December Council: Cod Avoidance

In the extended preparations for the Council, the Federation succeeded in persuading the UK to make the introduction of cod avoidance plans the centrepiece of its discard reduction programme. Under a cod avoidance plan, as conceived by the NFFO, vessels would be granted an exemption from days at sea, in return for following a catch plan that specifies ways in which the vessel will avoid catches of cod over and above its quota in the coming year. However, although the new regulation allows for cod avoidance plans, the Commission would only grant an additional 12 days to motivate fishermen to adopt avoidance plans; this is hardly a satisfactory incentive to encourage vessel owners to write and follow the plans which would also involve a degree of observer coverage.  As the new Regulation stands it’s rather like being given a Rolls Royce – without an engine. As such it is both a frustration and a huge missed opportunity. UK officials agreed that this was a good idea spoiled by poor implementation.