The fish in our waters don’t belong to quota holders – they belong to all of us. They are a public resource, not a private asset, no matter how entitled the commercial sector may act. Owning quota gives the right to harvest fish, but it doesn’t mean those fish are theirs.
Each year, the government carries out sustainability reviews on selected fish stocks. In theory, these reviews are meant to ensure healthy fisheries for future generations. In practice, they often result in decisions that favour commercial interests, with very little consideration for public access, ecosystem health, or long-term outcomes.