantly unused quota", he said. | |
| "We have had an ongoing imbalance in quota allocation for decades which has resulted in the fact that while we are three-quarters of the commercial fleet in the UK, we have access to only 4% of the quota," he added. | |
| Jim Portus, Ukafpo chairman, said his organisation was very disappointed by the decision, but said he was pleased the judge had recognised the fixed quota allocations held by each boat were "possessions" as far as the Human Rights Act was concerned. | |
| "It is a strangeness that the court has ruled that they are possessions, but there is no value on those possessions." | |
| He added: "We have considered an appeal and we may be returning to the High Court in the autumn." |