Brexit‘may help Welsh fishing vessels’

COMMERCIAL fishing in Wales could benefit from a change in the way quotas are calculated post-Brexit, according to Welsh Government.

The Brexit and Our Seas consultation document could show a way for smaller Welsh fishing vessels to get better quotas from local stocks.

Currently the amount that can be caught is decided by fixed quota allocations based on historic fishing practices, “relative stability”.

Each country has a percentage of the EU’s Total Allowable Catch and larger vessels get a share of that quota. This doesn’t help smaller Welsh fishing vessels due to Wales historically having little access to quota species.

Yet the consultation document says: “A shift away from relative stability would see a few extra fishing opportunities provided to the Welsh fleet, however only a shift in how quota is allocated between UK fishing administrations could to lead to a fairer share for the Welsh fleet.”

The administration said it will be guided by scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

The nation’s 397 registered fishing boats under 12m were handed a boost recently, when Welsh Government said it would meet initial costs for Vessel Monitoring Systems, which it plans to introduce to track fishing boats post-Brexit.

The equipment will help track movements, aid enforcement, assist in recovery of vessels and speed up insurance payments for lost or damaged craft, it says.