Onshore Implications

The introduction of the landing obligation is a 'game changer'. The move from 'landing quota' to 'catch quota' has the potential for significant impacts on operations throughout the 'sea-to-plate' supply chain.  The capacity of all parts of the onshore supply chain (both human and non-human consumption) to land, store, process, transport, administrate and market is not fully understood. The scope of potential impacts needs to be developed to provide an opportunity for informed discussion between all supply chain partners to identify information gaps and opportunities to develop solutions. Discussions have been going on with respect to the onshore impacts of the landing obligation and where different responsibilities lie.

Fishermen will need to land undersize fish of quota species under the landing obligation, which is being phased in from 2015 to 2019.

The reformed CFP specifies that undersize fish cannot go to direct human consumption uses. It can go to indirect human consumption or non-human consumption uses and there are certain rules on when food hygiene rules apply and when Animal By-Products (ABP) rules apply. This is supported by guidance on the potential uses for undersize fish and how the industry might want to approach handling it - this will be particularly relevant for ports, markets, agents and other businesses handling fish.

The Devolved Administrations have produced guidance to explain the requirements concerning the catching, landing, storage, marketing and transportation of catches of species subject which are below the MCRS. This will be particularly relevant for fishing vessel operators, ports and harbours, fish markets, processors, enforcement authorities and other businesses that handle and manage fish in accordance with food hygiene and/or animal by-products (ABP) legislation.

The Devolved Administrations in the UK have all published onshore guidance

• MMO: Ports, harbours and fish markets - handling undersize fish under the landing obligation. November 2018. 
• Marine Scotland: Onshore landing obligation onshore guidance note. December 2015
• MMO: Guide for fishermen re the onshore handling of undersize fish. December 2015
• DAERA: Ports landing obligation guidance for 2017. January 2017

Contacts

Seafish briefing notes and studies/reports can be found below. For further information contact Karen Green