Conservation: Quota management
Management of UK fishing quotas
Total Allowable Catches (TACs) relating to the quantity of named species which may be taken from particular sea areas are set at the beginning of each year by the European Commission which takes scientific account about the sustainability of each fish stock. These TACs are then divided up among member states based upon each countries historic catch pattern for a stock (otherwise known as relative stability share). How a member states then chooses to manage its quota is down to them. In the UK, we sub-divide our quota among some 23 producer organisations and other groups also based on their catch pattern for each stock. These groups include the under 10 metre fleet and the non sector (vessels not in membership of a producer organisation) which Fisheries Departments directly manage.
Quota Management Rules
As part of the system we use to manage fish quota stocks in the UK, Fisheries Departments agree in advance a set of rules governing all the aspects of the quota management system including, for example the movement of quota between groups or penalties to be imposed on groups for overfishing.
FQA Guidance
From 1 September 2003 fishing vessel licence entitlement holders have been able to arrange the permit transfer of the fixed quota allocation (FQA) units attached to their entitlement. A note setting out the background to this and detailing the rules governing the transfer of FQA units is available 
(51 KB).
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Page last modified: 14 December 2007
Page published: 14 December 2007