The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has worked hard securing national and international swaps to maximise fishing opportunities for the month.
Regular meetings with fishermen highlighted a demand for certain species to be increased, while other stocks were not a priority and could be reduced to allow for the swaps to take place.
The changes for December 2013 are:
Under-10-metre pool
- Area 7a cod increase from 200kg to 500kg.
- Area 7d cod increase from 650kg to 2.25 tonnes.
- North Sea nephrops increase from 25 tonnes per quarter to 30 tonnes per quarter (1 October to 31 December 2013).
- Area 7d skates and rays reduce from 1.5 tonnes to 250 kg.
- Area 7e sole increase from 200kg to 240 kg.
Over-10-metres in the non-sector
- North Sea nephrops increase from 25 tonnes per quarter to 30 tonnes per quarter (1 October to 31 December 2013).
- North Sea skates and rays reduce from 2 tonnes to 750kg.
- Area 7d skates and rays reduce from 1.5 tonnes to 250 kg.
