Falmouth Docks has joined Plymouth on the South coast as a port where fishing vessels from outside of the EU may discharge their catches. Third-country vessels are already permitted access to ship services and to carry out transhipments in Falmouth, where the fish is transferred on to its final destination.
It is the fifth port in England approved under the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) scheme and the EUs regulations to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The port joins Plymouth on the South coast and Grimsby, Hull and Immingham on the East coast. This new designation provides an additional landing option to commercial operators.
Non-EU fishing vessels, known as third-country fishing vessels, are prohibited under the Common Fisheries Policy's IUU regulations from entering any ports in the UK other than those designated for these activities except in cases of force majeure or exceptional circumstances. The number of ports is limited to make it easier to accurately control catches of sensitive species and large volumes of fish but the MMO will respond to commercial needs where justified.
More information on the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission is available on its website.
Falmouth Docks Can Soon be Landing Port for Non-EU Fishing Vessels
UK - Falmouth Docks can soon be used as a landing port by non-EU fishing vessels after being designated under two international fisheries regimes by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
by Lucy Towers
