Posted: Fri Sep 02, 05 8:34 am Post subject: New measures to preserve fish stocks
Defra Press Release
NEW MEASURES TO PRESERVE FISH STOCKS
Rules have come into force today that will clamp down on black-market fish traders.
The new measures improve the way fish landings are monitored by requiring the registration of buyers and sellers of fish sold for the first time after landing. The sales notes submitted by them will provide an independent record of catches which can be used to cross-check data received from fishing vessel records.
The regulations will help protect the fishing industry by reducing an illegal trade that undermines legitimate fishermen, threatens fish stocks, and makes accurate scientific research difficult.
All businesses are now required to register with the relevant Fisheries Department and submit sales notes for their purchases, giving consumers an assurance that the fish they are buying is from a legitimate and sustainable source.
This is a one-off procedure for businesses and will not cause any substantial changes in the way that fish is legally bought.
Defra has provided guidance on how to submit sales notes and is currently developing an on line note system which will ease the process.
1. The Registration of Fish Buyers and Sellers and Designation of Fish Auction Sites Regulations 2005 introduces a scheme of registration in England for the buyers and sellers of first sale fish and the designation of auction sites where fish is sold by competitive bidding.
2. These Regulations implement the requirements of Article 22 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 ('the CFP Regulation) and Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) 2847/93 ('the Control Regulation') which impose requirements relating to the first marketing and purchasing of fish. A Seller is an auction trader who sells fish by competitive bidding at a designated auction site in the UK. A Buyer is someone who buys first sale fish direct from a vessel or agent other than for personal consumption. Once registered, buyers and sellers must submit sales notes for the fish sold (in the case of a registered Seller) or purchased (in the case of a registered Buyer) and must keep records of such sales.
3. These Regulations apply to all fish landed from a fishing vessel but would not include for example, hand gathered produce or fish caught from a beach. However, it does introduce offences for selling and knowingly buying first sale fish from an unlicensed fishing vessel. This would include first sale fish sold or purchased from anglers who are not licensed under the provisions of section 4 of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967.
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