EU rules of origin in seafood.

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) came in to force at 11pm on 31 December 2020. The TCA offers zero tariffs for seafood traded between the EU and the UK provided they meet specific rules of origin.

 

 

This webinar recorded on Thursday 4 February explores the ‘rules of origin’ in the TCA and how they apply to seafood. The session considers the rules throughout the seafood product journey, from first sale, through processing to export.

It will be particularly relevant for seafood traders (importers, exporters and buyers) and seafood processors who process imported fish for export or who produce seafood for export to the EU.

The session will cover:

• Rules of origin in the TCA

• Why they matter at each stage in your supply chain

• How they apply to unprocessed and processed seafood intended for re-export

For further information visit www.seafish.org and explore our TCA web pages.

Optimizing the Norway lobster catch

 

Notus has developed a sensor to respond to the detection need of the Norway lobster fishing fleet and to know, in real time, if there is a sufficiently profitable amount of the target species in the area where it is trawling or if, On the contrary, the presence of this is so scarce that it is not worthwhile to continue working in that area, which significantly reduces fuel consumption in relation to the result obtained in the set. The entry into force of the landing obligation and the evolution of stocks in light of climate change has led the company to develop this sensor. 

"One of the measures proposed to reduce the capture of small fish, species with depleted quota and the capture of unwanted species in the trawl fishery is the use of the Crayfish Catch Sensor (Notus Echo) in the Swedish Grid" , informs the company.

"The preliminary results have been highly satisfactory both in the red prawn and Norway lobster fisheries," explains the company.

The use of Swedish Grid or Selector Grid, with vertical bars 35 mm apart and a 15 cm high opening at the bottom with a 70 mm cod-end, has been tested with very satisfactory results when combined with panels. square mesh (SMP) or SENTRA flakes.

Initially developed for the shrimp trawl fishery off the US west coast, it has been introduced with increasing success to the Norway lobster fishery in Ireland or Denmark or to the boreal shrimp fishery in Greenland .

In recent weeks, tests of the Echo de Notus Sensor have been carried out on board the M / P trawler “La Geltrú”, based in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona). For the operation of the Echo sensor, a selector grid adapted to the shape and dimensions of the net was required to be placed at the end of the rig sleeve. This grid shows large windows to allow the passage of companion species, both demersal and benthic, present in the fishing area and that are of high added value, in addition to having a part in the form of a grid necessary for the detection of the Red Shrimp in real time. Said grid is made of aluminium with a 50 mm spacing between the bars, avoiding at all times that the entire grid structure causes the cod-end meshes to close below the legal measure of 40 mm. The sensor was placed in different positions on the grid to determine the optimal sensitivity.

High performances have been achieved when the mark of the Echo sensor has been followed by turning around when it has stopped marking in a certain cast.

Cameras using wide-angle fields were placed in front of the grid to help define the results of the sensors in use . All video recordings were evaluated at sea to confirm if the prawns were hitting the grate. The camera and grid angles were readjusted as required throughout the tests.

The grid was initially placed in the lower part of the sleeve of the net. With the observations of the camera and the marks registered by the Echo sensor, it was determined that the best position of the grid is at the top since in this way the detection of crabs or other species that are captured as companion fauna is avoided. The sensitivity to noise of the Echo sensor is set to the maximum "since the shrimp produces a very slight noise as it passes through the grate", highlights the company.

Preliminary results have been highly satisfactory for both red prawn and Norway lobster fisheries," explains the company. Operational efficiency is substantially improved in real time by confirming the presence or absence of shrimp or Norway lobster during trawling. High performances have been achieved when the mark of the Echo sensor has been followed by turning around when it has stopped marking in a certain cast. "The calibration of the sensitivity of the system is adequate and the only problem that can be represented for a generalized use in the fleet is the use of the grid, essential for the operation and placement of the Echo sensor," adds the company. The design of the grid, with large windows in the lower part, allows companion species to pass through, so the capture of these species is not reduced, which helps to increase the value of the total catch.

This information was originally published in the Electronic Equipment special of the February issue of IP magazine . Access the full number 2166 here .

LANDING OBLIGATION

Demersal fish, Norway lobster (Nephrops Norvegicus) and red prawn (Aristeous Antennatus) are the most valuable species caught by the Spanish fleet, both in the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean. Optimising rig setup can be of great help.

In its 2018 report "Impacts of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture", FAO highlights how changing the type of fishing gear from single to multiple gear with two or four nets in the crustacean fishery results in significant fuel savings . Multiple nets are the types of nets most commonly used in the fishery for crustaceans such as Norway lobster, prawn or shrimp in most of the world except for Spain, as twin-nets are prohibited. The FAO report also describes how fisheries instrumentation development can improve energy efficiency in well-managed fisheries. Detection equipment and catch sensors also reduce fishing time and fuel consumption. "Even so, their use has traditionally been restricted to catching fish rather than catching crustacean species since they are more difficult to detect and discern," the company indicates.

In February 2020 the Irish Fishery Product Development Agency (BIM) published the “ Guide on Technical Solutions to Reduce Unwanted catches”. The landing obligation is initially implemented through discard plans that have very detailed requirements for demersal fisheries in North Western waters. These include survival and minimum exemptions that allow continued discards and gear measures aimed at avoiding unwanted catches during fishing. The new measures on gear are also implemented through other legislation, such as corrective measures under the EU Annual Regulations on Fishing Possibilities.

Many of the solutions developed in Ireland are included in this EU legislation which greatly helps with industry adoption and implementation.

Hake netter Ajax steams from Brest to Newlyn in south easterly gale.

 

After fishing south of Mounts Bay for hake the netter Ajax decided to land her trip straight to the French market at Brest which involved a 100 mile steam back in an easterly then south easterly gale making for 12 hours of non-stop rock ' roll for Chunky and the boys...

and things weren't any better by the time they reached Newlyn - after a three hours dodging in the bay to wait for the tide to flood enough before they sped in through the gaps...

to find a berth, preferably one with fenders.

The Food Programme: - All at Sea? Fishing after Brexit

 

Dan Saladino finds out what the Brexit deal means for the fishing industry. Some exports and logistics companies have seen problems along the supply chain into Europe. Is this just a glitch or a long term issue?

With the UK now outside of the EU's Single Market and Customs Union, new border controls are in place and a new system for exporting goods is in place. One exporter working under this new system is David Noble whose business is based on the Scottish west coast. He describes the delays he has experienced and the extra costs he has encountered.

The company which moves most of the UK's fish across Europe is called DFDS. The head of their 'cold chain', Eddie Green explains the range of factors that disrupted fish exports, from confusion over paperwork to IT system failures.

Dan also looks at some of the longer term questions being posed by the Brexit deal, for example, how much extra fish do we now have access to?

To answer this Dan has some help from Radio 4's More or Less team who not only examined the stats behind the UK's new quota regime but also explained the calculations in a sea shanty (lyrics were by Kate Lamble, to a traditional tune, arranged by Freda D’Souza and mixed by James Beard. The singers were David Denyer, Sophie D'Souza, Will Ashcroft and on bass Moose).

The UK's exclusion zone is also on the agenda. It had been expected to be set at 12 miles but in the Brexit deal it stands at six miles from the coast. People from the industry explain why this is a big issue for them.

But what about the role of British consumers? Can our eating habits help shape the future of the post-Brexit industry? Chef Mitch Tonks explains why we need to eat a more diverse range of fish to help our fishers.

Produced and presented by Dan Saladino for the Food Programme BBC R4.

FROTH THE FIZZ!

Brexit is here. 

Let's make it work.

 

For those who haven't seen this yet, two P'rtleveners, Felix Griffiths and Ross Sloan have been working on 'FROTH THE FIZZ' - a comic style series of stories about the British fishing industry. 

In my eyes, Brexit should be about buying British, supporting our local business' and communities, not half the shit we were told in the leave campaign. How on earth did we think Brexit would work without this?!

Though it may appear like some sort of amusing publicity stunt it's nothing of the sort...

they have both been tirelessly researching and working with fishermen and other organisations, with the hope to educate people, highlighting the realisation of problems our fishing industry is facing...

a number of suitably fishy characters have been created to help tell the story...

in a fun way - and there are more to follow.

Ross and Felix would like to thank the following fishermen and suppliers for their support in kick-starting the project:

Celtic Fish & Game 

Cornwall Fish Direct 

Brett Jose 

Tommy Phillips 

Matt Pullen 

The Real Cornish Crab Co. 

Dreckly Fish 

The Cornish Shellfish Co

Craig Beeslee 

James Mitchell

Robert & Josh Goddard 

Allan 'Scotty' Wheeler-James 

Scott Eastwood 

Sailors Creek Shellfish 

Sam James 

Happy Gilbert 

@thomas_falcatch 

@porthillyoysters 

westcountry_mussels 

Richard Halpin 

Laurence Hartwell 

Forgotten Fish 

Enjoy the featured characters and their stories so far. You may even be surprised... Only the people can make the change

VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

Landed for life!

Seafood Disruption Support Scheme - Latest Information (09/02/2021)

Here is the latest factsheet from HMG regarding the Seafood Disruption Support Scheme 

Contents:

• Who can claim?
• Qualifying businesses 
• Evidence of the loss 
• How much is available 
• How to apply 
• Further information and complaints 
• Print this page 
• About the Scheme

About the scheme:

The Seafood Disruption Support Scheme (SDSS) is designed to support small or medium-sized businesses that have experienced a verifiable financial loss during the export of fresh or live fish and/or shellfish to the single market between 1 and 31 January 2021.

Who can claim 

To be eligible for the Seafood Disruption Support Scheme you must:

1. Be a qualifying business 
2. Have evidence of the loss incurred involving the export of fresh or live fish and/or shellfish to the single market between the 1st and 31st January. 

Qualifying businesses 

To be a qualifying business you must provide evidence that:

• Your business meets at least two of the following criteria: fewer than 250 employees, an annual turnover of under £36 million, and less than £18m in total on your balance sheet (meaning the total of the fixed and current assets).

• Accounts for the last 3 financial years to demonstrate that the business is viable

• You are registered at Companies House or have evidence that you are a sole trader, partnership or other legal entity

• The export of fresh or live fish and/or shellfish was destined for the single market

• You were owner of the fresh or live fish and/or shellfish at the point of loss

• You were exporting or tried to export live or fresh fish and/or shellfish

• You have necessary accompanying documentation for the export of fresh or live fish and/or shellfish (e.g. catch certificates, export health certificate and customs declaration).

• Challenges in the export process resulted in a loss in value or disposal of the consignment (verified by a written description plus the required documents evidencing the loss as set out below)

You must also confirm that: 

• You are a standalone entity and do not have a parent company which would take you over the criteria of meeting at least two of the following criteria: fewer than 250 employees, an annual turnover of under £36 million, and less than £18m in total on your balance sheet (meaning the total of the fixed and current assets). 

• You have a viable business model to deal with the new trading arrangements going forwards

• You are not claiming for any losses for which you have made or could make a claim through insurance or any other funding through other schemes 

Evidence of the loss

To provide evidence of the loss you must be able to demonstrate:

1. The expected value of the consignment and
2. 
   
3. The achieved value of the consignment or
4. 
   
5. The cost of disposal where the consignment was not sold and had to be disposed of.

Evidence of loss

How to prove

1) Expected value of the consignment

If you have a customs declaration you must provide it. If you do not have a customs declaration you must explain why you don’t have it.

If you do not have a customs declaration you must also provide other evidence of the expected value and evidence of what caused the loss in the export process. This should be a combination of (not limited to):

a) Information provided to the exporter to form the basis of EHC and Customs declaration.

b) Attestations given to the groupage company.

c) A contract with a buyer.

d) A catch certificate.

e) A sales note relating to thisconsignment.

 f) A sales note relating to a similar consignment (same species, same quality) to provide evidence of expected price.

g) Purchase invoice.

h) Objective third part price data (i.e. from Fishing News, MMO, or an EU source).

Note: evidence of expected values will be checked against MMO data on prices. If you do not have evidence of expected prices, it will be benchmarked against average prices.

2) Actual value achieved

a) Invoice of what price the consignment was sold for (including sales invoice and credit note)

and

b) A bank statement matching the invoice. 3)

Disposal costs

 a) If it was not possible to sell the consignment and it needed to be disposed of then provide the invoice for the disposal costs

and

b)The bank statement which matches the invoice

 

How much is available

The maximum support available is up to £100,000 per business (in total) and any payments will be made as a proportion of losses incurred.

How to apply 

The scheme opens on 9 February 2021.

Claims must be submitted by 28 February. The following steps must be taken to apply:

Check that you are a qualifying business 

Check that you have evidence of the loss incurred 

Apply under the Seafood Disruption Support Scheme online system.

Further information:

Further information is included within the scheme FAQ You can also email the Seafood Disruption Support Scheme at the Marine Management Organisation directly at UKFisheriesSupport@marinemanagement.org.uk.

Quick turnaround for the netter Stelissa.

Young Ryan on the Stelissa is not keen to spend any longer at the market than necessary to land his second shot of hake alongside the fish market...

on a falling tide so the boys are quick to let go the ends...

 after getting the fish into the chill room...

along with others to be sorted and laid out for the morning's auction.