The decline in demand for red meats may favour fish consumption. These laboratories are the main locations for research on biology, ecology and behaviour of sea fish, stock assessment, fish detection, gear efficiency, aquaculture and hydrography. The Fisheries Departments also have Fisheries Laboratories at Burnham on Crouch, Conway and Weymouth, and a Fresh Water Laboratory at Pitlochrie in Scotland. Regarding structural and conservation policy, UK policy is dictated by the Common Fisheries Policy. Under MAGP arrangements, fleet targets are agreed on between the UK and Brussels.
National measures are still important for achieving the targets.
The British decommissioning scheme, which uses a tendering system and licensing, is an example of a national initiative that now covers the entire fleet. On conservation, the UK annually receives a share of the EU determined TACs. However, there are now 15 POs in the UK, together with the UK Association of Fish Producers Organizations, with quota management as their main function. Until MAGP targets are closer to being achieved, there will be no prospect of any subvention for new vessel construction. Building new vessels requires the surrender of some additional capacity.