Environment and Rural Affairs Department Fisheries and Rural Development Group BY E-MAIL To Scottish POs, Lunar Group, SFF, FAL, SWFPA, Fishsalesmen's Association (Scotland) Limited, and local Fishermen's Associations | Pentland House 47 Robb's Loan Edinburgh EH14 1TY Telephone: 0131-244 4984 Fax: 0131-244 6288 Jim.Watson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk http://www.scotland.gov.uk Your ref: Our ref: 17 February 2006 |
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Dear Sir/Madam
DISTRIBUTION OF ADDITIONAL 2006 NEPHROPS QUOTA
Purpose
1. I am writing to seek your views about the distribution arrangements for the North Sea and West of Scotland nephrops quota increases this year. This letter sets out two options: distribution in line with normal practice and distribution in a way which, in addition to the usual allocation, would result in an allocation of around an extra 100 tonnes of North Sea nephrops to the under-10 metre and non-sector groups, and around an extra 160 tonnes of West of Scotland nephrops to the under-10 metre group.
Background/Rationale
2. The December Council brought an increase in nephrops quota of 39% (4859 t) for the West of Scotland and 32% for the North Sea (5889 t). Ordinarily, these quota increases would be distributed to all groups using the usual (FQA) allocation arrangements. However, these significant increases were achieved largely on the basis of a change in nephrops stock assessment models, TV survey and landings data. In light of this departure from previous assessment methodologies for this stock, Fisheries Administrations are considering whether there might be a case to change the distribution arrangements this year, bearing in mind the position of the various sectors of the industry in these fisheries, specifically:
· an increase in the number of vessels in the under-10 metre fleets, which has not been matched by a proportionate increase in quota;
· the inability of vessel owners of under-10 metre and non-sector vessels to obtain extra quota to supplement their initial allocations in the same way as vessel owners in the sector (i.e. they cannot buy, lease or individually swap quota);
· the greater likelihood of earlier closure of fisheries to under-10 metre and non-sector vessels.
3. Fisheries Administrations now wish to consult you on whether the nephrops increases should be allocated in a way that departs from normal practice. This is allowed for under paragraph 20.2 of this year's Quota Management Rules. Fisheries Administrations would have preferred, of course, to have consulted on such proposals at the annual Quota Management Rules meeting last October, but the timing and level of increase in these nephrops quotas achieved in December could not have been foreseen.
.
Options
4. Mindful of the requirement to balance the needs of the various parts of the nephrops sector, two options for distribution present themselves. They are :-
a) Option 1 - allocate all Nephrops quotas (including this year's increases) on the basis of the current Quota Management Rules (i.e. FQAs) .
b) Option 2 - to provide the under-10m and non-sector groups with a modest increase in their share of the additional quotas, i.e. over and above what they would otherwise have received under the usual FQA arrangements. See table below for details.
Option 2 - Methodology
5. If we were to allocate the increased quotas under Option 2, then the additional amounts to be distributed initially to the non-sector and under-10s would be calculated by applying (to the increased quotas only) the difference between their current percentage share of the UK's NS and WS nephops quotas and their percentage share of the total UK recorded landings of these stocks in the last 3 years (2003-2005). Taking the under-10 metre allocation on WS Nephrops, for example, this would produce the following:-
Current % share of UK quota - 9.56%
% share of UK recorded landings in 2003-2005 - 13.23%
Difference - 3.67%
3.67% x 4859 tonnes (increased quota for 2006) - 178 tonnes
9.56% x 4681 tonnes (4859-178) - 448 tonnes
448 tonnes + 178 tonnes - 626 tonnes (under 10 m share of quota increase)
6. The figure of 178 tonnes (or 3.67% of the increased quota) represents the additional amount which the under 10m group would receive prior to distribution of the remaining 4681 tonnes in the normal way (of which the under-10s, for example, would receive 448 tonnes by virtue of its expected 9.56% share of the total UK quota in 2006).
Outcome
7. The table below compares the quotas which might be allocated to the Nephrops fleet under options one and two as described above.
| 2005 initial Allocation | 2005 Landings | 2006 allocation Option 1 | 2006 allocation Option 2 | Tonnage/% increase 05 to 06 (Option 1) | Tonnage/% increase 05 to 06 (Option 2) | Tonnage difference between Options 1 and 2 |
North Sea | | | | | | | |
<10 Metre | 762 | 1034 | 1005 | 1078 | 243 / 32% | 316 / 41.5% | + 73 |
Non-sector | 321 | 359 | 423 | 450 | 102 / 32% | 129 / 40.2% | + 27 |
Sector | 17409 | 16686 | 22953 | 22853 | 5544 / 32% | 5444 / 31.3% | -100 |
West of Scotland | | | | | | | |
<10 Metre | 1185 | 1317 | 1650 | 1811 | 465 / 39% | 626 / 52.8% | + 161 |
Non-sector | 1323 | 960 | 1841 | 1822 | 518 / 39% | 499 / 37.7% | - 19 |
Sector | 9891 | 7996 | 13767 | 13625 | 3876 / 39% | 3734 / 37.7% | - 142 |
NB : Above figures are indicative for consultation purposes. Final allocations require further calculation in the usual way.
Conclusion
8. I would be grateful if all comments on the two options set out above - or suggestions for any alternative arrangements - could be sent to me no later than Friday 10th March. Please feel free to contact me should you wish to discuss any of the above.
Yours sincerely
pp JIM WATSON
Head of Quota Management branch
Sea Fisheries (Management) Division