Catch Recording implementation begins today!

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After working with the fishing industry in a soft launch period for the last few months, under 10 metre catch recording has gone live with its phased implementation.

With months of testing and continuous feedback from volunteers that have been using the service day to day, we thought it would be best to share some of the best and most asked questions to come out of our sessions with industry and some tips on using the service they have found useful.

This project is an important part of our strategy to support the viability and growth of our fishing industry, as it will provide a better understanding of catch by the under 10 metre fishing fleet registered in England and Wales. Better data gathering will also provide better scientific evidence and lead to better decision making.

Questions

The biggest question that has been asked about the new catch recording service is ‘Are we expected to do this while at sea?'  The answer is 'no' however, there is one exception to this. If you are crossing the line between ICES areas 4c/7d or 7d/7e, you must submit a catch record for both ICES areas each time you leave/enter the area.

We have had a number of questions about digital accessibility and how this effects the catch recording service. If you don’t have access to the internet or a smart phone you could be classed as assisted digital, and can then phone in your catch to the contact centre before landing. However, you would have to register with the contact centre as assisted digital. There are a number of other ways to record your catch such as:

• You could telephone someone with access to their account to enter the catch online via the web before they land.
• You could retain the catch on-board (although you can land the non-quota, non-catch limit species), record the catch on a computer, then return to the vessel to land.

However, having a smartphone to enter your catch is by far the easiest of all the options. If you have limited reading /writing ability and difficulty using technology there is an assisted digital service that allows fishermen to ring the contact centre from a basic mobile phone (or landline for those that catch non-quota species).

It is important to remember that the 'record your catch' mobile application works whether you have signal or not, you will be able to record your catch when there is no signal and this will automatically be sent when a phone signal is detected.

The new service is going to change the way the fishing industry operates, making it more streamlined and easier for both industry and the MMO. We have been asked by industry to explain the changes that are going to affect them. You will not need to continue recording your shellfish catch using the MSAR1 form once you have started recording your catch using the electronic system, the new service will replace the MSAR1. You must complete and submit your current return up to the date of your first submission on the catch recording service.

Similarly, if you complete a paper logbook, for example when leasing quota, once you start recording your catch using the service you will no longer be required to do so. Under 10 metre vessels in membership of a Producer Organisation that currently complete logbooks will continue to do so. It is key to remember that fishing vessels that are non-active do not have to sign up to the catch recording app. However, if you do go fishing commercially after the applicable date in the licence condition, you will need to register and record your catches.

Again this is similar to seasonal fishermen who cannot fish with weather conditions for weeks. You are not required to register if you are not fishing when you get the email invitation. However, if you do go fishing commercially, after the applicable date in the licence condition, you will need to register and record your catches.

Tips on using the service

Set up all your favourites during registration

Adding your gear, ports and species ahead of time will make using the service quicker and more straightforward.

Weighing the fish

Exact weights are not required in the Catch Recording service, estimates of live weights within 10% are all that is required. This makes it again quicker and easier for you to use the service.

Weight with decimal places

Weights are estimated so only whole numbers are valid. If you catch less than 1kg, you must round up to 1kg. Any weight above 1kg should be rounded to the nearest whole number, e.g. 3.2kg should be entered as 3kg, and 5.5kg should be entered as 6kg.

I can't find my species in the species list in the system

The species list is based on catches in UK waters in the last 10 years. Species are recorded under the FAO standard, the name used may be different from the local name, for example:

1. Grey Mullet - Mullets Nei (MUL)
2. Red Mullet - Surmullet (MUR)
3. Lesser Spotted Dogfish - Small spotted catshark (SYC)

Michael Coyle, MMO, Posted on:1 November 2019 - Categories:fisheries

Create and submit catch records for all English and Welsh under 10 metre (U10m) flag vessels that fish in UK waters.

The MMO are currently looking to trial catch recording for the Under 10m fleet. Here's what they say on their website:

Create and submit catch records for all English and Welsh under 10 metre (U10m) flag vessels that fish in UK waters.

(Please note this is a phased introduction and the service is being tested with invited fishers only.)

Overview

Use this service to create and submit catch records for all English and Welsh under 10 metre (U10m) flag vessels that fish in UK waters.

You can use this service if you are a:

• vessel owner
• skipper

If you are a member of a producer organisation you should not use the online record your catch service and should continue to record your catch using a paper logbook.

All U10m flag vessels need to record their catch. The information is used to help UK fishing authorities manage fishing levels in a sustainable way.

This service replaces:

• the NEP1 form
• the MSAR1 form, however, depending on your location, local IFCAs may require additional information
• the requirement to complete a log book when leasing fish quota and/or when fishing in 2 ICES areas (currently IV4/VIId and VIId/VIIe)

How to get an invite and register


How to get an invited

Vessel owners:You should receive an invite email. When you receive the invite email depends on your vessel size. You have one calendar month after receiving the email to register and start to use the service.

Skippers:To get an invite email contact the owner of the vessel you work on.

How to register

Vessel ownersWhen you register you’ll be asked to add the ports and gear you normally use and the species you catch for each of your vessels.

Adding this information before your trip makes it quicker to create a catch record. You’ll only need to do this once and you can change it in the future.

You can also add skippers to create catch records on your behalf.

Skippers

When you register you’ll be asked for your address and contact number.

What to record

• You must create a catch record for everything you catch on every fishing trip, even if you only catch one fish or shellfish.

• You’ll be asked for information about your trip and give estimates of the live weight of what you’ve caught. Your estimates must be within 10% of the actual weights in your sales note.

• Landed weights can be converted to live weights by multiplying them by a conversion factor.

• If you catch species with catch limits (quota) all sizes of fish must be recorded unless exemptions apply.

• You’ll be also asked for the area, the statistical sub rectangle, where the majority of your catch was caught.

ICES Sub Rectangle: North East


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ICES Sub Rectangle: East


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ICES Sub Rectangle: South East


This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format.

ICES Sub Rectangle: South


This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format.

ICES Sub Rectangle: South West


This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format.

ICES Sub Rectangle: North West


This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format.

ICES Sub Rectangle: Northern Ireland


This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format.

When to record your catch

• If you catch species subject to quotas or catch limits
• You must create a catch record before you move your catch off the boat
• If you catch species not subject to quotas or catch limits
• You must create a catch record within 24 hours of landing your catch.
• If you catch a mixture of species subject to quotas or catch limits and species not subject to quotas or catch limits
• You must create a catch record before you move your catch off the boat.
• If on the same trip you fish, or are present, in ICES area 4c and 7d, or 7d and 7e

You must create a catch record each time you cross the ICES boundary between these areas. You will need to use the apple or android app to create your catch record offline.

If you cross an ICES area while fishing

You must create a separate catch record for each ICES Area you have fished in. These must be created before you move your catch off the boat if you are catching quota species or species with catch limits, or within 24 hours of landing if you are catching only species not subject to quotas or catch limits. If you catch a mixture of species subject to quotas or catch limits and species not subject to quotas or catch limits, you must create the catch records before you move your catch off the boat.

Where to record your catch

You can record your catch on the web or you can download the Android or Apple app. The app allows you to record your catch in an area without a mobile signal.

You can get help to create a catch record if you do not have the appropriate access, skills or confidence to complete the service online.

Start recording your catch

You can only use this service if you are a:

• vessel owner of a licensed under 10 metre flag vessel skipper who has been given permission by a vessel owner of a licensed under 10 metre vessel

START NOW

Before you start

• You will need: to have already have an invite and be registered to use the catch recording service your email address and password to sign in

Get help

A contact centre will be available following the full launch of the catch recording service. Phones will be staffed from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. At other times, the contact centre will run an automated service and fishers will be able to leave catch records over the phone. The contact centre number and further details will be posted shortly.

Further information is available in questions and answers from the consultation.

Videos

These short videos provide step-by-step guides to the new service:

MMO - New catch-recording requirements explained

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In this post we aim to help skippers comply with the new catch recording arrangements, explain why they are being introduced and outline the benefits of the new system. 

Fishermen and the industry are gearing up for a period of major change during the coming year.

EU Exit, the imminent discards ban and new digital services from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) are among the top priorities for the industry.

As Head of Compliance and Control Michael Coyle is keen to explain the new catch-recording arrangements, which will apply to the inshore fleet.

Is recording catches going to be compulsory for the under-10m fleet?

The MMO is consulting on the introduction of catch recording for the under-10m fleet. Our aim is to support the viability of the fishing businesses by making fishing sustainable long term. To do that, we need to better understand the full impact of fishing on stocks.

Introducing a requirement for under-10m vessels (the majority of our fishing fleet) to record their catch, both quota and non-quota, would give us a much clearer picture of how much fish we are taking from our seas. It would also enable us to act more fairly and efficiently to conserve stocks at levels that support sustainable fisheries in the future.

How are we supposed to do this?

With the help of individual fishermen at ports across the UK, we have developed an app that can be used on a smartphone, tablet or computer to record their catches.

We have been testing the prototype with users and we will continue to do so as we develop the service. The app is designed to be quick and easy to use as we want to minimise additional work for fishermen to comply with licence conditions.

The indications are that it takes just 90 seconds to record a single species catch via the new app.

When will this become compulsory and how will we get a say in this?

We are about to start consulting the under-10m fleet, so we can better understand how catch-recording will affect them. This is with a view to launching catch-recording for the under-10s in 2019.

Don’t you realise that small fishing businesses already have enough to do without introducing even more reporting?

We understand how hard fishermen and people in the industry work. Our aim is not to introduce more reporting for its own sake, but to support our plan to develop a sustainable fishing industry for the future.

What are the benefits of the new arrangements?

The new recording arrangements will reduce the paper burden on fishermen. The existing process will be replaced and there will be just one recording requirement, which can be done very quickly via a smartphone.

Combined with data from inshore vessel monitoring, the catch-recording information can be used to trial new ways of managing fishing opportunities. This should:

• Lead to fairer more efficient fisheries management;
• Protect the rights of fishermen;
• Allow skippers to demonstrate their track record more easily; and
• Prove that the UK is taking appropriate steps to fish more sustainably, which is key to positive marketing for commercial fishing.

Keep up to date with the planned changes

We will be posting updates about catch recording requirements as well as other changes in the fishing industry on the MMO’s website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/marine-management-organisation

Details will also be available from your local MMO office as well as the offices of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCA).

Michael Coyle, MMO, Posted on:29 November 2018 - Categories:fisheries