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Traditionally, every December sees the culmination of the annual
round of TAC (Total Allowable Catch) negotiations in Brussels. There,
Fisheries Ministers from throughout the EU meet to discuss proposals
from the European Commission regarding the volume of a large variety
of fish and shellfish species that maybe removed from the sea, as
well as the time fishing vessels may spend at sea.
The quota year runs from 1st January to 31st December and when
decisions have been reached at a European level,  the
quotas are then shared out amongst EU Member States and some other
countries on the basis on historic catches of each species in each
sea area.
Within the UK, the quotas are then further sub-divided amongst
the various Fish Producer Organisations and other groupings on the
basis of their members fixed share of the UK quota.
Until the beginning of 2006 the ANIFPO managed its quotas be
means of a “pool system”, which meant that all member
vessels put their share of the UK’s quotas into a communal
PO pool. However, since 2006 the ANIFPO has managed it’s quotas
by means of an Individual Transferrable Quota (ITQ) system, whereby
each member vessel is allocated a total quota at the start of the
year, which is set on the basis of its own fixed share of the UK
quota.
During the year members can swap quota between themselves, or
with the members of other UK Fish Producer Organisations. In consultation
with the PO they can purchase or lease additional quota and dispose
of quota that is surplus to their requirements. There is no minimum
entry level for membership of  the
PO. However, no member can fish for any fish/shellfish species without
acquiring quota for that species.
The aim is to create a transparent quota management system within
the PO and foster a greater sense of responsibility through the
sustainable management of fisheries resources. Over the past few
years, many members of the Organisation have invested in the future
of their fishing businesses by purchasing additional quota. While
seeking a fair deal for all, the goal of the Organisation is to
minimise the cost of quota, while maximising the value of the landed
catch.
With its member vessels the ANIFPO manages nearly 100 quota
species in the Irish Sea, North Sea, West of Scotland and beyond.
Whilst the majority of fishing effort is used in the Irish Sea,
member vessels fish in all of the seas around the United Kingdom
and Ireland.
For more information on the UK’s quota management
rules and weekly quota uptakes, please go to the DEFRA’s
Sea Fisheries web site.
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