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The French decommissioning aims at permanently removing vessels from the fishing fleet according to European Union rules laid down within the Common Fisheries Policy. A system of premiums established by the French government is supposed to give the vessel-owners, the incentives to get rid of their fishing unit. This paper details the rules for the applicants and their evolution and it provides a preliminary analysis of the impact of these schemes over the 1991-2001 period. Special attention is paid to the characteristics of decommissioned vessels and of their owners. The problem of windfall gains of these policies is approached, and a first assessment is given. The consequences in terms of capacity adjustment are discussed according to the Multi Annual Guidance Programs defined at the Community level and to the limited entry system implemented at the national level. The inconsistencies and potential benefits of the policy of capacity adjustment are finally discussed