Defra have announced a number of key updates and new initiatives affecting the fishing industry and recreational fishers following the UK becoming an independent coastal state.
Regional Fisheries Groups want to make sure everyone has all the information they need so that anyone can feed into any of the consultations that they are interested in and want a say on. RFG are organising a National Inshore meeting on the 27th July where Defra will present on each consultation in a quick ‘whistle-stop tour’ and an opportunity for Q&A on these. The RFG will also be in touch with local events near you very soon.
For those who cannot attend there will be a number of webinars taking place with the first on Thursday 20 July - book on Eventbrite - more webinars will be added soon.
Defra is holding quayside events for anyone with an interest in commercial fishing, recreational fishing, and the marine environment to contribute your views to a range of consultations.
Live events are taking place throughout summer 2023 including in-person drop-in events at coastal locations:
1 August 2023 - Brixham
2 August 2023 - Plymouth
3 August 2023 - Newlyn
8 August 2023 - Hull
9 August 2023 - Scarborough
10 August 2023 - North Shields
+ more dates and locations coming soon.
Book a place via Eventbrite, or drop-in on the day to join them and share views on the best approach to managing our vital fish stocks and precious marine environment. Defra are intending to host events in as many locations across the coast as possible and we have been feeding in to make sure that includes every RFG area.
Fisheries Management Plans:
There is a brief summary of each plan below:
Fisheries management plans - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) – Links to all the fisheries management plan proposals and consultations can be found here.
Consultation document for Seabass FMPJuly 2023.pdf (defra.gov.uk) – pages 11 and 12 lay out suggested goals of the Seabass FMP.
Consultation document Channel NQS FMPJuly 2023.pdf (defra.gov.uk) – pages 11-13 for proposals of management of the Channel Non-Quota Species FMP.
Consultation document Crab and Lobster July 2023.pdf (defra.gov.uk) – pages 11-15 lay out suggested goals and measures for the crab and lobster FMP.
Consultation document King ScallopJuly 2023.pdf (defra.gov.uk) – pages 12-13 lay out suggested goals and measures for the King Scallop FMP.
Consultation on the proposed Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel Mixed Flatfish Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) - Defra - Citizen Space – particularly of interest to the North East, East and South regional groups. Pages 10-12 lay out suggested goals and measures for the North Sea and Eastern Channel Mixed Flatfish FMP.
Consultation document Whelk_FMPJuly 2023.pdf (defra.gov.uk) – pages 10-13 lay out goals of the Whelk FMP.
Other consultations of interest:
Fisheries: Proposed removal of the quota finfish licence cap on English 10 metre and under vessels - Defra - Citizen Space – proposal to permanently uncap the under 10m licenses, as per the trials ran in 2021, 2022 and this year.
Remote electronic monitoring - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) – Proposal to expand remote electronic monitoring in English waters.
Discards reform - Defra - Citizen Space – Proposal to change the way we manage discards in England. The two options proposed can be seen on pages 11-12.
Permitting regimes for the recreational targeting of bluefin tuna in UK waters - Defra - Citizen Space - views on the design of UK permitting regimes for the recreational fishing of Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Government responses of interest:
Fisheries: managing flyseine vessel pressure on demersal non-quota fish stocks - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) - Defra response to the fly-seining consultation.
