VS catch

A VS-catch is a catch that does not count towards the catch quota of the vessel that catches it, provided certain conditions are met.

Authorisation

• The captain is authorised to decide that a part of the catch from a fishing trip will not count towards the vessel's catch quota and register that catch as VS-catch.

• This authorisation is limited to 0.5% of the pelagic catch and 5% of other marine catches.

• The authorisation is calculated based on the vessel's landed catch.

• A vessel's VS-catch authorisation is divided into four three-month periods during the fishing year.

• Haddock catches and cathes that are by- catch in lumpfish fisheries can be counted towards the authorisation for the entire fishing year.

• It is not permitted to transfer unused authorisations between periods.

Conditions

• The VS-catch must be kept separate from the vessel's other catch on board.

• It must be weighed and recorded separately upon landing.

• The captain of the fishing vessel must ensure that correct and sufficient information about the catch is provided to the harbour weigher.

• The VS-catch must always be auctioned and sold at a fish market.

Proceeds and settlement

• The fish market that auctions the catch is responsible for remitting the proceeds from the catch to the Fisheries Project Fund, after deducting harbour fees and auction costs.

• 80% of the proceeds from the catch goes to the Fisheries Project Fund.

• The vessel's operator receives 20% of the proceeds from the sold catch, which is divided between the operator and the crew.