#FishyFriday is here, fish prices bright, weather dull.

 

The weather has remained almost unchanged for the week, 100% cloud cover for much of the time...

there's always one lazy gull prepared to muscle in on the turnstones breakfast...

seems the mackerel handliners are enjoying good fishing...

a good-sized bull huss...

red mullet...

and John Dory just some of the quality inshore fish landed this week...

whisked away at speed by hard-working merchant staff.

Westminster Future of Fishing debate.

 

Analysis of the Fishing Debate

The "Future of Fishing," debate in Westinster, 5th November 2024, explores the challenges and opportunities facing the UK fishing industry after Brexit. Here's a breakdown of key points from the conversation:

Concerns:

Loss of access to EU waters: British fishermen worry about losing access to fishing grounds previously available under EU membership.

Foreign ownership of quota: A large portion of UK fishing quota is owned by foreign companies, raising concerns about profit motives conflicting with sustainable practices and local benefit.

Labor shortages: The industry faces a shortage of workers due to Brexit-related restrictions on freedom of movement.

Trade barriers: New trade barriers with the EU have increased costs for fish processing and transportation.

Overregulation: Excessive regulations from UK authorities are seen as stifling the industry.

EU leverage: The EU may use negotiations on energy access as leverage to secure more favourable fishing rights for its fleets.

Opportunities:

Taking back control: The UK regaining control of its waters presents an opportunity for a "great reset" of fishing policy.

Sustainable quotas: The UK can focus on setting sustainable fishing quotas to ensure healthy fish stocks in the long term.

Support for local communities: Re distributing fishing quotas and investing in processing facilities could benefit coastal communities.

New markets: The UK can explore new export markets outside the EU.


Key Figures:

Rupert Lowe (Reform): Believes leaving the EU presents a golden opportunity to rebuild the fishing industry and revitalise coastal communities. Advocates for stricter regulations on foreign fishing fleets and quota ownership.

Torcuil Crichton (Labour): Highlights the problem of foreign ownership of fishing quotas and the need to distribute quotas fairly to benefit local communities.

Jim Shannon (DUP): Emphasises the importance of visas for seasonal workers and worries about the Irish government's attempts to claim UK herring quota.

Seamus Logan (SNP): Expresses concern that the UK government will prioritize energy deals over fishing rights in negotiations with the EU.

Richard Tice (Reform): Believes "no deal" is better than a bad deal in negotiations with the EU and urges the government to decouple energy and fishing negotiations.

Caroline Voaden (LD): Represents a constituency with a significant fishing industry and highlights the importance of the sector to local communities.

Recruitment:

In the provided debate transcript, the following references were made to recruitment in the fishing industry:

• Need for investment and training: Rupert Lowe mentioned that fishing and fish processing would need extensive investment and that there was a risk of losing legacy fishing skills. This implies a need to attract new people to the industry and train them. 
• Torcuil Crichton suggested the creation of a new pelagic fleet and new processing facilities. This would require recruiting people to crew the boats and work in the factories.   
• Jim Shannon raised the crucial issue of visas for foreign workers in the fishing industry. He highlighted that the lack of access to foreign labor was hurting the industry and called for a visa system that works for the fishing sector, similar to the horticulture and poultry sectors.   
• Seamus Logan also mentioned the loss of freedom of movement as a challenge for the fishing industry. This again points to the difficulty in recruiting workers, particularly for fish processing.  

These references highlight that recruitment is a significant challenge for the UK fishing industry. The lack of access to foreign labour due to Brexit, coupled with the need to invest in training and revitalise the fishing fleet, necessitates a focused effort on attracting and retaining workers in the fishing sector.

Overall View:

The debate reflects the complexities of the future of UK fishing. While regaining control of waters presents opportunities, navigating negotiations with the EU, ensuring sustainable practices, and supporting local communities remain significant challenges. Collaboration between the government, fishing communities, and different political parties will be crucial in securing a prosperous future for the UK fishing industry.

You can read the full transcript from Hansard here.

Plenty of fish on Monday's market.

100% cloud cover is the current weather theme it seems...

while there is plenty to brighten up the day for the buyers on the market this morning with even more species up for auction than usual, like these good sized greater weavers...

big turbot...

plenty of monk tails...

John Dory...

witches...

and, unusually, more than a box of cod from a beam rawler...

plenty of squid seem to be on the grounds...

and the odd conger...

along with a good run of big plaice...

all three zones on the market were end-to-end with fish...

with a big shot of squid from the Tranquility...

and some cracking gilt head bream...

top...

and bottom of a sea urchin, or zart as they are known by Mousehole men...

the big tuna are still in abundance...

as are smaller fish for those still trying to catch their quota for the season...

the handliners had a good weekend on the bass...

and there were plenty of mackerel, though to find that one box you bought proved something of a challenge in a fridge packed tight with so many stacked boxes of fish...

there are still sardines to be had in the bay...

monk heads go for crab bait these days...

the Ocean Pride prepares for her next trip...

hopefully she will be righted as the tide floods...

a few more hours work is needed below the waterline before she can come down off the slip...

Northern Eagle heads in through the gaps chased by a flock of hungry gulls hoping for scraps from the deck being washed down after the last haul of the trip!

 

Fisheries Management Plans: What you need to know.

 

2024 Fisheries Management Plans: 

Recent Developments 

This briefing note provides an overview of recent updates in the development of the UK’s Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs), including related fisheries management measures currently undergoing parliamentary scrutiny and several FMP consultations, which are of relevance to the fishing industry.

BACKGROUND

Setting out objectives for UK fisheries and providing a framework for management outside of the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the Fisheries Act 2020 marked a significant moment for the UK as an independent coastal state.

Central to this framework, the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) outlines the policies for achieving the objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020 and sets out Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) as a key vehicle for delivering sustainable management of UK fisheries. Covering specific fisheries, geographies and key stocks, the JFS lists 43 proposed FMPs to be delivered by relevant national authorities in accordance with a range of timelines.

FMPs do not lay out legislative requirements directly, but rather are evidence-based action plans, to be iteratively co-developed with industry and other stakeholders. Achieving their goals involve the introduction of new regulations and technical measures, alongside non-statutory measures such as voluntary agreements and collaborative research plans.

Seen as a departure from the rigid and top-down structures of the CFP, FMPs have been broadly welcomed by the fishing industry as a genuine opportunity for more responsive co-management of UK fisheries by scientists, the fishing industry and regulators, that is attuned to the realities of fisheries. Environmental NGOs, on the other hand, have viewed the FMPs with more caution.

Six frontrunner FMPs were prioritised for delivery, and published for consultation between July and October 2023. The following six FMPs have since been published:

• Crab and lobster FMP for English waters
• Whelk FMP for English waters
• Bass FMP for English and Welsh waters
• Channel demersal non-quota species FMP
• King scallop FMP for English and Welsh waters
• The Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP

Measures relating to these frontrunner FMPs are now coming into force. At the same time, the government is consulting on a range of new FMPs, and on amendments to the JFS to accommodate delivery timeline and technical changes to others.

Legislative UPDATES

On 16 October, The Sea Fisheries (Amendment)(No.2) Regulations 2024 were laid before Parliament. Relating to the first published FMPs, the following measures will come into force on 16 December 2024, subject to Parliamentary scrutiny:

New minimum landing sizes for lemon sole (250mm), turbot (300mm), and brill (300mm) in the English waters of the Channel Sea (Areas 7d and 7e), and for crawfish (110mm) in all English waters to protect juveniles from being landed before they have matured.

Engine power restrictions on vessels (greater than 221 Kw) using flyseining gear (fishing with an encircling and towed net, operated from a boat by means of two long ropes) in the English territorial waters (within 12 nautical miles) of the Channel Sea, to help manage fishing effort on inshore demersal non-quota species.

All vessels using flyseining gear will also have to use a larger mesh (100mm minimum) in the English waters of the Channel so that smaller, juvenile fish can escape.

This new legislation will allow commercial catch limits for bass to be managed via fishing licences following international negotiations, so they are in line with evolving evidence, rather than having to wait for legislative changes.

Any changes to fishing gear and/or fishing practices to comply with these new measures will need to be made for the 16 December 2024.

Flatfish FMP

On 10 October, Defra published Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP, which is now being implemented and relates to a number of the measures recently introduced in Parliament. The new FMP includes a number of key elements relating to:

Improving the evidence base for data poor stocks.

Setting total allowable catches in line with the scientific assessment body the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas’ Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) advice (i.e. the maximum amount of fish that can be taken, while ensuring the maintenance of the future productivity of the stock), while also taking into consideration environmental, social and economic factors. 

Minimum landing sizes for three stocks in the Eastern Channel (lemon sole, turbot, brill).

Proposals to increase the minimum landing size and explore implementation of gear restrictions, including gathering evidence on potential viable options for towed gear management and mesh size changes in the Eastern Channel.   

FMP Consultations

On 10 October, several consultations relating to the next five Defra-led FMPs were also launched, alongside a consultation on amending the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) to accommodate publication deadline changes for the remaining FMPs, and technical changes to some

Co-developed over several months, the next five draft FMPs being consulted on are as follows:

• Cockle FMP for English waters
• Queen scallop FMP for English waters
• North Sea and Channel Sprat FMP
• Southern North Sea and Channel skates and rays
• Southern North Sea demersal non-quota species

Concerning the production of the remaining FMPs, amendments to the publication deadlines as currently set out in the JFS have been proposed and are currently being consulted on. Several technical changes to a number of FMPs have also been proposed:

For the Welsh Government to no longer be a joint authority for plans which do not cover their waters. They will remain as a joint authority for the three plans led by the Scottish Government that extend into Welsh waters.

• To add a periwinkle FMP for Northern Ireland.
• To add species to three FMPs to better reflect stocks.
• To amend the geographic scope of three FMPs to better align with the stocks.
• To merge two cod plans to better align with the biological stock.

NEXT STEPS

The Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP, which can be viewed here, will now be implemented.

The consultation on technical changes and amendments to the timeline for delivery of the remaining FMPS can be viewed here, and will remain open until 21 November 2024.

The management measures introduced on 16 October are expected to come into force on 16 December 2024, subject to Parliamentary scrutiny.

Any changes to fishing gear and/or fishing practices to comply with these new measures will need to be made for the 16 December 2024.

Closing on 19 January 2025, the consultation on the five draft FMPs can be viewed here.

Defra are currently running quayside events around the coast as part of the current FMP consultations. More details are available here.

The MMO are running an online survey here, relating to the in-development Celtic Sea and Western Channel demersal Fisheries Management Plan (FMP), which will remain open until 31 January 2025.

Further remarks

Though the level of engagement with the fishing industry has been cited as varying across FMP development, on the whole the collaborative approach underpinning the FMPs has been supported by the fishing industry as an iterative process of refinement, with potential to truly mark a departure from the management structures of the CFP and see the co-development of a responsive, evidence-based system up to the task of managing for environmentally, socially and economically sustainable fisheries into the future.

A debate on the future of fishing after 2026

A debate on the future of fishing after 2026 introduced by Robert Lowe MP is due to take place on 5 November 2024 in Westminster Hall.

The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) (PDF) covers fisheries and provides mutual access for UK and EU fishing vessels in each other’s waters until June 2026. The agreement also sets out provisions for negotiations on access and share of stocks after that date. These could result in annual or multiannual agreements on fishing.

Currently, under the TCA, 25% of the overall pre-Brexit EU fishing quota in UK waters will be transferred to the UK over a five-and-a-half-year transition period to 30 June 2026. Percentage changes have been agreed for the total allowable catch (TAC) transferred for each fish stock in each fishing area. Mutual access is currently managed through a licencing system for individual fishing vessels.

The June 2026 expiry of the fisheries agreement coincides with the expiry of the agreement on energy, which allows the UK access to EU energy markets. Commentators have highlighted that this may result in negotiations on both of these areas being linked in advance of the June 2026 expiry date, with the EU reported as aiming to maintain existing fishing rights.

For further details on the fisheries and the TCA see the Commons Library Briefing UK-EU Relations: Fisheries (27 November 2023).

For further details of the review clauses in the TCA and how they may affect UK- EU relations on fisheries see the Commons Library Briefing The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Review clauses (10 July 2024)

Recent developments

Following the general election and change of government in June 2024, there have been references to a reset of relations with the EU, although this has not included mention of fisheries specifically. Fishing organisations have raised concerns about any changes, should they result in increased EU fishing vessel access to UK waters after June 2026.

There is also ongoing disagreement between the UK and the EU about the closure of the sandeel fisheries in Scottish and English waters in March 2024 on environmental grounds. Sandeel are an important food source for a range of marine species. EU vessels had 97% of the quota for sandeel in UK waters before the closure. Following the closure the EU raised a complaint under the dispute settlement mechanism of the TCA. Having failed to reach an agreement with the UK the EU requested an arbitration tribunal be set up in October 2024, under the provisions of the TCA, which will provide a final ruling within 160 days.

Alfie Bass stars on first #FishyFriday November market in Newlyn.

End to end with boxes of fish on the first #FishyFriday auction of the month...

with a good run of hake landed by the netters Ocean pride...

and plenty of mixed fish from the trawler Crystal Sea...

and some cracking reds from inshore boats like the Alfie May...

and a good selection of bream species including these black bream...

and these two, one of which is a pink bream, the other a Couch's, but which is which?..

though this guy is definitely not a black bream...

always good to see these guys drop on the deck from the cod end...

and monk too...

if I were a rich man,  if you're old enough you'll know...

exceptionally good mackerel fishing in St Ives Bay at the moment...

which may explain why there are still good numbers of blue fin being landed...

the biggest weighing in at just over 200kg...

and the smallest at 54kg...

young Mr Pascoe also pulled a few bass from the depths, despite being surrounded by schools of bluefin - mist of them youngsters chasing small fish in the Bay...

always a challenge laying out an inshore boat's trip when they landed a handful or even just a single example of fish per species...

young Dan the sardine man heads back to his berth...

his night's work proving a source of frustration for this young gull who can smell tons of sardines below his feet for breakfast but just can't quite figure out how to get to them...

much of the fleet are between trips...

there are now a number of signboards gong up around the harbour informing the public of how Newlyn is at a crucial crossroads, the size of the boats and the increase in demand and complexity of shoreside support will necessitate the development of the port in order to service the need.

FMP Implementation in the Channel and south west.

On the 16th of October, new legislation was introduced into Parliament which implements a range of the short-term management measures proposed through several of the first FMPs including: the crab and lobster FMP, Channel demersal non quota species (NQS) FMP, seabass FMP, and the Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP.

The legislation will help manage a number of fish species and will come into force on the 16th of December 2024.

These measures have been identified within the FMPs as priority management that needs to be introduced in the short term to provide additional protection to vulnerable stocks.

The measures being introduced include:

• The introduction of minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) for lemon sole (250mm), turbot (300mm), and brill (300mm) in the English waters of ICES designated areas 7d and 7e (the Channel Sea). 

• An increase to the existing MCRS for crawfish in all English waters to 110mm to protect the juveniles of these stocks from being landed before they have matured and had chance to reproduce. 

• A requirement that all fly seining vessels use a 100mm mesh as standard in the English waters of ICES divisions 7d and 7e so that smaller, juvenile fish can escape from the nets and have chance to reproduce. 

• A restriction of the engine power of vessels using fly seining gear in the English territorial waters of these areas 7d and 7e to help manage fishing pressures on demersal NQS in inshore fishing grounds (the more powerful an engine, the bigger the boat and ability to fish in adverse weather).  

• Remove the UK-EU annually negotiated catch limits for commercially caught bass from secondary legislation so that they can be updated through fishing license conditions. License conditions are generally quick to introduce and would allow the commercial bass catch limits to be updated promptly following international negotiations, so they are in line with evolving evidence.

Any changes to fishing gear and/or fishing practices to comply with these new measures will need to be made by the 16th of December 2024.