This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Capacity penalties postponed
29/10/2001
UK Fisheries Departments today announced the postponement of changes to the capacity regime, which were due to take place on 1 April 2003.
At a recent meeting of the Joint Industry/Departmental Working Group on Fishing Vessel Licensing, industry members asked for further time to consider the changes proposed by UK Fisheries Departments. A further meeting will take place early in the New Year.
The original proposals - announced earlier this year - include the possible introduction of a single capacity penalty for all licence transactions and applying penalties to tonnage and engine power. Ministers had given a commitment to announce fuller details of the proposed new arrangements to the industry later this year.
UK Fisheries Departments believe it would no longer be appropriate to adhere to the originally announced implementation date of April 2003. It remains the intention not to allow any provision for pipeline cases under the new arrangements but, Departments recognise that sufficient notice of any changes must be given in order to allow the industry time to make the necessary adjustments.
In recognition of this Fisheries Ministers have agreed that a future announcement about the detail of the proposed changes will include 18 months' notice of their introduction.
BACKGROUND
1. Proposals for the new capacity penalty arrangements were contained in SE News Release 695/2001.
2. The Working Group comprises representatives of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisation, Scottish Fishermen's Federation, Northern Ireland Fishermen's Federation, Sea Fish Industry Authority and the Fisheries Departments in the UK (DEFRA, SEERAD, NAWAD and DARD).
3. Details of the capacity penalties applying to licence transfers and aggregations in the UK are set out in the following News Releases: (SO) of 27 July 1993; (SO) 1656/94 of 15 December 1994; (SO) 243/96 of 16 February 1996; (SO) 1074/96 of 3 July 1996; (MAFF) 404/97 of 17 December 1997; (MAFF) 129/98 of 31 March 1998; (SO) 2534/98 of 1 December 1998; (SO) 2553/98 of 3 December 1998; (SO) 862/99 of 31 March 1999; (SE) 1264/1999 of 11 November 1999 and (SE) 1913/2000 of 29 June 2000.