Under-10 Decommissioning Scheme
English Inshore Fleet Package Announced
A reminder that the deadline for submitted applications for decommissioning under-10 metre vessels is Friday January 16. Application forms are still available via the forms page or from MFA coastal offices, where staff will be happy to help.
As part of a package of measures, a £5 million scheme to scrap under 10 metre fishing vessels in England and reduce fishing effort of the inshore fleet was announced today.
It is the first step in tackling the problems of the under 10 metre fleet and charting a course for the industry’s long-term future.
England’s 2,500 inshore fishermen have been under pressure because of tight monthly catch limits, or quota restrictions.
Go to relevant application forms and guidance notes (Forms page)
The de-commissioning scheme aims to pay high catching fishermen who want to leave the industry to scrap their boats and release their quota entitlement to the rest of the fleet.
Other measures are included in a package designed to bring stability to England’s in-shore fleet while plans to solve the long term problems of the imbalance between quota and fishing capacity are worked out. See our Questions & Answers page for further details.
These include:
- Engine testing across the inshore fleet to check that fishing boat power matches their licence conditions
- A new twin-track fishing licence scheme with those fishermen who have traditionally caught less of certain species of fish capped on the amount they can land
- Those who have a track record of catching more of a certain species to get full licences
- Quota leasing to help fishermen who want to catch more than their monthly limits to lease in extra to support their businesses
- A new advisory group of fishermen, people from the seafood industry, coastal communities, and other key stakeholders to help shape the future the inshore fleet