Collection

Catch Quota Trials

Catch quota management is an alternative system of managing fish quotas that counts all catches of fish at sea against a vessel’s quota.

• From: Marine Management Organisation
• Published: 11 June 2014
• Last updated: 19 September 2016 — See all updates

Those taking part are able to get extra quota for some fish species as long as they don’t discard any of these – regardless of size. Fish below the minimum legal size must be landed but not sold and will still count against the quota. Fishers decide how to avoid unwanted catches, either by moving area or using bigger meshes in their nets. If fishers run out of quota for a species they have to stop fishing.

The extra quota cannot be more than 30% of a vessel’s usual catch and no more than 75% of the amount they may have thrown away before. If a vessel sticks to these rules, they will get some extra quota, and those fishing in the North Sea are less restricted in the number of days they can spend fishing.

Some participants are also provided with a degree of flexibility from rigid technical rules about fishing nets, which are also being reviewed as part of the Common Fisheries Policy reform process.

The trails will be run in accordance with the rules agreed in December Council 2015, which will be adopted in the quota regulations 2016.

These rules enable vessels participating in fully documented fisheries, including the use of CCTV coverage, to secure additional quota for certain stocks.

Reports

• Catch Quota Trials: South West Beam Trawl 2013 final report
  • 20 January 2015
  • Research and analysis
• Catch Quota Trial Final Report 2013 - western haddock
  • 30 September 2014
  • Research and analysis
• Catch Quota Trials: North Sea cod 2013 final report
  • 11 August 2014
  • Research and analysis
• Catch Quota Trials: Western haddock 2013 interim report
  • 11 June 2014
  • Research and analysis
• Catch Quota Trials: North Sea cod 2013 interim report
  • 11 June 2014
  • Research and analysis
• Catch Quota Trials: 2012 final report
  • 11 June 2014
  • Research and analysis
• Catch Quota Trials: Under 10 metre trial
  • 11 June 2014
  • Research and analysis
• Catch Quota Trials: 2012 interim report
  • 11 June 2014
  • Research and analysis
• Catch Quota Trials: 2011 final report
  • 11 June 2014
  • Research and analysis

Published 11 June 2014
Last updated 19 September 2016 + show all updates

1. 19 September 2016

   North sea cod catch quota trials final report 2015 added

2. 9 December 2015

   Catch Quota Trials: Western Haddock Final Report 2014 added

3. 16 July 2015

   North Sea Cod Catch Quota Trials: Final Report 2014 added

4. 20 January 2015

   Catch Quota Trials: South West Beam Trawl 2013 final report added

5. 17 December 2014

   Text change: The trails will be run in accordance with the rules agreed in December Council 2014, which will be adopted in the quota regulations 2015. These rules enable vessels participating in fully documented fisheries, including the use of CCTV coverage, to secure additional quota for certain stocks.

6. 22 September 2014

   Added new report - Catch Quota Trial final report for western haddock in 2013.

7. 15 September 2014

   Added new report on haddock and selectivity

8. 2 September 2014

   Added a document with the terms and conditions for taking part in the scheme in 2014.

9. 11 August 2014

   Catch Quota Trials: North Sea cod 2013 final report added

10. 11 June 2014

    First published.