Secret fish quota list reveals foreign giants’ stranglehold on Britain’s seas

The online register was published by the government after repeated calls for more transparency and a hard-fought campaign by Greenpeace and others. It provides the first clear information about the vessels, companies, individuals and industry bodies which control a UK fishing quota – a public asset worth over a billion pounds [1].

A quick analysis of the data carried out by Greenpeace has confirmed that a sizeable chunk of UK fishing quota is held by a clique of foreign trawler barons, including a notorious operator  convicted for illegal fishing. The data shows overseas companies control five of the top 10 vessels by size of quota held in England, which alone corner over a quarter (28%) of England’s entire fishing quota.

According to the most recent government estimate, the contribution to the British economy of foreign-controlled vessels ‘could be close to zero’, as most of these boats use their fishing quota to catch fish that is either landed abroad or exported immediately after reaching British ports [2]. 

Among the foreign-controlled vessels on the list are ‘monster trawlers’ such as the 100m long Cornelis Vrolijk – by far the largest vessel in the UK fleet.  The O Genita, a Spanish vessel which was slapped with a record fine for illegal fishing last year is also listed [3]. Another multinational controlling a large chunk of UK fishing quota via 3 vessels is the Dutch giant Parlevliet & Van der Plas, whose super trawler Margiris was kicked out of Australian waters earlier this year after widespread protests [4].

Commenting on the publication of the register, Greenpeace oceans campaigner Ariana Densham said:

“It has taken a good deal of pushing and shoving but at long last the government has let some sunlight in on the murky and secretive world of fishing quota. The British people have a right to know who’s really benefitting from this precious public resource, and increased transparency would really benefit the industry.

“The newly disclosed information reveals the tight grip foreign trawler barons have got on Britain’s fishing quota. Some of these companies run football-pitch-size vessels which are plundering our waters whilst giving next to nothing back to our coastal communities and Britain’s economy. This is a completely irrational way of managing our fisheries. We urgently need a sweeping reform that gives fishing rights to those who fish in the right way.”

A Greenpeace investigation published in February exposed the dominant position foreign controlled fishing giants have secured at the heart of the UK fishing industry. The majority of the fishing capacity represented by the National Federation of Fishermen Organisations (NFFO) – the industry’s top lobby group and a key advisory body to the fisheries minister – was found to be controlled by foreign fishing interests [5].

Earlier this year the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs announced a policy review of foreign-controlled vessels holding UK fishing quota, through its economic link requirements, but a public consultation is yet to start.

ENDS

Contacts

Graham Thompson: 020 7865 8126

Greenpeace UK press office: 020 7865 8255

Notes

5 foreign controlled vessels out of the top 10 quota holders in the English fleet

1. UK fishing quota was estimated to be worth over one billion pounds back in 1999, and its value is likely to have increased since then (Agriculture Select Committee ‘Eight Report – Sea Fishing’ 1999 UK Parliament, para 83)
2. http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/fisheries/documents/policy/saif-econlinkreview.pdf
3. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/26/anglo-spanish-fishing-fine
4. http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/news/oceans/Greenpeace-escorts-super-trawler-Margiris-out-of-Port-Melbourne/
5. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/reports/wolf-shrimps-clothing
6. The FQA register can be viewed here - https://www.fqaregister.service.gov.uk/