The development follows negotiations between UK and French fishing industry representatives in London on 19 July. As a result of the industry-led talks UK scallop vessels will receive an additional seven effort days under the Western Waters regime between July and September 2013, taking their total from 30 to 37 days.
In return, UK scallop fishermen agreed not to fish in area VIId (eastern English Channel) in August and September and to a closure of an area further west off the French coast within Area VIIe between August and December. This is an area where there are sensitivities around the use of fixed fishing gears.
France agreed to give the UK 400,000 Western Waters kilowatt (KW) days for use in the last quarter of 2013 and 50,000 KW days for use in the third quarter of this year. UK scallopers also agreed not to use the 50,000 KW days for the third quarter south of the median line between the UK and France.
The licence variation was issued on Tuesday 30 July and came into effect 1 August.
