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Press release

MMO release details of North Sea sole fishery swaps

Date issued: 3 September 2010
Reference: 13/10

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) have released details of the swaps that allowed the North Sea Sole fishery to reopen last week.

The fishery was closed in July 2010 and, recognising the importance of this fishery to the industry, our quota managers have worked hard to reopen by negotiating quota swaps with other countries. In particular, we have swaps from the Netherlands and Germany.

The details of the Netherlands and the Germany swaps are:

• UK/Netherlands: We acquired 60 tonnes of North Sea sole in exchange for 200 tonnes west coast handline mackerel from the South West handliners’ allocation, 10 tonnes North Sea haddock, 5 tonnes of North Sea whiting, 2 tonnes of North Sea hake and 7 tonnes of VIa cod.
• UK/Germany: We acquired 20 tonnes of North Sea sole in exchange for 80 tonnes west coast handline mackerel from the South West handliners’ allocation.

We continue to pursue further swap opportunities in order to secure a sustainable future for the fishing industry.

Notes to editors

• Media enquiries should be directed to media@marinemanagement.org.uk or by calling 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 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.
• The MMO publish online weekly updates of fisheries at risk of closure on their website at www.marinemanagement.org.uk