#Fishing - Marine Minister Michael Creed has launched a public consultation on a proposal to implement a pilot quota balancing scheme for demersal fish stocks.

Quota balancing means that where a vessel exceeds its catch limit for a relevant stock during a fishery management period, a balancing adjustment is made from a future catch limit for that vessel.

A multiplying factor applies so that the greater the excess catch when compared with the catch limit, the larger the balancing adjustment that will be made.

A quota balancing system is being introduced on a phased basis to assist with the full implementation of the EU Landing Obligation/Discards Ban requirements. The objective of the Landing Obligation is to eliminate the wasteful and unsustainable practice of discarding fish at sea.

A pilot scheme for pelagic stocks was introduced by the Minister at the beginning of 2018.

The public consultation will run to the close of business on Thursday 31 January. The proposal document, which includes information on how to participate in the consultation process, is available on the department’s website.