EU fisheries regulations: Lords to hear industry views on the EU landing obligation

The implementation of the landing obligation presents challenges, particularly in relation to ‘choke species'. These are species with a low volume of quota, that when reached will cause fishing operations to halt, even if quota is still available for other species, because fishermen will no longer be able to discard fish they catch over-quota.

The Committee will ask the witnesses for their views on the scale of the problem ‘choke species' is likely to pose; how enforcement agencies will monitor compliance with the landing obligation; and whether the landing obligation could increase levels of illegal discarding.

The session will begin at 10:15am and the Committee will question:

• Hazel Curtis, Chief Economist, Seafish
• Dr Tom Catchpole, Principle Fisheries Advisor, Cefas

The second session will begin at 11:15am:

• Barrie Deas, Chief Executive, The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
• Mike Park OBE, Chief Executive, Scottish White Fish Producers Association Limited

Other topics the Committee are likely to cover include:

• Whether changing fishing methods, or swapping quota with others, can alleviate this challenge
• The readiness of the UK to implement the landing obligation from January 2019
• If the landing obligation will incentivise fishermen to fish more selectively
• The clarity amongst fisherman of what is required to comply with the landing obligation

The Committee have asked for written evidence to inform the inquiry, this can be submitted online using the form found here. The deadline is 11.59pm on Thursday 13 December.

A video of Lord Teverson explaining the aims of the inquiry can be viewed here.