The Registration of Buyers and Sellers (RBS) Scheme has been fully operational in Scotland since 2005.
The legislation requires that all buyers and sellers of first sale fish are registered and that all auction sites of first sale fish and shellfish are designated. Registration and designation is free and application forms and explanatory leaflets are available in these pages.
Once registered, buyers and sellers are able to buy and/or sell first sale fish and shellfish must comply with the following rules on the provision of sales notes.
Registered buyers (individuals, partnerships, corporate bodies or companies) who buy first sale fish and shellfish direct from a vessel must complete a Buyer's Sales Note within 48 hours of acquiring the information for each sale and return it to Aberdeen Fishery Office.
Registered sellers (those who purchase first sale fish and shellfish by competitive bidding at a designated auction site) must complete a Seller's Sales Note within 48 hours of the sale and submit it to the Fishery Office at the Port of Landing.
The purpose of the RBS Scheme was to:
- enable individuals or companies to become registered buyers and sellers of first sale fish and shellfish, while allowing fisheries administrations to keep track of the actual amounts of fish species being sold
- improve the monitoring and control of landings of fish
- increase tractability of fish by ensuring that all landings are properly recorded and capable of verification.
The hope was that this would:
- ensure fairer fish and shellfish prices for all
- allow restaurants and the like to obtain the freshest fish and shellfish
- be able to trace this fish and shellfish directly to vessels and stocks
- add to the other measures in place to conserve fish and shellfish stocks