Quota Management Change Programme
The UK Quota Management Change Programme was instigated by UK Fisheries Administrations in 2005 to deliver improvement in the UK’s quota management system.
In this section:
Background
Fish stocks are an important renewable national resource. As well as their economic value they are also an important factor in the social and cultural well being of our coastal communities and the marine environment. Fisheries Administrations manage access to the resource in a way that maximises the value to the public and meets wider social and environmental objectives. One aspect of this management is managing access to fish quotas.
The Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit report – Net Benefits - identified weaknesses in the current quota management system. The system was criticised for being confusing, bureaucratic and lacking in transparency.
Fisheries Administrations in the UK agreed with many of the conclusions in Net Benefits and in its response, Securing the Benefits, which was complimented by the Sustainable Framework for Scottish Sea Fisheries report. The Quota Management Change Programme was subsequently implemented in 2005. The Programme seeks to modernise the present UK quota management system and deliver the benefits of increased transferability, increased certainty of individual fishing rights and improved transparency in quota trading. The Programme is being taken forward jointly by all four UK Fisheries Administrations, in consultation with stakeholders. We are guided by a set of strategic aims and guiding principles. We aim to publish a public consultation document in 2007 and implement changes from 2008 onwards.
An Industry Consultative Group including representatives from the catching sector, processing sector and environmental organisations has been formed to meet and consider the issues and initial conclusions as they are developed through the programme.
Another group representing under 10m vessel owners in England (similar groups were established in Devolved Administrations) was also formed to discuss quota issues affecting the under 10 metre fleet and vessels operating outside of Producer Organisations.
What happens next?
The Fisheries Administrations are aiming to publish a consultation paper in 2007 setting out the options we’re proposing to take forward. These include;
- Retaining the current reference period for fixed quota allocations (FQAs), Addressing who can hold FQAs, strengthening the rules for Producer Organisations,
- Letting fishermen choose who manages their quota,
- Improving the quota trading mechanism whilst safeguarding wider social and economic goals,
- Improving compliance with quota limits
- Improving the management of the non-sector and under 10m fleets.
The consultation paper will form the core of a 12 week consultation exercise. We will be seeking views from everyone with an interest in the quota management change programme. As part of the consultation process, we’ll be meeting as many of our stakeholders as possible.
A partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) will form part of the consultation paper. Stakeholders will be invited to comment on the RIA and provide supporting evidence.
In some areas, the evidence leads to firm proposals, in others, the issues are less clear cut so we may suggest several options and ask you specific questions on them.
Stakeholders will be invited to comment on the proposals outlined in the consultation paper and RIA. We want to hear as wide a range of views as possible before proposing changes to the existing system.
Minutes and papers of meetings
6 March 2007 - Inshore group meeting minutes 
Contact us
We welcome and encourage feedback on our proposals and any other comments that you might have on the Quota Management Change Programme.
If you wish to be added to our stakeholder list for future mailings about the programme, please contact us at:
Email: qmcp@defra.gsi.gov.uk
alternatively write to:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
Area 2C, Nobel House,
17 Smith Square,
London. SW1P 3JR
or call us on: 020 7238 4441.
Page last modified: 14 December 2007
Page published: 14 December 2007