The Swedish Riksdag (Parliament) has adopted a new law entitling fishermen to buy or sell individual fishing quotas.
The new law applies to the pelagic segment, involving herring, sprat, mackerel, great sandeel, blue whiting and horse mackerel.
From August 1 those fishermen concerned will be dealt individual annual quotas they can either use for fishing or trade. Individual annual quotas are already in force – it is the latter option that is new.
Some 80 vessels will be comprehended by the system, according to the Swedish Board of Fisheries, and the agency presumes that maybe half of them will now sell their quotas and quit fishing.
“This is a new way to regulate Swedish fisheries that may lead to a considerable fleet reduction”, says Marie Ingerup of the Board of Fisheries. “The pelagic segment has suffered profitability problems for a long time, The Swedish national quotas are not big enough to support so many vessels; many fishermen will now sell their quotas and wind up their business, providing those who stay with quite different, better conditions.”
She added that Denmark and Norway, strong competitors in the segment, already have the tradable quota system.