The European Commission has given hope to fishermen that the rules for quotas may change in next few years. Expectations are that fishing quotas will be distributed for a period of at least a few years.
Joe Borg, the European commissioner for fisheries and maritime affairs, on Tuesday visited Lithuania. His itinerary included the Port of Klaipeda and meetings with the organisations of fishermen. The EU official confirmed plans to reform the current quota system into long-range plans.
Alfonsas Bargaila, the chairman of the Lithuanian Association for Fish Producers, said that the country's fishermen support a quota system of this kind. Being informed about fishing quotas in next few years, entrepreneurs will be able to better plan their activities and develop business.
The head of the association added that the current system of annual quotas used to put at risk the fishing business in terms of bank loans, since companies did not have a guaranteed source of income.
|
