Number of applications for the decommissioning scheme for fishing cutters is lower

This can be inferred from the final applications for the decommissioning scheme and a scenario analysis by Wageningen Economic Research (WEcR), commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV). To qualify for the decommissioning subsidy, entrepreneurs had until July 31 to complete the procedure. One of the conditions is that they have demolished or rendered their ship inoperable. RVO will check in the coming weeks whether the applicants have met all conditions.

The decommissioning of the fishing fleet is a result of the United Kingdoms departure from the European Union. As a result, the Netherlands has lost a significant amount of fishing quotas. To restore balance in the fishing fleet with the current fishing quotas, fishermen affected by Brexit could make use of the decommissioning scheme. In total, 146 Dutch fishing vessels were eligible for this. The vast majority consists of cutters that fish for flatfish, such as sole and plaice.

The sector has been in economically difficult times for a while and also faces a huge challenge to transition to ecologically sustainable and economically viable fishing. Minister Piet Adema of LNV has already opened various schemes that financially support the sector. Furthermore, sustainability and innovation schemes are becoming available, and the minister is working on a vision for food production from the sea and large waters that outlines the future perspective for food production from the sea and large waters.

Piet Adema, Minister of LNV:

“The Netherlands has traditionally been connected to fishing. We must cherish that. The fishing fleet of the future will be different: smaller and focused on sustainable catching techniques, so that the sector can also become economically healthy again. This requires entrepreneurship from fishermen and a clear future perspective on food production at sea from the government. I hope to be able to present that future vision in the short term.”

To map the socio-economic impact of the cutter decommissioning, WEcR has investigated various scenarios for the fishing sector, the fish chain, and fishing regions. This looked at the historical activity (2018-2021) of the 71 registered vessels that had an approved application as of April 1, 2023, and varied with the number of fishermen who would actually make use of the scheme. Incidentally, after the start of the research, another ship became eligible for the decommissioning subsidy, bringing the total to 72 vessels by July 31.

The scenario with the most effects, where all 71 ships in the study are decommissioned and remaining fishermen do not increase their efforts, leads to a decrease in fish supply of 63% for sole, 62% for plaice, and 29% for cod.

The least effect occurs in the scenario where 80% of the 71 fishermen are decommissioned and the remaining fishermen increase their fishing efforts. This leads to a decrease in supply of 32% for sole, 31% for plaice, and 15% for cod. Since it now appears that fewer ships actually want to make use of the decommissioning scheme than were investigated in the scenarios, the consequences for supply are likely to be smaller than calculated for WEcR.

The research shows that the rest of the fish chain and fishing communities also experience consequences from the decrease in the supply of North Sea fish, both socially, economically, and culturally. Minister Adema recently made €30 million available to provide perspective to the chain and communities and to adapt to changes in the sector. The Administrative Platform Fishing is drawing up a Fishing Development Plan in consultation with the parties involved and the Ministry of LNV.