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Thursday 4 June 2020
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Seafish "Future of Our Inshore Fisheries" project outlined
The two-day Future of Our Inshore Fisheries conference, which took place in October 2019, brought almost 180 representatives together to discuss the challenges faced by UK inshore fishermen.
The Future of Our Inshore Fisheries conference report details the conference presentations, the findings from group discussion sessions and the results of live polling. While the report does not make specific recommendations, it does outline the key themes which emerged and captures the priority areas identified by participants. The report concludes by recognising that the scale of change which is wanted and needed is significant, and that developing and implementing solutions will take time.
Based on the report’s findings, the steering group has identified five themes that will shape future work: co-management; collaborative science; credible fisheries management; rights and access; and effective compliance. The action plan is the first attempt to set out clear, deliverable actions across these themes that will be progressed over the next 12 – 18 months. Key actions include:
- Mapping inshore fisheries by species, stock and management status, and creating a database where this information is stored and updated annually.
- Establishing a formal process that enables scientists, industry and policy makers to collectively ‘peer review’ the science that is used to inform management decisions.
- Developing a ‘harvest strategy standard’ that will guide how inshore fisheries will be managed, with each fishery having a management target that helps set fishing effort and a series of triggers to guide if new management measures are needed. (New provisions for Fisheries Management Plans set out in the UK Government’s Fisheries Bill will allow for such new approaches to management.)
- Reviewing access across priority inshore fisheries to determine the optimal arrangements to prioritise sustainability, deal with excess capacity, address technological development and test new ways of allocating fishing opportunities.
A series of pilot studies will be used to test and refine the various initiatives. This will ensure that the experience and expertise of fishermen will directly inform the project, every step of the way. This project will also act as a focal point for a range of wider initiatives taking place across government and industry that will ultimately contribute to improved fisheries management.
Commenting on the publication of the report and action plan, steering group chair Michel Kaiser, Professor of Fisheries Conservation at Heriot Watt University, said:
“At the conference last year we heard about approaches to inshore fisheries management from around the world. Crucially, we also considered how well they might apply at home. With this next phase of work, we will start developing and testing some of the solutions to see what will work best for UK fisheries.”
“The action plan is wide ranging and reflects the complex nature of the task ahead of us. Transforming how our inshore fisheries are managed will not be easy, will take time and there may well be mistakes along the way. Too often reasons have been found not to start this work, but with the industry and government collaborating we have an opportunity to get this right now.”
“I firmly believe that the conference was a success because we had active fishermen in the room contributing their vital expertise and experience. This is the ethos we will maintain as we undertake this critical project and I am very pleased that we have inshore fishermen represented on the steering group.”
Steering group member Barrie Deas, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation said:
“The conference report is rich in energy, information and insight, informed by the participation of active fishermen. But it is of course not an end in itself; I doubt that we would have seen the engagement from fishermen across the country if our ambition was limited to producing a report.
“I particularly welcome the publication of the action plan. Importantly, it builds on the conference outcomes and takes into account the priorities that conference attendees set. The individual projects in the plan represent the building blocks of a world class fisheries management system, and over time these have the potential to add up to a fundamental transformation.
“We should be ambitious in wanting a fisheries management system that is truly sustainable, and which not only meets our environmental objectives but is also capable of meeting our social and economic needs at a national, regional and local level.
“Clearly reforming our inshore fisheries is a long-term project, but this is a good start.”
Steering group member and inshore fishermen Joel Dunn said:
“I am involved in the Future of Our Inshore Fisheries project because I want to have a say in the future of inshore fisheries management. Obviously with covid-19 we have extra difficulties and pressures facing us as fishermen at the moment, so along with others on the steering group I had to think about whether this was the right time to launch the next phase of the initiative. In the end I decided that it was important to keep going so we can keep pushing for the changes inshore fishermen want and need.
“I know and understand that some fishermen may not be able to get involved as much as they might like at the moment, but this is a long term project and there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved. If this project is to have any impact or benefit it is no good to let it drift, so I believe it is the right thing to do to get this next phase started.”
The Future of Our Inshore Fisheries project was set up in January 2019. Six inshore fishermen who attended the conference joined the project steering group earlier this year to ensure that the insights of active fishermen continue to inform the process at a strategic level.
Access the full report, the action plan and further information on the Future of Our Inshore Fisheries project.
Innovative Responses to the Pandemic
In recent months, the UK fisheries industry has had to rapidly respond to the changing national and global landscape in the face of the ongoing pandemic. In addition to support from governments, the industry has also taken steps independently to ensure its continued survival. This has resulted in a number of unique innovations, most notably in terms of trade and welfare support.
The APPG will be hosting an online public meeting for attendees to learn more about these initiatives, and to put their questions to the panel. The meeting will be taking place via Zoom on Thursday 4 June from 3pm to 4.30pm.
A panel of sector representatives will present on a number of innovative responses that are taking place across the UK. There will also be attention drawn to existing measures that have proved invaluable during this time. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A session, where all attendees are invited to submit questions for the panel. The meeting is a great opportunity for Parliamentarians and the industry to learn about the action taking place within the sector.
APPG ScheduleInformation on speakers and the event schedule is available here.
If you wish to attend, or for further information, contact us at secretariat@fisheriesappg.org.
Wednesday 3 June 2020
Breton fishermen in an "extremely worrying" situation
"The situation is extremely complicated," said Olivier Le Nezet, also head of the Breizhmer association, which brings together players in the Breton fishing and aquaculture sector.
"The impact of Covid-19 on the industry is much greater now than during confinement," he said.
In a letter addressed to the government and dated Monday, he explains that the "market cannot absorb all the landings", while most of the ships have set to sea.
"The prices have collapsed and even when the catches find buyers, the armaments are far below the profitability thresholds", continues the missive of which AFP obtained a copy.
The resumption of catering activity "will not be enough to reverse the trend", believes Olivier Le Nezet, judging that the situation is worsened "by an unprecedented resumption of imports of fishery products since the beginning of containment".
"These imports at abnormally low prices are neither accidental nor anecdotal. It is obvious that the British fishery, at the origin of many of these imports, takes advantage of this situation to settle on the French market and strengthen its position in the ongoing Brexit negotiations ", denounces the sector in its letter to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of the Economy, Foreign Affairs and Agriculture.
"Since the gradual deconfinement, with the return to the sea of more notably deep-sea vessels, the market has just stalled at the start of the week," explains the National Fisheries Committee in a letter addressed to the Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume on Thursday.
"Even if the health situation seems to improve, the market is not able to absorb a + normal + level of production", he continues, asking the State to continue to support the sector by maintaining temporary stops and partial activity grants until the end of September.
Tuesday 2 June 2020
First fish auction for June.
Morrisons: “We are selling 60% more British fish now than we do normally”
Monday 1 June 2020
Two ships passing in the night: Fisheries in Brexit
- To sustainably manage fish stocks;
- To provide market support and setting seafood product standards;
- To provide funding to support fishing communities;
- To co-operate with non-EU countries to achieve sustainability.