Trawlermen lose battle over ‘days at sea’ scheme

Date: 19/10/1995

By Michael Mann

As widely anticipated, the European Court of Justice this week found in favour of the UK government in a case brought by the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO).

The Court rejected the NFFO's case against a 1993 scheme to limit the number of days fishing vessels could remain at sea each year, the so-called “days at sea” system, ruling that London was justified in using such a scheme to implement part of its commitments under EU-wide effort reduction rules.

The Court also rejected the NFFO's claims that the scheme affected UK fishermen's rights to pursue their profession and that it discriminated against particular groups of fishermen.