Controversy surrounds the Annelies Ilena after its recovery of 37,000 tons of French blue whiting quotas, drawing criticism from NGOs who label it an ecological disaster. Operating under the Polish flag but owned by a Dutch company, the trawler’s quota exchanges with Poland have raised concerns about sustainability and local fishing practices. The French government defends its actions as necessary for job preservation, while NGOs argue that such industrial fishing undermines ecological goals and local fisheries.
Controversy Surrounding the Annelies Ilena’s Quota Recovery
The Annelies Ilena has sparked significant debate following its recovery of 37,000 tons of French quotas for blue whiting. This giant trawler, one of the largest in the world, is under scrutiny from several NGOs criticizing Paris’s stance on this industrial fishing vessel, which they describe as a ‘disaster with devastating impacts.’ The situation is particularly sensitive in France due to the sheer size of this 145-meter factory ship, capable of catching up to 400 tons of fish every day.
The Complex Quota System
While the Annelies Ilena operates under the Polish flag, it is owned by the Dutch company Parlevliet & van der Plas, a major player in industrial fishing. This company also holds shares in the Compagnie des pêches de Saint-Malo, located in Ille-et-Vilaine, which partially manages the Annelies Ilena’s blue whiting operations. With a hefty investment of 15 million euros in this floating surimi factory, the French company relies on it to secure its future. However, Poland lacks fishing quotas for blue whiting, the primary ingredient in surimi.
In this intricate scenario, the French government plays a pivotal role. Fishing quotas, allocated to countries rather than individual companies, dictate how much fish can be harvested from the ocean each year. Since the Annelies Ilena flies the Polish flag, it utilizes Poland’s allocated quotas. To maintain its blue whiting operations, the Compagnie des pêches de Saint-Malo has requested the French government to exchange its quotas for blue whiting with Poland.
This request was confirmed by Fabrice Loher, the Minister of the Sea and Fishing, before the National Assembly. His office noted that various exchanges involving 22,000 tons of blue whiting for Arctic cod have been validated ‘since the beginning of 2024’ by Hervé Berville, Secretary of State for the Sea and Biodiversity. Berville highlighted a specific decision to approve an exchange of 10,500 tons of blue whiting for cod.
However, Berville has publicly denied approving any such exchanges, stating, ‘Let’s be clear, I have authorized nothing, neither transfers nor exchanges.’ He emphasized his commitment to safeguarding sovereignty over fishing quotas, labeling the allocation of these resources to a single foreign-flagged ship as an economic and ecological aberration.
Despite this, the ongoing discussions about the 22,000 tons of blue whiting continue, with the current minister also approving an additional exchange of 15,000 tons for ‘500 tons of cod.’ This practice is deemed ‘common,’ according to his office, which explains that annual exchanges of 20,000 to 30,000 tons of blue whiting between France and Poland are historically implemented for optimizing quota consumption and securing cod fishing rights.
For NGOs, the debate surrounding the decision-making process is overshadowed by the fundamental issue of quota exchange principles. Laetitia Bisiaux, project manager for the ocean advocacy NGO Bloom, noted that regardless of who is responsible, the decree modifying the quota distribution was sanctioned by the government led by Fabrice Loher.
Furthermore, the NGOs highlight that while cod quotas acquired by France will be allocated to the Émeraude, another vessel belonging to Parlevliet & van der Plas, they do not benefit local, sustainable fishing practices. Bisiaux pointed out that the exchanged cod will ultimately be handled by an 80-meter trawler, which contrasts sharply with the goals of artisanal and coastal fishing.
In response, the government emphasizes that securing the future of the Compagnie des pêches de Saint-Malo is essential for preserving employment, which encompasses about 300 jobs, including 70 for sailors and more than 200 on land. However, NGOs view this as a ‘decoy,’ advocating for an end to industrial fishing practices in favor of more sustainable approaches. With the Annelies Ilena poised to catch 37,000 of the 54,000 tons of blue whiting allocated for France this year, the path toward reform appears challenging.