Economic Link licence condition: consultation

Annex B: Proposed economic link licence condition

Below is shown the wording of the economic link licence condition that it is proposed have effect from 1 January 2018.

9.1 This condition applies to any vessel whose total landings in a calendar year of stocks subject to EU quotas, and which the vessel is licensed to retain on board, amount to 2 or more tonnes. In these circumstances the licence holder must ensure that there is a real economic link between the fishing activities of the vessel and the communities in Scotland which are dependent on fisheries and related industries.

9.2 The real economic link will be deemed to have been complied with where any one of the following options is satisfied during the calendar year in which the relevant landings have been made:

9.2.1 at least 55 per cent by weight of the total landings of all stocks (other than pelagic stocks, within the meaning of 9.2.2 below) subject to EU quotas landed by the vessel, and which the vessel is licensed to retain on board, has been landed in Scotland; and,

9.2.2 at least 30 per cent by weight of pelagic stocks subject to EU quotas landed by the vessel, and which the vessel is licensed to retain on board, has been landed in Scotland. Pelagic stocks will mean, for the purposes of this condition, mackerel, herring, horse mackerel, blue whiting, boarfish, and sprat; or,

9.2.3 criteria other than the above options which provide a real economic link.

9.3 The licence holder is responsible for demonstrating compliance with whatever option has been chosen to the satisfaction of the Scottish Ministers.