1 May 2015
The continuing fiasco through which vessels registered in Guernsey, with the collusion of the Guernsey authorities, ignore non-sector catch limits set by the MMO but have their catches count against UK quotas, has still not been resolved.
The NFFO
wrote to UK Fisheries Minister, George Eustice, at the beginning of March to
highlight the damage that was being done to the UK non-sector skates and rays
allocations by unrestricted catches by Guernsey vessels. He responded in robust
terms but to date there has been no sign of a resolution.
The
potential remains for unrestricted catches to destroy any prospect of rational
quota management and to seriously prejudice the interests of other fishermen
operating in the non-sector.
The State of
Guernsey Fisheries authorities have sought to defend the indefensible and
assert that the MMO quota limits do not apply to them, notwithstanding a
management agreement that implies exactly that.
This will now be an issue at the top of the list
for any incoming minister to deal with. It is clear that Guernsey is acting
outside the law. It has provided no coherent or adequate justification for its
actions. Whether through Westminster powers, or through some kind of interim
order through the European Court, this is a matter that must be addressed as a
matter of urgency.