What makes them independent is that they own their own boat licences. I do provide some quota to them, but I will tell you that the only people I have contracts with are people I've loaned money to in order to buy their vessel. I would take a mortgage on their boat. Yes, it says that they will sell fish to me, but I also provide them language that says they will receive the same value as I will pay to any other fisherman. I have never had a complaint. We have a very loyal fleet.
On the leasing portion that you talk about, there are so many different deals. Fishermen make their own deals with licence-holders; some of them finance each other and some companies pay licences. There's no standard price.
In my case, there has never been a fisherman left owing me at the end of the season, because my pool operates to spread the risk across myself, licence-holders and the fishermen.