Brussels, 25/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - On the initiative of the European Commission, eight quota management groups of Dutch fishermen modified their internal regulation concerning the management of fishing quotas in order to bring them into line with competition regulations. This internal regulation limiting the number of catches unloaded in non-Dutch ports and imposing on fishermen to sell all of their catches aimed at the auction in exclusively Dutch auctions.
Formed of private associations representing a majority of Dutch fishermen, these groups have as double aim to ensure the respect for the Community fishing quotas and to facilitate the trading of quotas between their members. In November 1999, the Commission had advised the eight groups that their internal regulation contained provisions incompatible with Article 81 of the EC Treaty since it removed from fishermen the possibility of freely choosing the port for unloading their catches as well as the auction where they want to sell them. Thus, the ports, the auctions and the other service providers (hauliers, etc.) located in other Member States where excluded from the competition concerning the Dutch catches. Under pressure from the Commission, the eight groups undertook to modify their regulation and establish a non-discriminatory and objective system of auction recognition.