Establishing quota
In the 1970s and 1980s, the stock of a number of fish species, such as herring and more recently cod, have diminished substantially due to modernization of the fishing fleet and improved fishing techniques. In order to maintain the fish stock in the North Sea, catch quota have been established for the most important fish species. These quota have been determined on a European level, based upon the advice from fishery biologists. The Dutch quota are managed by the fishermen themselves via the Biesheuvel system.
Total Allowable Catch
On a European level, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) per threatened fish species is determined per year. That is the total amount of fish which a European fisherman is allowed to catch. Per country, how much of the TAC each country is allowed to fish is then agreed upon, the so-called catch quota. Europe will probably switch to a new manner of dividing quota in 2007. The EC members each set up regulations for applying and controlling their allowable amounts. Catch quota can be traded among the countries.
There is a lot of criticism of the fishery rules, from the fishermen as well. Fish species do not swim separately in sea in the desired quota. For example, fishing sole often means catching undesired cod which as well which exceeds the allowed amount. This extra cod is either thrown dead back into the sea or traded on board. In addition, due to pressure from the fishermen and related interest groups, the quota are often established higher than is healthy for the fish population. Furthermore, establishing fish quota is not intended as an environmental regulation but for assuring fish for the fisheries on the long term. Policy is directed at a limited number of fish species and not on the North Sea ecosystem as a whole. And in reality, the EC fishery rules have been violated on a large scale for years.
Up till now, the advice for the TACs which fishery biologists give to the European Commission are based upon what they determine to be the fish stock. However, the fishermen come up with very different figures for the amount of fish swimming around. They feel that they should be consulted more by the biologists. Therefore since 2007, fishermen regularly travel with research vessels.
Strongly varying quota
The quota for one kind of species can vary strongly per year. Even within a year, the figures can sometimes change. This makes it difficult for the fishermen to make plans. How can one invest wisely when one does not know whether or not it will be allowed to fish a certain fish species after two years time?
For example, the European Commission suggested in 1996 a catch amount of plaice for the Netherlands at 77,000 tons. The Minister at the time thought the amount was much too low, based upon advice from biologists, so that the Commissioner of the European Commission met the Minister's wishes by adding 3000 tons. At the end of September, the earlier estimate of the biologists appeared to be so poor that the amount was raised to 91,000 tons without much discussion. That was 18% higher than the original 77,000 tons. The fishermen, which still had another three months to fish, were not able to change their plans easily anymore, meaning that there was not enough time left to fish the hard-fought quotum. This increase to 91,000 tons was re-adjusted in November to 82,000 tons for 1997. But because the amount of the previous year had not been fished, 1300 tons were added. In 2005, the quota for plaice and sole were not caught and for whiting, only half of the quotum was caught. This was caused by the high fuel prices, whereby the fishermen went directly to the fishing grounds leaving behind any extra kilograms of fish outside of the grounds. In 2006, the European Commission announced the quota for sole and plaice for the coming years would decline to half of the present quota.
A similar situation happened with herring: the TAC changed from 440,000 to 313,000 tons at the end of 1995, and halved in 1996. Within a year, it was increased by 100,000 tons to 254,000 tons. These are large fluctuations; fishermen are unable to plan and spread out their activities, which is important as far as prices go.
This manner of working does not lead to exploiting the fish stocks in a sustainable manner. Therefore, long-range plans are slowly developing, which must make sure that fish populations that are in difficulty will no longer decline and the fish populations which are doing better stay on level. When establishing the TACs in the future, the goals of the long-range plans must be taken into account.
Survey of the TACs and Dutch catch quota (in tons)
| species | area | TAC 2007 | NL quota 2007 | TAC 2008 | NL quota 2008 |
| herring | North Sea | 34,1063 | 62,900 | 201,227 | 36,908 |
| plaice | North Sea | 50,261 | 18,901 | 49,000 | 18,414 |
| mackerel | Western waters | 422,551 | 23,786 | 385,366 | 21,719 |
| sole | North Sea | 15,020 | 11,226 | 12,800 | 9563 |
| cod | North Sea | 19,957 | 1914 | 22,152 | 2125 |
| whiting | North Sea | 23,800 | 1637 | 17,850 | 918 |
| scad | Western waters | 137,000 | 46,891 | 170,000 | 58,102 |
Source:http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/publications/
Survey of the Total Allowable Catches (in tons) for industrial fish species
| fish species | region | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| sprat | North Sea | 257,000 | 282,700 | 175,000 | 195,000 |
| Norway pout | North Sea | no TAC | no TAC | no TAC | no TAC |
| sandeel | North Sea | 660,960 | no TAC | no TAC | no TAC |
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/publications/
North Sea+ = North Sea and European part of the sea region to the north. |
The last time a TAC was made for lesser sandeel was in 2005. Quota are only made for this species and for Norway pout for the industrial fish which the EC fleet in the Norwegian waters is allowed to catch, and for the amount that the Norwegian fleet in the EC waters is allowed to catch.
Plans for establishing quota of new species
Since March 1998, the EC Fisheries Council established catch quota for ten fish species that were not yet established quota-wise. This was a precautionary measure; it was deemed necessary to protect the historical catch rights knowing that Spain and Sweden were to become member states.
TACs and catch quotas for new species
| fish species | region | TAC
2007 | NL quotum 2007 | TAC
2008 | NL quotum 2008 |
| dab and flounder | North Sea+ | 17100 | 10594 | 18810 | 11654 |
| lemon sole and witch | North Sea+ | 6175 | 767 | 6793 | 843 |
| megrim | North Sea+ | 1479 | 19 | 1597 | 21 |
| sea devil | North Sea+ | 11345 | 303 | 11345 | 303 |
| turbot and brill | North Sea+ | 4323 | 2401 | 5263 | 2923 |
| rays and skates | North Sea+ | 2190 | 314 | 1643 | 236 |
| Source: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/publications/ |
Changing flags
At least sixty ships have changed flags in the past decades. This means that the Dutch fishing fleet is being sold to foreign, often times British, companies. In order to totally suffice British law, the captain is British but the rest remains in Dutch hands. A second prerequisite according to British law is that the fishing vessel must stay a minimum of eight months per year in a British harbour. Changing flags is legal.
Weblinks
Governmental information on fisheries:
http://europa.eu/pol/fish/index_en.htm
Overview of TACs and quota on the European Community website
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/publications/
Source: de Vleet, Ecomare
