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Press release

Fishermen share views with the Marine Management Organisation

Date issued: 27 August 2010
Reference: 11/10

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO), the body responsible for managing the delivery and enforcement of Common Fisheries Policy, this week met with the fishing industry in East Anglia and Kent to discuss the recent closure and subsequent reopening of the North Sea sole fishery. Policy officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) also attended.

The meetings enabled fishermen and other stakeholders, including sea fisheries committees to talk directly to the MMO and Defra about the impact of the closure, and to contribute ideas about how the quota for this fishery might be managed differently in the future. 

The MMO and Defra would like to thank all those attending for their constructive contributions to the discussion.

Liz Humphreys, Chief Marine Officer for the MMO said "A rich and wide range of issues, concerns and views were forthcoming at all four meetings. The MMO will publish a summary of all the points raised within the next couple of weeks. One issue which emerged consistently was that it is preferable for us to keep a fishery open, albeit at a very low monthly catch level, than to close it altogether. We will be considering whether we can adopt this approach for next year."

Chris Parry, Chair of the MMO said "Quotas are set annually by the European Council and the MMO has the difficult balancing task of ensuring that stocks are managed throughout the year to maximise the fishing opportunities for the UK industry, whilst ensuring that stocks are not overfished and the UK government and taxpayer avoids the possibility of steep penalities."

The MMO are keen to encourage those with views on quota management to contact the MMO Quota Management Team on 0191 376 2595 or by emailing fmc@marinemanagement.org.uk

Notes to editors

• Media enquiries should be directed to media@marinemanagement.org.uk or by calling the MMO Press Office 0191 376 2543.
• The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is the national champion of sustainable development in our marine and coastal area, and regulates the use of our seas around England. It was established this year under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to deliver the UK government's vision for clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.
• The under 10 metre (U10m) North Sea sole fishery was closed in July and the MMO have since reopened the fishery on Thursday 26 August 2010 by securing swaps of quota. The fishery opened at 250 kg for August and 250 kg for September.