The French government has approved a quota exchange with Poland, trading blue whiting for cod, following a request from Compagnie des Pêches de Saint-Malo
The French Ministry of the Sea and Fisheries has approved a request from the Compagnie des Pêches de Saint-Malo to facilitate a quota exchange between France and Poland.
This agreement enables the Polish-flagged vessel Annelies Ilena to exploit a blue whiting quota in the North Sea, with French interests benefiting from reciprocal cod quotas. The Ministry emphasised that such exchanges will only be authorised when they generate significant benefits for the French fisheries sector.
A Sustainable Approach
The Ministry underscored that the blue whiting stock is in good condition and is fished sustainably based on scientific advice. The fishing method employed, pelagic trawling, operates within the water column without disturbing the seabed, aligning with sustainable fishing practices.
“This initiative demonstrates France’s commitment to ensuring a balance between ecological sustainability and socio-economic benefits for its fisheries sector,” the Ministry stated.
Vital Economic and Employment Impacts
The Compagnie des Pêches de Saint-Malo plays a pivotal role in French fisheries, employing nearly 300 people, including over 70 mariners. This project is particularly critical following the retirement of the JOSEPH ROTY, which served the company for 50 years. The group has chosen to integrate an onboard surimi paste production facility on the Annelies Ilena, supplying its processing plant in Saint-Malo.
“This project represents a substantial socio-economic stake for the French seafood sector,” the Ministry noted, pointing to widespread support from local officials, parliamentarians, and industry organisations.
The quota exchange is also enabling the continued operation of the French-flagged vessel Emeraude, which was commissioned in 2018. The Ministry clarified that such quota swaps are annual and do not constitute permanent transfers.
Commitment to French Sovereignty
The Ministry affirmed its dedication to safeguarding the interests of French fishermen and ensuring that quota exchanges contribute to employment and economic sustainability. The Compagnie des Pêches has pledged to reinvest the JOSEPH ROTY‘s capacities into a future project under the French flag, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the French seafood sector.
Criticism from Irish Fishing Representative
However, the announcement has drawn sharp criticism from Irish fishing representatives. Cormac Burke, Chair of the Irish Fishing and Seafood Alliance, remarked:
“When France swaps quota with another nation, it is on the strict understanding that French fishermen benefit with a comparable amount of quota of other species. But when the EU Commission does a deal to swap out quota from Irish waters to other nations, Ireland only benefits by getting less than 5% of the reciprocal quota while other EU Member States get the rest. It seems there’s always a separate set of rules when it comes to Ireland.”
Broader Implications
This quota exchange highlights ongoing tensions within the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, particularly concerning equitable distribution and the socio-economic impacts on coastal communities. France’s structured approach to ensuring mutual benefits from quota swaps contrasts sharply with concerns raised by Irish fishing representatives over perceived inequalities in EU-wide fisheries management.
The French Ministry’s focus on sustainability and job retention underscores its efforts to balance ecological preservation with economic growth. However, the criticism from Irish fishers brings attention to disparities in how these policies are implemented across the EU.
Despite disagreements, NEAFC adopted several recommendations aimed at conserving fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic:
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Catch Limits for Key Species: Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for mackerel, blue whiting, and Atlanto-Scandian herring were set based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). However, the EU criticised the lack of comprehensive sharing arrangements for Atlanto-Scandian herring.
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Redfish Fisheries Prohibition: Directed fisheries for redfish in the Irminger Sea will remain prohibited from 2025 to 2027. Despite previous bans, Russia has engaged in unsustainable fishing of these stocks. At the EU’s initiative, NEAFC agreed that Russian vessels targeting redfish would lose access to EU ports. The EU urged other NEAFC parties to adopt similar measures.
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Protection of Vulnerable Species: NEAFC implemented measures to protect porbeagle, spurdog, and orange roughy, including catch limits and prohibitions on directed fisheries in certain areas.
Looking Ahead
NEAFC will continue its efforts to implement these measures, aiming to ensure the long-term sustainability of fish stocks and marine ecosystems. The EU pledged to push for greater compliance and cooperation among NEAFC members. Decisions on the status of cooperating non-contracting parties and updates to the IUU list are expected in the first half of 2025.
Background
NEAFC is a regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO) tasked with conserving fishery resources in the North-East Atlantic. Its contracting parties include the EU, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, the UK, and Russia. The EU, represented by the European Commission, actively participates in 18 RFMOs globally, underscoring its commitment to sustainable fisheries management.
The meeting highlighted the significant challenges facing the region’s fisheries, including conservation, regulatory compliance, and effective control of fishing activities. The EU’s call for decisive action and its critique of NEAFC’s handling of compliance underscore the urgency of addressing these issues in the years ahead.
Source: Press Release