Environment Food and Rural Affairs written statement – made at on 23 May 2007.
I have set the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) the following performance targets for 2007-08.
Fishing Vessel Licensing
Issue 100 per cent. of over 10-metre licences biennially by
Quota Management
No overfishing of quota stocks by vessels or groups for which MFA has management responsibilities and which results in EU deduction or infraction proceedings against the UK.
Enforcement on Land
Deploy enforcement resources in line with risk weightings on land and risk and intelligence based tasking plans at sea.
Grants
Process 90 per cent. of claims within eight weeks of receipt of all necessary information.
Fisheries Data
Enter 90 per cent. of information on catches and fishing activity onto the fisheries database within five working days of receipt of all necessary information.
Marine Environment
Deploy inspection resources in line with risk weightings.
Issue 65 per cent. of FEPA licences in 12 weeks and 80 per cent. in 15 weeks (excluding offshore renewable licences).
Further details are given in the MFA business plan for 2007-08, copies of which will be placed in the Libraries of the House.