IIFET 2016: -= Industry innovation + Landing Obligation = profitable, discard-free future?

Environmental Defense Fund examines how the fishing industry is already adapting, innovating and beginning to overcome the challenges posed by the ‘discard ban’.

“It is possible to prosper with increased selectivity” was the take-home message from a dynamic panel session held yesterday at the International Institute for Fisheries Economics & Trade (IIFET) by Environmental Defense Fund Europe. Fisherman Peter Olsson of the Swedish Fishermen’s Producer Organisation – quoted above – spoke of his experiences mitigating choke species to remain prosperous under the Landing Obligation, saying:

“We just need to make use of the tools available. With the right combination of tools and policy measures we can create the right conditions for sustainability and strong businesses.”

Olsson was one of a range of speakers contributing to a special panel – part of IIFET’s tailored “Industry and Policy” day – on the theme: “Adapt, improvise and overcome: fishermen’s responses to the Landing Obligation”. Panel Chair, Dr Erik Lindebo, economist and Senior Consultant to Environmental Defense Fund, led a wide-ranging discussion of tools and approaches being applied across Europe that can offer support as industry moves towards full implementation of the Landing Obligation by 2019. 

Fellow panelist and UK fisherman, David Stevens (Crystal Sea, Newlyn) added:
“The collaborative approach to implementation is truly worthwhile. When you give fishermen the ability and incentive to deal with the issues themselves, they are able to come up with the best solutions. Fishermen need the freedom to take control of their fisheries.”

Commenting on the lively discussion, Dr. Lindebo said: “The Landing Obligation has represented a huge change in the fishing landscape, and will continue to do so. But we’re surrounded by optimistic, pragmatic solutions that can make a difference, especially to mitigate some of the all-important choke problems. The key now is to ensure fishing industry and policy are on the same page when it comes to fully utilising the management toolbox, allowing innovation and best-practice to come to the fore via the simplest route possible”.

The in-depth discussion covered small-scale fisheries, scientific perspectives, and in-depth industry comment on the future of fishing under the LO. The importance of the processing sector was also underlined, as David Parker of Young’s Seafood highlighted the entrepreneurial talent within the sector, and the value this offers to supply-chain innovation, including at the ‘business end’ of catching. Parker presented in detail on Young’s collaborative new project ‘Trawlight’: an initiative using sea-water activated lights, and ‘escape holes’ in gear, to reduce unwanted juvenile and choke catches.

Mike Park, of the Scottish Whitefish Producers’ Association, and Clara Ulrich of DTU-AQUA, National Institute of Aquatic Resources and DISCARDLESS, also joined in the debate – underlining the importance of taking a positive approach in searching out the best ways to deliver a secure fishing future for industry.

Offering his thoughts at the end of the session, Chair Dr Lindebo reflected: “There are significant challenges with the Landing Obligation. But with a varied toolbox of methods, and industry expertise at our disposal we can begin to tailor appropriate solutions. It is of fundamental importance that the fisheries sector and all other stakeholders are on board with the process, all across Europe.”

(IIFET2016 Aberdeen – June 14, 2016).


The conference agenda:

Wild Capture Fisheries	Adaptations to evolving governance International fisheries management & models of co-operation Hierarchies of fishing rights allocations – country, producers organisations & individuals Bio-economic modelling – estimating the present value of different harvesting strategies Adoption & adaptation of technical measures to improve resilience & profitability Ecosystems based management, MPAs
Aquaculture	New species – salmon and more? New processes – onshore and seawards? Capture based acquaculture New products – farming not only for food? New markets – emerging alternatives
Processing	Integration of captured & farmed raw material supplies The reformed CFP and its emergent supply chain of discards Delivering sustainability through alternative processes and products
Seafood Logistics	Fish welfare and the addition of value Landing live Flying fresh Net-based logistics – challenging traditional supply chain models
Markets	Improving understanding through innovative use of available, but ignored, market data Seafood segmentation and positioning strategies Envisioning, shaping and communicating future markets Shifting global power – implications for trade
Consumption	The emergent importance of sustainability labels & other attributes in seafood purchase and consumption decisions Consumption of Authentic and Adulterated products Improving health though fish consumption – limits to gains?
The BIGGER PICTURE	Fish versus competing animal proteins – swimming against agricultural tide Economics of recreational fisheries Implications of fish stock responses to climate change for the seafood sector – new global value chains? Sea level change and the emerging submergence of seafood infrastructure Promoting integration – policy lessons from theory and practice
Special Feature: Industry & PolicyDay	Fishing business owners and policy makers from across northern Europe  take part in a day of policy-relevant discussion panels, workshops and presentations Can economics help resolve policy challenges? Discussion of the key emergent outcomes from previous sessions regarding the future co-operation and integration of seafood stakeholders: Wild capture fisheries Aquaculture Processing Seafood logistics Markets Consumption The business of fishing  - a film made by Seafish
Special Sessions (Open)	Economics of Protected Resources   Fisheries, Aquaculture and Global Food Security The economics of a discard ban policy Payments for Ecosystem Services in fisheries and aquaculture – A rose by any other name? Transdisciplinary research in fishery science – are we making progress influencing policy making?  Present and Emerging Arctic Fisheries   Unlocking the sustainable wealth potential of aquatic resources and ecosystems: Beyond traditional commercial fisheries management   ‘SUCCESS: Reinforcing the competitiveness of the seafood sector’   Game theory and fisheries   Innovations in governance of highly migratory and transboundary fisheries    Fishing Cost Data Collection and Implications in Fisheries Management   Sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture: the multidisciplinary approach as a key for success  Economics of Bycatch Recognising and Assessing Social and Economic Values in Fisheries  Gender Research as a New Frontier in Fisheries and Aquaculture Economics: In the Footsteps of Rosemary Firth  The Ghosts of Adam Smith: The Past, Present, and Future of Fishery Subsidies   Measuring and managing risk-taking and safety in commercial fishing
Special Sessions (Closed)	Analyzing behavioral responses to regulation – what can be learned for management? Improving Food Security and Reducing Poverty through Intra-regional Fish Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa   Creating shared value through stakeholders’ involvement to strengthen the seafood competitiveness Economics of Bycatch Gender Research as a New Frontier in Fisheries and Aquaculture Economics: In the Footsteps of Rosemary Firth
Please note that some sessions are still be to confirmed and the final list may be different.

#IIFET2016 Conference inAberdeen.

#IIFET2016 Tweets

Cornish sardine season starts with a bang!

A is for Asthore, one of four boats to land overnight the first shots of sardines for the season in Newlyn...

skipper Dan driving the forklift ...

is all but done and dusted on the Pride of Cornwall with his first shot...
    

the 3m stern mark shows she is well laden...

almost all inshore trawl fish this morning...

so lemons...

hake...

John Dory...

Dovers...

red mullet...

along with some net caught hake...

and a handful of langoustine form the beam trawler WSS...

to aid provenance, it seems some of the punts have taken to naming their shellfish now

Gary is keen to show off his new party trick, levitating fish to market superintendent Lionel, 

while the buyers take not of the auctioneers pointers on quality...

scraping the last bucket of fish from the bowels of the boat...

another member of the Ocean Fish...

three of the sardine boats at the market...

with Lionel keeping an eye in things...

the sardine boat Mayflower sits squarely in the water.

First Cornish sardines for the season!

Black and white make grey today.

The White Heather is black and grey today...

kind of "Back to black", there is always interesting artwork to be seen down the quay...

looks like Dan only has a hundred fathoms to go...

almost there for the good ship Galilee.

Bonito fishing in the Cantabrico aboard the San Roque Divine,

The capture of Albacore goes back several centuries ago when boats Cantabrian ports out to sea using small rowboats and sailing. Fished with art crankbait or trolling (fishing techniques hook). Traditionally this has been the style of fishing more used by fishermen in northern Spain until the middle of this century broke the call live bait. The Cantabria fleet employ the technique of live bait. They are traditional crafts using cane and hook. This means that the Tuna is fished one by one, allowing you to select those samples of better quality. In addition, these techniques do not involve incidental catch of other species or deteriorate the seabed, unlike those that are not selective. 

Fishing Albacore is carried out in the coastal June to October, when the specimen is at its peak for fish and consumed. At this time, the boats head to the Bay of Biscay, where the most important core fishing Albacore concentrated. The boats have to fish for anchovy to be used as bait first, keep them alive in nurseries seawater bearing. After locating hours or days later the bank Bonito, the boat sits on top of him. The sailors then "macizan" sea throwing live bait alongside the ship while directing strong jets of water at the same site to look like water "boils" in the amount of anchovy. It also serves to hide the fishermen while throwing reeds with bocartes hookups. 

Pretty excited about food, up to throwing on the bait surface. Once captured the top with an accurate blow of oarlocks and stored in the hold between layers of ice waiting to be landed quickly in the harbor. The images they have been recorded by the crew of the San Roque Divine

Devon fishermen treated as 'common criminals'

Image captionBarry Young, from Brixham Trawler Agents

Fishermen in Devon have claimed they are being singled out for increased inspection by the Government.

Fishing industry leaders in Brixham say the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has become increasingly heavy-handed since new rules were brought in. One trawler has lost about £15,000 in potential earnings because of the changes and is seeking compensation, its owner said.

The MMO has declined to comment while investigations were ongoing. It closely monitors catches to protect fish stocks and unveiled a new strategy earlier this year. Barry Young, from Brixham Trawler Agents, says fishermen have always cooperated with the MMO.

"We're told during a year the MMO is supposed board about 10% of vessels on a quayside," he said. "But over the last six to eight weeks they have boarded 100% of vessels. Any vessel coming into Brixham has been boarded."

Image captionThe Kerrie Marie

One trawler, the Kerrie Marie, was ordered back to port last month after one of 200 boxes of fish was not recorded in the log.

Its owners said they lost three days fishing and about £15,000 in potential earnings even though no offence was committed. They are now seeking compensation from the MMO.

Image captionDave Langdon, owner of the Kerrie Marie

Owner Dave Langdon said: "We feel like we're being persecuted by the MMO and it's not good. The fisherman is being treated like a common criminal."

However, fishermen in Cornwall say they haven't noticed any change. Elizabeth Stephenson from the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation said: "It's business as usual." She added: "We haven't noticed any changes, and haven't heard any reports from the boats, out at sea or in the harbour."

The MMO said it has received correspondence in relation to enforcement action at Brixham. A spokesman said: "The MMO can make no further comment because these matters are still under investigation." 

Story courtesy of BBC Devon.