Important for fishermen! Have your say on 2022 MLC amendments

 

Have your say on 2022 MLC amendments

Image:New rights under the MLC must be entered into UK law to take effect; now is the chance for British seafarers to make sure nothing has been missed. Image: Getty Images New rights under the MLC must be entered into UK law to take effect; now is the chance for British seafarers to make sure nothing has been missed. Image: Getty Images The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency is holding a public consultation on the new rights enshrined in the 2022 amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).

These rights enter into force on 23 December 2024, but must be entered into the law of countries that are signatories to the MLC before they take effect. In the UK, this will happen sometime in 2025 using the new Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Reform and Revocation Amendments) Regulations 2025 and the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025.

Why does the consultation matter?

This is an opportunity for interested parties and experts – including individual seafarers who will be directly affected and representative bodies like Nautilus International – to have their say on what impact these regulations will have, and any potential gaps or unintended consequences.

It is expected to run for six weeks, ending on 22 January.

The MCA is keen to hear the views of as many seafarers as possible to ensure that MLC rights are effectively entered into UK law. To participate, please contact the MCA directly or get in touch with Nautilus, which will also be responding to the consultation.

What are the 2022 MLC amendments?

Many of the 2022 amendments are already covered under UK law. They cover areas such as the requirement to report deaths and injuries onboard, and the repatriation of abandoned seafarers.

However, changes are required to UK law in four areas: access to social connectivity; to the financial security certificate of the ship; the requirement to provide a diet which is not only nutritious, but also 'balanced'; and a requirement for recruitment and placement services to provide seafarers with ‘adequate information regarding the system of protection to cover monetary loss if they or their employer does not meet its obligations (i.e. this system would cover item like unpaid wages, contractual benefits and repatriation).

You can read the full list of amendments and watch an interview with Nautilus director of legal services Charles Boyle about what they mean for Nautilus members here.

How to share your views

Nautilus director of legal services Charles Boyle will be giving an official response to the MLC amendments on behalf of the Union.

If you would like to share your own views, you can do so via Nautilus by emailing legal@nautilusint.org, or alternatively you can send them directly to the MCA via the form here before 22 January 2025.

It's a fine #FishyFriday morning in Newlyn.

Not a breath this morning and a tad warmer than the rest of the week and hints of the harbour channeling Van Gogh's, Starry Night...

 

with plenty of fih on the martket like these grey mullet...

turbot...

tidy haddock..

black...

and red bream...

turbot, a top choice for a top restaurant somewhere...

one big blue...

and a box of reds...

there's street urchins and these urchins derie their name from the latin word for hedgehog...

while mackerel are still scarce...

good tubs...

and plaice...

are a feature of the bigger boats' landings...

there's plenty of pollack...

and more big plaice...

the odd bass...

and some fine Dory...

along with other quality fish for which Newlyn is synonoymous......

however, landings from the netters are very slack, nit what they needed in their final trip before the market shuts before Xmas...

tipping point...

with just a few more days to go for the year, the Saxon Spirit is in, landed, taking on fuel and away again...

as the mornings fish are made ready for picking up by the buyers...

just one of a gaggle of North Sea Divers currewntly residing in the harbour...

tsparks are flying...

recent storms have scoured the harbour and very neatly graded the silt...

Rowse's latest addition to the fleet is all set to sail soon...

looking like new, the Ajax back from having a new galley and other work completede by Parkol in Whitby...

latest addition to the local inshore trawl fleet, Spanish Eyes II for the Corin clan...

Tristan closes down the fishroom hatch after the final trip...

of the Silver Dawn's for 2024...

IFCA must have found some extra pennies in the piggy bank to get the St Piran  off to sea on a Friday, passing by the Saxon Spirit, who appears to have had the start of her next trip somewhat delayed..

Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement Programme: Call for evidence Closes 4 Feb 2025

 

This call for evidence seeks input from people with expert knowledge of inshore marine fisheries in Scotland (e.g. academics, fishers, national and regional fisheries representatives, eNGOs, seafood processors, coastal communities). We anticipate input to range from papers and data to relaying of personal experience and expert opinion to inform development of this policy.

The Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate has an Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement (IFMI) Programme that presents an opportunity to develop a new framework for agile management of our inshore sea fisheries.

Our vision is that this framework will enable us to tailor a wider range of fisheries management tools to the changing needs of our marine environment and sea fishers, based on the best available scientific data.

Our Fisheries Management Strategy outlines our commitment to working with stakeholders, and this framework offers an opportunity to strengthen existing arrangements.

The IFMI programme will consider a structure that enables a greater focus on strategic decision making both regionally and nationally. It will help us to manage fishing activity within our inshore marine space, and consider how responsibility for management and delivery can be shared whilst respecting the ultimate accountability of Scottish Ministers to the Scottish Parliament and the general public.

All of the information required to respond to this call for evidence can be found here on Citizen Space. The same information can be found on the Scottish Government website.

Useful information about responding to this call for evidenceWhy your views matter

Following this call for evidence, Scottish Ministers have committed to consulting on the IFMI framework in late 2025. Through this call for evidence your experience of Scotland’s inshore fisheries will inform the development of the IFMI policy proposal ahead of this consultation.

Wherever possible, please submit evidence to support your answer.

This Call for Evidence is open for a 10 week period.

The responses received will be instrumental in enabling us to develop a framework more fully based on the received evidence after it closes. We will engage with stakeholders to refine the proposal and consider implementation and monitoring before bringing it to public consultation in late 2025 to receive views on a final proposal. Following consideration of consultation responses, we expect to begin implementation in late 2026.

A rare sight indeed - must be a blue moon!

 

There's as many boats on the New Quay...

as there are sardines in the Bay - none! All the fleet are at sea!

APPG New Expert Panel: Call for Applications

 

The APPG on Fisheries’ Expert Panel comprises a cross-section of the fisheries sector and related areas, including representatives from the under-12m fleet, the over-12m fleet, the supply chain, environmental and welfare NGOs, and government/policy.

Our Expert Panel was established in 2022, and its membership is renewed every two years to ensure a turnover of different areas of expertise, perspectives, and backgrounds. We are now putting out a call for applications for new members to join from January 2025 until January 2027.

The responsibilities of Expert Panel members are to:

● Provide expert input into the key strategic priorities of the APPG on Fisheries.

● Give feedback on the proposed annual cycle of events to ensure that they cover the key issues and debates within the sector.

● Make suggestions for speakers and partner events to ensure the APPG on Fisheries continues to reflect the broad diversity of interests within the sector.

● Contribute to any Inquiries or Reports prepared and published by the APPG.

● Introduce questions or topics for Parliamentary Members to consider raising within Parliament.

For further details, the Terms of Reference can be found below.

We welcome applications to sit on the Panel. To express your interest, please send the Secretariat no more than 150 words on your (or your organisation's) background, why you are interested, and what you would bring to the Panel.

Please send your application, or any queries you may have, to secretariat@fisheriesappg.org by 20 December, 2024

The EU and UK agree on fishing opportunities for 2025 worth €1.4 billion for EU fishers

 

On 6 December, the EU and the United Kingdom reached an agreement on fishing opportunities for 2025 for more than 88 total allowable catches (TACs) in the North-East Atlantic. The agreement will contribute to the sustainable management of fish stocks jointly managed by the EU and the UK, as well as provide stability and predictability for fleets and operators from both parties.

This deal secures fishing opportunities for the EU fleet for about 428,000 tonnes, estimated to be worth almost €1.4 billion based on historic EU wholesale prices, adjusted for inflation. This agreement is important as the negotiated stocks represent most of the EU’s stocks of interest in non-EU countries of the North-East Atlantic.

These are the fifth annual consultations on fishing opportunities between the EU and UK agreed under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). They establish total allowable catch limits (TACs) for shared stocks in 2025, and reciprocal access to waters for albacore tuna fishing.

The EU based its negotiating position on the EU common fisheries policy (CFP), including sea-basin related multiannual plans. The EU and the UK conducted these negotiations guided by the best available scientific advice on the status of fish stocks. Socio-economic considerations were also taken into account to avoid choke situations that would lead to a premature closure of certain fisheries.

Besides the key role played by Member States in supporting the conclusion of this agreement, negotiations highlighted the importance of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries (SCF), which facilitated cooperation and contributed to the positive outcome.

The agreement also establishes a clear set of priorities for future SCF work, including cooperation on joint technical measures to protect vulnerable stocks across sea basins.

Next steps The agreed catch limits will be incorporated into the Fishing Opportunities Regulation for 2025, which will be agreed at political level during the Council of EU fisheries Ministers on 9 and 10 December.

The parties will hold in-year consultations during 2025 for three other jointly managed stocks, for which the ICES scientific advice does not align with the calendar year: sandeel (North Sea, all banks), sprat (North Sea and the English Channel) and Norway pout.

The document is the **2025 Written Record of Fisheries Consultations** between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU), summarizing agreements under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Key points include:

1. **Total Allowable Catches (TACs)**: Annual quotas for shared fish stocks were set, with specific conditions for adjustments based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).

2. **Sustainability Goals**: Efforts were made to align quotas with long-term sustainability, balancing socio-economic factors with biological recovery, especially for depleted or vulnerable stocks.

3. **Bycatch TACs**: Small quotas were allocated for stocks with zero-catch advice to manage mixed fisheries without creating "choke species."

4. **Deep-Sea and Special Stocks**: Special attention was given to deep-sea stocks, with measures for species like roundnose grenadier, red seabream, and spurdog to ensure sustainable management and stock recovery.

5. **Quota Transfers and Flexibility**: Mechanisms for inter-annual quota transfers were established, allowing carryover or borrowing of quotas under certain limits to improve flexibility.

6. **Technical Measures and Research**: Technical and spatial management measures were discussed for depleted stocks, along with initiatives for collaborative research to improve scientific advice and stock assessments.

7. **Non-Quota Stocks**: Monitoring and data-sharing on non-quota species landings were emphasized, with commitments to manage these species sustainably.

8. **Electronic Data Exchange**: Continued development of electronic systems for data sharing was prioritized to enhance fisheries management and control.

The document contains detailed agreements on quotas, management conditions, and measures for numerous species. Here's a summary for key species groups: --

Species	Area/Region	TAC (Tonnes)	Key Details
Monkfish/Anglerfish	North Sea (4, 2a)	19,622	Up to 30% may be fished in 6a north of 58°30’.
	West of Scotland (6, 5b, 12, 14)	11,104	Up to 20% flexibility in areas 2a and 4.
	Celtic Sea (7)	47,559	Flexibility for fishing in 8a, 8b.
Hake	North Sea (4, 2a)	2,021	Up to 6% flexibility in certain zones.
	Western (6, 7, 5b, 12, 14)	32,479	Flexibility of up to 100% in 4 and 2a.
Lemon Sole & Witch	North Sea (4, 2a)	2,227 (combined)	Specific tonnages allocated for lemon sole and witch in adjacent areas.
Dover Sole	North Sea (4)	Managed	TACs managed under shared arrangements, details not provided.
	Celtic Sea & Irish Sea	Managed	Sustainability-focused recovery plans.
Pollack	Area 6 and 7	766 (bycatch)	Preventing closures in mixed fisheries; forecasted 20% spawning stock biomass increase by 2026.
Cod	Irish Sea (7a)	165 (bycatch)	No directed fisheries permitted.
	West of Scotland (6a)	1,114	Managed under trilateral consultations (UK-EU-Norway).
	Celtic Sea (7b-k, 8, 9, 10)	644 (bycatch)	Zero-catch advice; small TAC for bycatches.
	Rockall (6b, 5b west, 12, 14)	74 (bycatch)	No directed fisheries permitted.
Haddock	Irish Sea (7a)	1,893	-
	Rockall (6b, 12, 14)	10,195	-
	Celtic Sea (7b-k)	6,353	-
Herring	Irish Sea (7a)	5,223	-
	West of Scotland (6b, 6aN)	1,745	Restrictions on targeting in specific zones for spawning protection.
	Western Channel and Bristol Channel	357	-
	Celtic Sea (7g-k)	869	Allocations for sentinel fishery to gather data.
Spurdog	Western (6, 7, 8)	13,998	Maximum size limit of 100 cm retained for conservation.
Ling	North Sea (4)	2,266	Up to 20% flexibility for fishing in specific zones.
	Western (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)	10,907	-
Horse Mackerel	Western (4a, 6, 7, 8)	65,221	Up to 80% quota utilization allowed in area 8c.
	Southern North Sea/Eastern Channel	970 (bycatch)	No directed fishery permitted.
Nephrops	Functional Units	Managed	Aggregate TACs; tailored management for depleted areas.
Deep-Sea Stocks	Various (e.g., Roundnose Grenadier)	Managed	Focused on conservation and stock recovery.

Read the full details here:

 

The Waterhaul team

A company that recovers discarded fishing gear from the ocean and recycles it into new products has been named overall winner at the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sustainability Awards (CSA).

Waterhaul also won the circular economy category in the awards ceremony held at the National Maritime Museum on Friday.

The Newquay-based firm was praised for tackling the problem of ghost gear - lost, abandoned or discarded fishing gear - by recovering it from the coastline and turning it into durable and sustainable products such as sunglasses.

Now in its 22nd year, the awards hosted by Cornwall Council celebrate organisations and individuals across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for their contribution towards sustainability, environmental growth, circular economy and carbon neutrality.

Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council cabinet member for environment and climate change and one of the awards judges, said:

“The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sustainability Awards showcases our region’s wealth of innovative organisations which are helping nature recover, lessening our impact on the planet and fuelling our green economy and skills.

Harry Dennis, founder of Waterhaul, said:

“We’re over the moon to be recognised with a Cornwall Sustainability Award. There is such a high bar in the county with Cornish organisations really leading the way nationally with sustainability, so we’re really honoured to have our work highlighted amongst this incredible group of organisations and businesses – many of which we’re collaborating with.

"It’s really a testament to the incredible hard work and dedication from all of the Waterhaul team who’ve pushed hard this year to really progress our mission and scale up our recovery and recycling of fishing gear whilst integrating our values of circularity and positive impact into all of our activities."