Following a wide-ranging set of quota swaps with other nations, the British sole fishery in the North Sea has reopened after an almost two-month close-down.
The buy and sell procedure, overseen by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), a UK cross-department government agency, included:
- With Holland:
UK acquired 60 tonnes of North Sea sole in exchange for 200 tonnes west coast handline mackerel from the South West handliners’ allocation, 10 tonnes North Sea haddock, 5 tonnes of North Sea whiting, 2 tonnes of North Sea hake and 7 tonnes of VIa cod (west of Scotland).
- With Germany:
UK acquired 20 tonnes of North Sea sole in exchange for 80 tonnes west coast handline mackerel from the South West handliners’ allocation.
MMO added in a press release that they would continue to look for other swap opportunities “in order to secure a sustainable future for the fishing industry”.