your plaice or mine? - fishing quotas in the north sea
TRANSCRIPT
Your Plaice or Mine?
Fishing Quotas in the North Sea
Post-Brexit
Derek W Louden MA (Abdn), MA (Shef), MEI
Abbian House
Tower Street
Tain
Ross-shire
IV19 1DY
Tel: 01862 892734
Mob: 07876 774412
Email: [email protected]
1) Introduction
In this Paper we will look at the changes in quotas for species in the North Sea arranged by the European
Commission. We will cover the period from 1998 to 2016. The paper will show the extent of the changes
involved and will provide a basis for looking at the issues which will emerge during the Brexit negotiations.
Our analysis will look at each species in turn and will consider the effect of the changes in UK quota over time
and also the effect on the other nations fishing in the North Sea and West of Scotland.
Source: By Inwind - Own work, Public Domain,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3345037
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sea#/media/File:North_sea_eez.PNG
The diagram above shows the North Sea divided up into Exclusive Economic Zones. These are the starting off
point for negotiations in Europe over who-gets-what. A 50:50 share between the UK and the rest of Europe
would seem like a fair allocation before taking account of the fishing grounds for individual species. The
numbers we consider below are for EU waters. These exclude the top right blue section for Norwegian waters
which constitute 20% of the EU waters. France, Denmark and The Netherlands have approximately 8% each.
Germany has 5% and Belgium 1%. The SFF would argue that the UK’s share of EU waters is then about
50/80ths or 62.5%. Post-Brexit they would expect quota adjustments to reflect this.
EU Fishing Areas
The map above shows the fishing area divisions for the EU fisheries. For the North Sea we’re looking at IVa,b,c
but we also often take in Norwegian waters in IIa and also Norwegian/Swedish/Danish areas IIIa and IIIb. Some
fisheries include areas in zone VII and one includes fish in zone VI which lies west of Scotland. Clearly any
access UK boats have to IIa and III waters would be eliminated post Brexit. In the case of Norway’s IIa fishery
this access would certainly be lost if we insist on a higher share of fisheries in IVa,b,c – if we want a higher
share of area IV we’ll have to respect the “Keep Out” notice on area IIa.
These scenarios will need to be worked through prior to Brexit discussions. It would not be impossible for a
larger share of the quotas in area IV along with exclusion from area IIa to result in a lower tonnage than we
presently enjoy.
The paper below will work on us continuing with a 50:50 share of EU fisheries. If the industry wants to argue
for a higher share that’s up to them – but they’ll have to accept the exclusions that come along with adopting
this stance.
2) Cod Quotas
Our first section will look at quotas for cod in the North Sea. The diagram below shows the quota allocated to
the UK over the period 1998 to 2016. We can see that the quota was cut from 58,740 Tonnes in 1998 to 7,773
Tonnes in 2007. Between 1998 and 2007, the UK North Sea Cod quota fell by 86.8%. Since then it has
recovered somewhat to 13,107 tonnes in 2016 an increase of 68.6% from the lowest point. Quotas in 2016 are
the highest since 2002.
Fig 4.1
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
In 2003 when we last looked at this market, the quota allocations for the North Sea by Member State were as
follows:
Fig 4.2 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The UK had by far the biggest share of the cod landings in 2003. We can see from the diagram below that this
remains the case today.
807 4,635
2,939
997 2,619 31
10,631
North Sea Cod Quota (Tonnes) 2003
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
Fig 4.2a
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
In 2016 the UK had 47% of the EU Quota for Cod. In this fishery Germany seems to have gained part of its
share in the fishery from its European partner The Netherlands. There doesn’t seem to be a case for a massive
transfer of quota to the Scottish fleet.
Foreign vessels make significant landings of cod from the North Sea. The Danish fleet has also seen their quota
for Cod taken in the North Sea fall. The diagram below shows this decline:
Fig 4.3
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The Danish fleet suffered an 86.8% cut in their quota between 1998 and 2007. This is the same cut in percentage
terms as that suffered by the UK fleet. Since then quota has risen by 68.6% from 3,388 to 5,713 Tonnes per
annum in 2016. The pains and the gains have been shared in equal measure by the UK and European fleets.
994 , 4%
5,713 , 20%
3,622 , 13%
1,228 , 4%
3,228 , 12% 38 , 0%
13,107 , 47%
North Sea Cod Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
3) Haddock Quota
Haddock quotas in the North Sea area have also been significantly reduced in an attempt to stabilise stocks. The
position for UK vessels is shown in the diagram below:
Fig 4.4
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
In 1998 the UK fleet was allowed to catch 66,000 tonnes of Haddock in the North Sea. By 2003 when we last
looked at this market the allocation had been cut to 30,673 tonnes. This represented a reduction of 53.5%. Since
2003, a number of false dawns led to temporary increases followed by reductions in quota over the following 10
years. The quota fell to as low as 22,250 Tonnes in 2011. Since then there have been several increases in quota
culminating in this year’s limit of 40,141 Tonnes. Time will tell if this is sustainable.
In 2003 the allocation of Haddock quota between member states was as follows:
Fig 4.5 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
By 2016 the quota allocation had increased and the tonnage and percentage of the quota held by each member
state is shown below. The UK has 84% of the quota for the North Sea. Anyone thinking that this will increase as
a result of the Brexit negotiations is living in cloud cuckoo land. A reduction of 15,000 Tonnes per annum might
be likely with this being allocated to nations on the other side of the North Sea.
419 2881
1834 3196
314 203
30673
North Sea Haddock Quota (Tonnes) 2003
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
Fig 4.5a
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The diagram below shows the change in the much smaller quota allocated to Denmark. Over the period
following 1998 the quota rose and fell reaching a low of 1,349 Tonnes in 2011. Since then it has recovered to
2,434 Tonnes in 2016. The cut in Danish quota from 6,200 tonnes in 1998 to 1,349 Tonnes in 2011 represents a
reduction of 78.2% since when the recovery to 2,434 Tonnes in 2016 shows an increase of 80.4%.
Fig 4.6
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
354 , 1% 2,434 , 5%
1,549 , 3%
2,699 , 6% 266 , 1%
245 , 0%
40,141 , 84%
North Sea Haddock Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
4) Whiting Quota
The first diagram in this section shows cuts in the UK fleet’s Whiting quota between 1998 and 2016:
Fig 4.7
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see from the above diagram that the UK fleet’s quota for Whiting fell from 27,415 tonnes in 1998 to
6,484 tonnes in 2003. This represented a fall of 76.3% over the period. Following this period, the fishery’s quota
rose and fell, ending the period with a decline in each of the last four years to 8,438 Tonnes in 2016.
In 2003 the quota allocations for the various nation states were as follows:
Fig 4.8 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The following diagram shows that the UK has 67% of the Whiting quota in the North Sea in 2016. As with the
previous example it is unclear why the industry would think that there is an upside to possible negotiations on
Brexit. This is another fishery where The Netherlands and Germany are ceding a share of their quota to France.
The UK has given nothing to anyone & if anything seems to benefit from a higher share than we might
reasonably expect.
376
1,626
423
2,443
940 2
6,484
North Sea Whiting Quota (Tonnes) 2003
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
Fig 4.8a
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The final diagram in this section looks at the reduction in Danish fleet quota over the period:
Fig 4.9
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see from the above diagram that the Danish fleet saw its quota cut by 84.2% over the period from 1998
to 2010. Since then the quota rose briefly before falling again in each of the last four years to end the period at
1,167 Tonnes in 2016.
270, 2% 1,167, 9%
304, 3%
1,754, 14%
675, 5%
2, 0%
8,438, 67%
North Sea Whiting Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
5) Hake Quota
We next look at the UK’s Hake quota and how this has changed over time:
Fig 4.10
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see from the above that the UK’s Hake quota fell from 370 tonnes in 1998 to 160 tonnes in 2001. This
represents a fall of 56.8% over the period. Since then the Hake fishery has recovered and the quota is now 629
Tonnes per annum, one of few fisheries with higher quota than was the case at the start of our review period.
The diagram below shows the allocation of national quotas for Hake in 2003:
Fig 4.11 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see that this is a fishery where the UK has a much lower share of the quota than our geographical share
of the North Sea waters would suggest we should have. This is the sort of quota where the SFF could make a
claim for perhaps 1,100 tonnes. Given that the quid pro quo might be the loss of 15,000 Tonnes of Haddock it
isn’t clear why this might be suggested as a “cunning plan”.
15
610 70
135
35
190
North Sea Hake Quota (Tonnes) 2003
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
UK
Fig 4.11a
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
Denmark has a much larger share of the Hake quota than the UK. The following diagram will show how the
Danish fleet has seen their quota allocation change over time.
Fig 4.12
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see that the Danish quota was cut from 1,200 tonnes to 500 tonnes between 1998 and 2001. This
represents a reduction of 58.3% over the period. The recovery in Hake quota mentioned above has also been
reflected in an increase in Danish quota. By 2016 their quota was 2,018 Tonnes an increase of 403.6% since
2001.
50, 1%
2,018, 58%
232, 7%
447, 13%
116, 3%
629, 18%
North Sea Hake Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
UK
6) Herring
The UK quota for herring over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.13
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see from the above that the herring fishery has not been impacted by quota cuts in the same way as
many other fisheries. The UK’s quota for North Sea Herring has increased from 38,910 tonnes in 1998 to 70,348
tonnes in 2016. This represents an 80.8% increase over the period.
The following chart shows the national shares of the herring fishery in the North Sea:
Fig 4.14 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
This is another fishery where the UK’s share appears to be much less than its geography should entitle it to. The
shortfall might be as much as 80,000 Tonnes.
62,785
41,002
16,412
44,727
4,070
55,463
North Sea Herring Quota (Tonnes) 2003
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
Fig 4.14a
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
7) Saithe
The UK quota for Saithe over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.15
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The quota for Saithe increased from 7,790 tonnes in 1998 to 15,254 tonnes in 2004. Since then the fishery has
been in gradual decline with the quota now 5,232 tonnes per annum in 2016. This represents a fall from the peak
in 2004 of 65.7%. The quota has declined in each of the last four years suggesting that it isn’t being sustainably
fished at present.
91,628, 29%
55,471, 18%
24,669, 8%
63,556, 20%
5,273, 2%
70,348, 23%
North Sea Herring Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Saithe Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
Fig 4.16 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see from the charts above and below that this is a fishery which doesn’t reflect geographical shares of
the North Sea. France appears to be the main beneficiary here with a 51% share of the quota. The SFF might
seek to lay claim to 10,500 tonnes of additional quota for Saithe post Brexit.
Fig 4.16a Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
23, 0% 2,703, 9%
6,825, 22%
16,062, 51%
68, 0%
371, 1%
5,232, 17%
North Sea Saithe Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
To
nn
es
Year
France North Sea Saithe Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
8) Blue Whiting
The UK quota for Blue whiting over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.17
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
From 1998 to 2005 the quota for Blue Whiting covered the areas IIa and IV on the EU map of fishing areas.
After 2005 the quota covers the whole of the EU fishery. This explains the leap in quota shown on the chart.
From 2006 to 2011 the fishery collapsed as quota was reduced from 68,161 tonnes in 2006 to 1,990 tonnes in
2011, a reduction of 97.1%. Since 2011 there has been a rapid recovery in quota to 41,137 tonnes in 2016, an
increase of 1,967%. The quota is twenty times higher than it was in 2011. Whether this is sustainable or not
remains to be seen.
Fig 4.18
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
In terms of who gets what, it appears that the UK is losing out to Spain and the Netherlands given the shares in
quota shown above. Ireland also seems to suffer from this allocation. On a geographical basis the UK would be
due at least an additional 40,000 tonnes.
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000 T
on
ne
s
Year
All EU Areas Blue Whiting Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
31,704, 15%
12,327, 6%
26,878, 13%
22,063, 11% 24,550, 12%
38,659, 18%
2,497, 1%
7,842, 4%
41,137, 20%
All EU Areas Blue Whiting Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Denmark
Germany
Spain
France
Ireland
Holland
Portugal
Sweden
UK
9) Plaice
The UK quota for Plaice over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.19 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The UK quota for Plaice fell from 28,070 in 1999 to 13,626 tonnes in 2008, a decline of 51.5% over the period.
Since then there has been in increase in quota in each of the last eight years to a figure of 34,864 in 2016. This
represents an increase of 155.9% since 2008.
Fig 4.20
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
In geographical terms this again looks like a fishery where the UK is losing out, this time to Denmark and The
Netherlands, but I guess it depends where the fish are and where the fishing takes plaice. If the primary grounds
are in Dutch waters then this might explain their share of the quota.
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000 T
on
nes
Year
UK North Sea Plaice Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
7,538, 6%
24,499, 20%
7,067, 6%
1,414, 1%
47,112, 38%
34,864, 29%
North Sea Plaice Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
UK
10) Common Sole
The UK quota for Common Sole over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.21
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see that the UK’s quota for Common Sole has declined over the period from 945 Tonnes in 2000 to 510
tonnes in 2015 a drop of 46.0% over the period.
Fig 4.22 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The UK gets 4% of the Common Sole quota in the North Sea while The Netherlands takes 75%. Even allowing
for the allocation being reflective of fishing grounds this seems a particularly unfair allocation. Denmark would
also seem to be losing out.
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1,000
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Common Sole Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
1,104, 8% 505, 4%
883, 7%
221, 2%
9,971, 75%
568, 4%
North Sea Common Sole Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
UK
11) Megrims
The UK quota for Megrims over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.23
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The Megrim fishery wasn’t subject to quotas in 1998 with the first quota being set in 1999. From then until
2007 the quota fell from 2,880 tonnes in 1999 to 1,424 tonnes in 2007, a drop of 50.6%. Since 2007 the quota
has recovered to reach 2,540 tonnes in 2016 an increase of 78.4%. It remains to be seen if the big increase in
quota for 2016 will be sustainable.
Fig 4.24 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see from the above that unfairness isn’t a one-way street. The UK has 96% of the Megrim quota making
it the most skewed allocation we’ve seen and it’s skewed in our favour not against us. Will we give this up for
some Plaice or Common Sole?
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Megrim Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
8, 1%
7, 0% 7, 0% 43, 2%
34, 1%
2,540, 96%
North Sea Megrim Quota (Tonnes) 2016 Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
UK
12) Monkfish
The UK quota for Monkfish over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.25
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
No quota was set for Monkfish in 1998, there was an open fishery. The first quota for the species was set in
1999 and the quota was subject to steep reductions until 2003. Quota fell from 17,960 tonnes in 1999 to only
5,697 tonnes in 2003/04 a decline of 68.3% over the period. Since then the quota rose and fell but over the last
three years there has been an increase each year. It now stands at 9,169 tonnes, an increase of 60.9% since the
low point in 2003-04.
Fig 4.26
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
This is another fishery where the UK does very well out of the allocation. Were the fishery divided by
geography we might have to cede 3,500 tonnes to our European partners.
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
20000
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Monkfish Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
398, 3% 878, 8% 429, 4% 82, 1%
301, 3%
9,169, 81%
North Sea Monkfish Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
UK
13) Norway Lobster
The UK quota for Norway Lobster over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.27
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The UK’s quota for Norway Lobster increased from 13,165 tonnes in 1998 to 24,380 tonnes in 2006 a rise of
85.2% over the period. Since then the quota allocation has resembled a ski slope falling to 11,865 tonnes by
2016, a fall of 51.3% over the period with a decline in eight of the last ten years.
Fig 4.28
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The UK has 87% of this fishery. This seems a pretty extraordinary percentage even allowing for the location of
the grounds. How much does the industry want to give up?
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Norway Lobster Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
717, 5% 717, 5% 11, 0%
369, 3%
21, 0%
11,865, 87%
North Sea Norway Lobster Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
Holland
France
UK
14) Sprat
The UK quota for Sprat over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.29
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The UK has seen its quota rise and fall over the period since 1998. From 4,950 tonnes in 1998 our quota rose to
10,010 tonnes in 2006 an increase of 102.2%. Since then ICES has suggested lower quotas and ours fell to a low
of 5,105 in 2014, a drop of 49.0%. In the two most recent years there have been very high increases in the quota.
We’ll have to see if this proves sustainable in future years.
Fig 4.30 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
You can but laugh at the allocation of this quota which has been given almost in its entirety to Denmark. The
Danes track record in the destruction of small fish stocks is probably the worst in recorded history. Who’d be a
sprat? Not me. The Danish quota over the period from 1998 to 2016 is charted below:
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Sprat Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
3,802, 1%
300,915, 91%
3,802, 1%
3,802, 1%
3,802, 1% 1,330, 1% 12,547, 4%
North Sea Sprat Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
Fig 4.30a Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
An increase of over 100,000 tonnes from one year to the next is a recipe for disaster.
15) Dab/Flounder
The UK quota for Dab/Flounder over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.31
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
After an initial fall in quota between 1999 and 2007 from 2,590 tonnes to 1,473 tonnes, a drop of 43.1%, the
Dab/Flounder quota has been pretty stable with the quota unchanged over the last six years at 1,588 tonnes.
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000 T
on
nes
Year
Denmark North Sea Sprat Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Dab/Flounder Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
Fig 4.32
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see that this fishery sees the Dutch taking the major share. The UK’s share is in single figures at 9%.
Equity would suggest a larger share of this fishery should come to the UK subject to where the fishing grounds
are for this species. A chart showing the change in Dutch quota over the period is found below:
Fig 4.32a Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
503, 3% 1,888, 10% 2,832, 15%
196, 1%
11,421, 62%
6, 0%
1,588, 9%
North Sea Dab/Flounder Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
20000
To
nn
es
Year
Dutch North Sea Dab/Flounder Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
16) Sandeel
The UK quota for Sandeels over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.33
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The Sandeel fishery was pursued to destruction by the Danes. These fish are tiny and could only be caught by
using a net with a tiny mesh which let nothing escape. The Danes got a quota of over 900,000 tonnes which they
could never catch but which they defended to the death. The fishery collapsed in its entirety and since they sat at
the bottom of the food chain other species’ stocks dwindled as well. Also affected were birds such as puffins
which fed on the sandeels before they vanished. Global warming has meant that any recovery in stocks will only
happen after a long and very slow rebuilding.
Fig 4.34
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
A quota should never again be set for this stock. It must be left un-fished.
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Sandeel Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
0
200000
400000
600000
800000
1000000
1200000
To
nn
es
Year
Denmark N Sea Sandeel Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
17) Horse Mackerel
The UK quota for Horse Mackerel over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.35
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
Before we look at the numbers, we need to note that the change between 2009 and 2010 is caused by a change in
fishing area from IIa and IV to a new area covering IVb,c and VIId. The UK quota fell from 5,840 tonnes in
1999 to 3,470 tonnes in 2009. The area change brought an increase since when the quota has fallen to 1,314 in
2016. The Horse Mackerel fishery continues to struggle.
Fig 4.36
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The Horse Mackerel fishery quota is held by Denmark (47%) and The Netherlands (29%) with the UK a long
way behind on 11%. This seems to be unfair if based on geography.
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Horse Mackerel Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
13, 0%
5,519, 47%
487, 4%
102, 1%
458, 4%
347, 3%
3,323, 29% 12, 0% 75, 1%
1,314, 11%
EU Waters Horse Mackerel Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
Spain
France
Ireland
Holland
Portugal
Sweden
UK
18) Mackerel
The UK quota for Mackerel over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.37
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The quota for Mackerel has been up-and-down since 1998. It fell from 1,611 tonnes in 2002 to only 435 tonnes
in 2005, a drop of 73.0%. Since then the stock and the quota has recovered but the quota has fallen again in the
last three years and ends the period at 1,661 tonnes in 2016. We’ll see if stability returns in future years.
Fig 4.38
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The UK’s share of the Mackerel quota, at 5% is derisory and unfair. Denmark has 62% of the quota and
Sweden, with no North Sea coastline, has 17%. This is one where the SFF’s argument has traction.
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Mackerel Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
566, 2%
19,461, 62%
590, 2%
1,781, 6% 1,793, 6% 5,389, 17% 1,661, 5%
North Sea Mackerel Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
19) Northern Prawn
The UK quota for Northern Prawn over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.39
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
No catch limit was set for Northern Prawn in 1998 or 1999 but it became necessary to impose one from 2000
onwards. From 1,948 tonnes in 1998 the quota has fallen to 538 tonnes in 2016 a drop of 72.4%.
Fig 4.40
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
For this quota allocation to make any sense Denmark would need to hand some back. It isn’t only the UK who
suffer, Germany, Belgium and France get nothing at all and The Netherlands gets 1%.
Denmark’s Northern Prawn quota is shown on the chart below. The numbers are a lot bigger than the UK ones.
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Northern Prawn Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
1,818, 74%
17, 1% 73, 3% 538, 22%
North Sea Northern Prawn Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Denmark
Holland
Sweden
UK
Fig 4.41
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
20) Lemon Sole
The UK quota for Lemon Sole over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below. No quota was set in the first
year:
Fig 4.42
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see that the first UK quota set in 1999 was 7,330 tonnes. This declined rapidly in subsequent years
reaching 3,773 tonnes in 2006 a fall of 48.5%. Since then the fishery has been relatively stable and sits at 3,904
tonnes in 2016.
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
4,500
5,000 T
on
nes
Year
Denmark North Sea Northern Prawn Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Lemon Sole Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
The chart below shows the share of the quota allocated to each nation in 2016. We can see that this is the only
flatfish for which the UK has a higher quota than our neighbours. Other EU nations might look to us giving up
700 tonnes were negotiations entered into.
Fig 4.43
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
21) Turbot
The UK quota for Turbot over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below. No quota was set in the first year:
Fig 4.44
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
We can see that in the early years the quota fell from 1,390 tonnes in 1999 to 668 tonnes in 2006, a fall of
51.9%. Since then the quota rose and subsequently fell again to end at 693 tonnes in 2016.
With this fishery the allocation clearly favours the Netherlands at the expense of the UK
346, 5%
953, 15% 122, 2%
261, 4%
794, 13%
11, 0%
3,904, 61%
North Sea Lemon Sole Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Turbot Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
Fig 4.45
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
22) Skates & Rays
The UK quota for Skates & Rays over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below. No quota was set in the
first year:
Fig 4.46
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The UK quota for Skates and Rays has fallen from 3,920 tonnes in 1999 to 849 tonnes in 2016, a fall of 78.3%
over the period. The decline has been pretty much constant but this has levelled off in recent years with a small
increase in the 2016 quota. This looks like a sustainable level for this fishery.
329, 7% 703, 16% 180, 4%
85, 2%
2,493, 56%
5, 0%
693, 15%
North Sea Turbot Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
Sweden
UK
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea Skate/Rays Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
Skates and Rays is another fishery where the UK does well from our allocation getting almost two thirds of the
allocation. Negotiations might cost 185 tonnes of skates & Rays.
Fig 4.47
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
23) Hallibut
The UK quota for Hallibut over the period from 1998 to 2016 is shown below:
Fig 4.48
Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
No quota was set in an open fishery between 1998 and 2004. Quotas were introduced in 2005 and between then
and 2012 the quota fell from 661 tonnes to 123 tonnes, a fall of 66.3%.
Since then a much higher quota has been set with the 2016 quota being 849 tonnes, an increase of 590.2%. Is
this sustainable? Time will tell.
9, 1%
221, 17%
35, 3%
188, 14%
11, 1%
849, 64%
North Sea Skates & Rays Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Denmark
Belgium
France
Holland
Germany
UK
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
To
nn
es
Year
UK North Sea & W Scotland Hallibut Quota (Tonnes) 1998 - 2016
This is another fishery where the UK gets a good share of the quota to reflect our share of the North Sea and the
fishing grounds West of Scotland where access to foreign boats would be unlikely based on geography.
Fig 4.49 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
Whilst our share is good it isn’t fully reflective of the West of Scotland fishery. This time it is the Belgians who
seem to be gaining and the main losers would be the Danes whose share is derisory.
221, 17%
9, 1%
11, 1% 35, 3%
188, 14%
849, 64%
N Sea & W Scotland Greenland Hallibut Quota (Tonnes) 2016
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France
Holland
UK
5) Shares of EU Quota – who gets what
Fig 5.1 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The chart above shows that the UK’s share of EU quota varies from species to species. There are some where
we clearly do much better than our share of the waters would earn us. These include Megrim (96%), Norway
Lobster (86.6%), Haddock (84.2%), Monkfish (81.4%) and Hallibut (72.6%). There are some that are more in
keeping with our geographical share such as Whiting (66.9%), Skates and Rays (64.7%), Lemon Sole (61.1%)
and Cod (46.9%). There are quotas which might be explained by the geographical location of the fish such as
Plaice (28.5%), Dab/Flounder (8.6%), Common Sole (4.3%). Then there are fish which shouldn’t be fished
Sprat (3.8%) and Norway Pout (0.0%). Our quota for Pelagic stocks is too low – for Herring (22.6%), for Blue
Whiting (19.8%) for Horse Mackerel (11.3%) and most of all for Mackerel (5.3%). Quota for the remaining
species Northern Prawn (22.0%), Hake (18.0%), Saithe (16.7%) and Turbot (15.4%) are also very low.
What we require to decide is what we will give up on the Demersal side to gain the extra tonnage that the
Pelagic boats could justifiably claim they should have access to. There will be winners and losers if we throw
these fisheries open to renegotiation.
96
.3%
86
.6%
84
.2%
81
.4%
72
.6%
66
.9%
64
.7%
61
.1%
46
.9%
28
.5%
22
.6%
22
.0%
19
.8%
18
.0%
16
.7%
15
.4%
11
.3%
8.6
%
5.3
%
4.3
%
3.8
%
0.0
%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0%
100.0%
Meg
rim
No
rway
Lo
bst
er
Had
do
ck
Mo
nkf
ish
Hal
libu
t
Wh
itin
g
Skat
e/R
ays
Lem
on
So
le
Co
d
Pla
ice
Her
rin
g
No
rth
ern
Pra
wn
Blu
e W
hit
ing
Hak
e
Sait
he
Turb
ot
Ho
rse
Mac
kere
l
Dab
/Flo
un
der
Mac
kere
l
Co
mm
on
So
le
Spra
t
No
rway
Po
ut
UK's Share of EU Quotas 2016
Fig 5.2 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
Denmark has around 8% of the EU waters geographical area we saw at the start of this paper. We can see that
despite this Denmark has 99.9% of the quota for Norway Pout and 91.2% for Sprat. Denmark’s track record in
these small fish species is terrible. They destroyed the Sandeel stock & are simply moving on to the next stock
to feed their insatiable fishmeal plant. This history should not be allowed to repeat itself. Denamrk has 74.3% of
the Northern Prawn quota. That’s a “well done” to the Danish negotiators, but that’s just silly. They’ve 62.3% of
the Mackerel 57.8% of the Hake, 47.4% of the Horse Mackerel and 29.5% of the Herring. All of these numbers
are silly. The next few might be higher as trade offs for some of the UK’s higher quota for certain species. Cod
is 20.5% of the EU quota, Plaice is 20%, Turbot is 15.7% Blue whiting 15.3% and Lemon Sole 14.9% could be
explained by a bit of bartering. The remaining quotas look broadly in line with Denmark’s share of EU waters.
Some are very much lower than geographical share would suggest and would be revised upwards in any
renegotiation. Our Demersal sector represented by the SWFPA would be the main losers (except for prawns)
with our Pelagic sector seeking to benefit. For the Danes the process would work in reverse with their Demersal
sector benefiting and their Pelagic sector losing out.
Denmark was the biggest recipient of UK largesse in the 1973-5 carve up of UK North Sea waters. Denmark
would be the main loser from Brexit.
99
.9%
91
.2%
74
.3%
62
.3%
57
.8%
47
.4%
29
.5%
20
.5%
20
.0%
15
.7%
15
.3%
14
.9%
10
.2%
9.3
%
8.6
%
7.8
%
5.2
%
5.1
%
3.8
%
1.1
%
0.7
%
0.3
%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0%
100.0%
No
rway
Po
ut
Spra
t
No
rth
ern
Pra
wn
Mac
kere
l
Hak
e
Ho
rse
Mac
kere
l
Her
rin
g
Co
d
Pla
ice
Turb
ot
Blu
e W
hit
ing
Lem
on
So
le
Dab
/Flo
un
der
Wh
itin
g
Sait
he
Mo
nkf
ish
No
rway
Lo
bst
er
Had
do
ck
Co
mm
on
So
le
Hal
libu
t
Skat
e/R
ays
Meg
rim
Denmark's EU Quotas 2016
Fig 5.3 Source: Adapted from European Commission TAC’s & Quotas 1998 – 2016 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0072&from=EN
The third major fishery belongs to the Dutch who take a very high share of the fish found in their own waters.
With an 8% share of the EU fishing area they take 75.2% of the Common Sole. They have 62.0% of the
Dab/Flounder quota and 55.6% of the Turbot fishery. They have 38.5% of the Plaice quota and 28.5% of the
Horse Mackerel. From then on, trade-offs might account for the Herring (20.4%), Blue Whiting (18.6%),
Skate/Rays (14.3%), Lemon Sole (12.4%) and Cod (11.6%). The remainder sit below their estimated
geographical share with Mackerel (5.7%), Whiting (5.4%), Hake (3.3%), Monkfish (2.7%), Norway Lobster
(2.7%), Megrims (1.3%), Sprat (1.2%), Northern Prawn (0.7%), Haddock (0.6%), Saithe (0.2%), Norway Pout
(0.1%) and Hallibut (0.0%).
Looking at the chart we can see that the Dutch take less than their geographical share in twelve fish stocks and
more than their share in ten. Of these ten, half of them, the Benthic, are probably in their own waters. It is the
Pelagic fishery where they might be accused of having someone else’s fish.
75
.2%
62
.0%
55
.6%
38
.5%
28
.5%
20
.4%
18
.6%
14
.3%
12
.4%
11
.6%
5.7
%
5.4
%
3.3
%
2.7
%
2.7
%
1.3
%
1.2
%
0.7
%
0.6
%
0.2
%
0.1
%
0.0
%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0%
100.0%
Co
mm
on
So
le
Dab
/Flo
un
der
Turb
ot
Pla
ice
Ho
rse
Mac
kere
l
Her
rin
g
Blu
e W
hit
ing
Skat
e/R
ays
Lem
on
So
le
Co
d
Mac
kere
l
Wh
itin
g
Hak
e
Mo
nkf
ish
No
rway
Lo
bst
er
Meg
rim
Spra
t
No
rth
ern
Pra
wn
Had
do
ck
Sait
he
No
rway
Po
ut
Hal
libu
t
The Netherlands EU Quotas 2016
Value of Annual Quota in 2015 Prices £’s
BE DK DE ES FR IR NL PO FI SU UK
Megrim £ 10,144 £ 8,876 £ 8,876 £ - £ 54,524 £ - £ 43,112 £ - £ - £ - £ 3,220,720
Norway Lobster £ 7,572,954 £ 7,572,954 £ 116,182 £ - £ 221,802 £ - £ 3,897,378 £ - £ - £ - £125,318,130
Haddock £ 482,148 £ 3,315,108 £ 2,109,738 £ - £ 3,676,038 £ - £ 362,292 £ - £ - £ 333,690 £ 54,672,042
Monkfish £ 963,160 £ 2,124,760 £ 1,038,180 £ - £ 198,440 £ - £ 728,420 £ - £ - £ 24,200 £ 22,188,980
Hallibut £ - £ 25,408 £ 44,464 £ 25,408 £ 411,292 £ 25,408 £ - £ 25,408 £ 25,408 £ 25,408 £ 1,614,996
Whiting £ 289,170 £ 1,249,857 £ 325,584 £ - £ 1,878,534 £ - £ 722,925 £ - £ - £ 2,142 £ 9,037,098
Skate/Rays £ 184,535 £ 7,515 £ 9,185 £ - £ 29,225 £ - £ 156,980 £ - £ - £ - £ 708,915
Lemon Sole £ 1,195,084 £ 3,291,662 £ 421,388 £ - £ 901,494 £ - £ 2,742,476 £ - £ - £ 37,994 £ 13,484,416
Cod £ 1,955,198 £ 11,237,471 £ 7,124,474 £ - £ 2,415,476 £ - £ 6,349,476 £ - £ - £ 74,746 £ 25,781,469
Plaice £ 5,299,214 £ 17,222,797 £ 4,968,101 £ - £ 994,042 £ - £ 33,119,736 £ - £ - £ - £ 24,509,392
Herring £ - £ 32,436,312 £19,636,734 £ - £ 8,732,826 £ - £ 22,498,824 £ - £ - £ 1,866,642 £ 24,903,192
Northern Prawn £ - £ 6,786,594 £ - £ - £ - £ - £ 63,461 £ - £ - £ 272,509 £ 2,008,354
Blue Whiting £ - £ 5,199,456 £ 2,021,628 £ 4,407,992 £ 3,618,332 £ 4,026,200 £ 6,340,076 £ 409,508 £ - £ 1,286,088 £ 6,746,468
Hake £ 110,350 £ 4,453,726 £ 512,024 £ - £ 986,529 £ - £ 256,012 £ - £ - £ - £ 1,388,203
Saithe £ 19,780 £ 2,324,580 £ 5,869,500 £ - £13,813,320 £ - £ 58,480 £ - £ - £ 319,060 £ 4,499,520
Turbot £ 2,667,861 £ 5,700,627 £ 1,459,620 £ - £ 689,265 £ - £ 20,215,737 £ - £ - £ 40,545 £ 5,619,537
Horse Mackerel £ 9,061 £ 3,846,743 £ 339,439 £ 71,094 £ 319,226 £ 241,859 £ 2,316,131 £ 8,364 £ - £ 52,275 £ 915,858
Dab/Flounder £ 798,764 £ 2,998,144 £ 4,497,216 £ - £ 311,248 £ - £ 18,136,548 £ - £ - £ 9,528 £ 2,521,744
Mackerel £ 359,410 £ 12,357,735 £ 374,650 £ - £ 1,130,935 £ - £ 1,138,555 £ - £ - £ 3,422,015 £ 1,054,735
Common Sole £ 5,520,000 £ 2,525,000 £ 4,415,000 £ - £ 1,105,000 £ - £ 49,855,000 £ - £ - £ - £ 2,840,000
Sprat £ 893,470 £ 70,715,025 £ 893,470 £ - £ 893,470 £ - £ 893,470 £ - £ - £ 312,550 £ 2,948,545
Norway Pout £ - £ 30,286,800 £ 5,875 £ - £ - £ - £ 22,325 £ - £ - £ - £ -
TOTAL £28,330,303 £225,687,150 £56,191,328 £ 4,504,494 £42,381,018 £ 4,293,467 £ 169,917,414 £ 443,280 £ 25,408 £ 8,079,392 £335,982,314
3.23% 25.77% 6.42% 0.51% 4.84% 0.49% 19.40% 0.05% 0.00% 0.92% 38.36%
Value of Landings: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0050/00506391.pdf
£875,835,568
We can see this chart shows that only two nations have a clearly excessive stake in the fishery, more than we would expect from their geographical share of the North Sea.
Denmark could lose £155m were these quotas lost through Brexit - unless they take these fish in area IIa which belongs to Norway in which case the loss is £0.
The Netherlands case is more arguable but here the potential loss might still approach £100m unless again they take these fish in Norway’s sector IIa.
From the UK’s perspective £200m might be gained in extra quota at their expense unless we too take fish in area IIa which we’d no longer be able to do.
Losses for the Dutch would end up with the English fleet. Losses for the Danes would help Scottish boats.
Conclusions
Scottish fishermen are expecting a bonanza as a result of Brexit
Present Quotas cover area IV for the North Sea and area IIa in Norwegian waters
Future quotas might exclude us from area IIa
Our quota for Benthic species (flatfish) seem too low – but fishing grounds are in large part Dutch
Our quota for Pelagic species also seems very low – but fishing grounds are in part Norwegian
Our quota for Demersal stocks seems reasonable overall. Changes would see gains and losses for
individual species. We’d lose a big share of our Haddock catch.
Depending on what happened on access to IIa we could potentially have a greater share of area IV and
still end up with less fish. This should be clarified without delay.
Were access to IIa preserved and access to IV taken back from Denmark and The Netherlands we
would gain additional quota.
Additional Benthic quota would go to boats operating in the Southern part of the North Sea. These
would in all probability be English.
Additional Pelagic quota would benefit the Scottish Pelagic fleet
The Scottish Demersal fleet would see gains and losses. Surprisingly, losses might outweigh the gains
Given that most species are still in decline there is no case for additional quota
Given that most species are still in decline there is no case for additional days at sea
The role of “Slipper Skippers” hiring out quota might need to be subject to price control to help vessels
actually fishing.