A report published by the Fishing Shipowners Cooperative of Shipowners of Vigo Port (ARVI), published on 28 March, reveals that the EU fisheries sector has lost €2.444 billion due to the poor distribution of fishing quotas.
The report indicates that, between 2008 and 2016, over 1.3 million tonnes of catch allocated (total allowable catches) were allocated, but not used, by the European Union fishing fleet. The report denounces the economic losses incurred by the sector arising from the current system of fishing quota distribution.
The “underuse of fishing quotas” for the EU has led to losses of €2.444 billion for the fisheries sector, according to the study carried out by ARVI, the largest fishing association in Spain. The cooperative explains that EU countries have “stranded in the shipments” 154,000 tonnes of allowable catches, while many fleets suffer from insufficient quotas.
Spain criticises the current quota breakdown system. According to the report, it is a “paradox” that, between 2008 and 2016, fishing vessels were withdrawn from the fleet due to lack of quotas, causing a cost for the EU budget (aid to scrapping of vessels) of €623 million, and the loss of 31,000 onboard jobs lost (not counting jobs on land). ARVI criticises the quota system based on relative stability (breakdown of quotas since 1983 according to past catches). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)