Belgian rod anglers now sail under black-yellow-red
About thirty Belgian line fishing vessels currently still sail under the Dutch flag, because they could not obtain a number and an official fishing license for their vessel here. This also means that they have to offer half of their catch in Dutch fish auctions. With this change, they will now be able to offer the entire catch in the Belgian fish auctions and this will have positive consequences for our economy.
“Professional pole anglers will finally get the recognition they deserve. They have been asking for a legal framework for a long time. It is absurd that they are obliged to sail under the Dutch flag and therefore have to offer half of their catch to Dutch fish auctions,” says North Sea Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne in the press release.
With the adjustment, anglers can now officially moor in Nieuwpoort, although that will not be possible immediately: they must first apply for their fishing license here and that is a competence of the Flemish government. The latter in turn still has to adjust the rules around it.
Kris Vandecasteele, Fisheries alderman in Nieuwpoort: “I urge the other parties involved to follow soon. About 20% of the turnover of the Nieuwpoort fish auction comes from such small-scale sustainable fishing by Belgian companies under the Dutch flag. It is simply much more practical to do this under the Belgian flag.”
Safety
The vessels must comply with all the requirements of Belgian law. Inspectors from the Directorate-General for Shipping of the FPS Mobility and Transport will check this. For example, they must have an audible signal, a signal lamp, a seaman’s guide, a buoy and emergency power on board for several hours.