When is a fishery sustainable?

 

Despite the many scientific and public discussions on the sustainability of fisheries, there are still great differences in both perception and definition of the concept. Most authors now suggest that sustainability is best defined as the ability to sustain goods and services to human society, with social and economic factors to be considered along with environmental impacts. 

The result has been that each group (scientists, economists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), etc.) defines “sustainable seafood” using whatever criteria it considers most important, and the same fish product may be deemed sustainable by one group and totally unsustainable by another one. We contend, however, that there is now extensive evidence that an ecological focus alone does not guarantee long-term sustainability of any form and that seafood sustainability must consistently take on a socio-ecological perspective if it is to be effective across cultures and in the future. 

The sustainability of seafood production depends not on the abundance of a fish stock, but on the ability of the fishery management system to adjust fishing pressure to appropriate levels. While there are scientific standards to judge the sustainability of food production, once we examine ecological, social, and economic aspects of sustainability, there is no unique scientific standard. 

Abstract and writers from:

Ray Hilborn, Elizabeth A. Fulton, Bridget S. Green, Klaas Hartmann, Sean R. Tracey, and Reg A. Watson 

MCA calls Falmouth registered Gonpez 1, Spanish flag of convenience boat in to Newlyn.

The Falmouth registered Gonpez 1, Spanish flag of convenience boat arrived in Newlyn this morning...

she is typical of the big Spanish trawlers that fish for hake, monkfish and megrim sole on banks like the Pistola and the Sole Banks south west of Cornwall...

using very long combination bridles over the soft often muddy grounds...

as a member of the UK fishing fleet she is proudly flying her red duster...

as the crew help pull her astern to a deeper berth...

 before preparing to meet an MCA inspection team...

she dwarfs one of the local mackerel handliners heading back to her berth after an early morning haul...

visiting Brixham beam trawler Sam of Ladram...

a paint job is underway on the St Georges.

 

Ten hour tow back to Newlyn

 

After picking up discarded trawl netting the Karen N was towed in by sister-ship Louisa N from 50 miles south of Newlyn. All those involved showing excellent seamanship after the ten hour tow. 

The rescue was brought to a satisfactory conclusion with support from Jeremy and Chris aboard the tug Danmar who kept the Karen N on a steady course as they entered through the gaps in half a gale of sou'easterly wind.

It is not just UK skippers that see fly-seiners as a threat to inshore fishing

Industrial fishing: how the Netherlands empty French waters Industrial fishing

French artisanal fishermen are currently negotiating with foreign seafarers, who practice industrial overfishing using the Danish seine. Redoubtedly effective, this technique threatens fishery resources and the future of French fishermen.

“After their boats have passed, it is no longer even worth going fishing." Philippe Calone, fisherman with nets in the Bay of Seine (Normandy), is one of those sickened sailors no longer tolerate the presence of large foreign vessels . In recent years, tensions between French artisanal fishermen and Dutch, English or German professionals - who in turn practice industrial fishing - have steadily increased. The French hold foreigners responsible for the economic crisis they are currently experiencing.

In November 2020, the auction in Dunkirk (North) went bankrupt and had to close its doors . The following month, sailors blocked the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais) to protest against the “ overexploitation ” of the Channel's resources by Dutch ships. “ These are large boats, and their catches are too large in relation to the available fish resource,” describes Philippe Calone "Only one of their passage scares the resource over an entire given sector for at least two weeks. They had started in the southern North Sea, they took it all - artisanal fishing has been in big trouble there ever since - and they are now coming to the Eastern Channel. "

"This gigantism means that there are not enough fish for everyone" These large vessels (over 25 meters long) often practice a particular fishing method: the “ Danish seine ” . Contrary to what its name suggests, it is mostly used by the Dutch. Appeared in France only ten years ago, it consists of putting long nets formed of two "wings" into the water for several hours. Lateral steel cables ensure the catching of the fish.

"This technique is very efficient," indicates Mathieu Vimard, deputy director of the Norman Fishermen's Organization ( OPN ). It is much more efficient than traditional trawling methods. For the same time spent at sea, it will not be the same fishing production at all. "The combination "big very modern ships" and "technical super-productive fishing" has inevitably created inequalities between fishermen. "This gigantism, in a small space like the English Channel, means that there are not enough fish for everyone" , regrets Mathieu Vimard.

In addition, some French fishermen have suspicions about the legality of the presence of Dutch vessels in these French areas. To fish in the east of the Channel, boats must have a European fishing authorisation, in place to regulate access to the resource. While the number of large authorised foreign boats should remain stable, French fishermen are nevertheless seeing them increase. Sign, according to them, that the regulations are not correctly applied.

"If we do not supervise the technique, we are going straight into the wall" To calm the spirits, the Dutch industry therefore undertook to put in place an agreement between the various stakeholders to “frame” the practice. For more than a year, the Dutch, English, Belgians and French have been negotiating on this issue, led by VisNed, a federation of Dutch producer organisations.

"The problem with this agreement is that we do not start with the same basic observation" laments Mathieu Vimard, deputy director of the OPN . The latter participates in the negotiations: it represents 240 Norman craft boats, none of which practice Danish seine. "We see that there is a decrease in resources and that if we do not supervise the technique, we are going straight into the wall. The Dutch are there to make an agreement that is a guarantee, a way of pretending that we can come to an understanding between us."

“Dutch industrial fishing destroys the ecosystem and our profession". Some French fishermen also tick on an element: the dice seem loaded to them. The British are represented by Andries de Boer, director of the English producer organisation, Lowestoft Fish Producers Organisation. Yet Andries de Boer is… Dutch. On the Belgian side, it is a builder of "purse seiners" (a vessel designed specifically for purse seine fishing) which represents the profession. In short, everything seems to be in place so that Dutch interests take precedence over the rest.

Negotiations are still ongoing, and no agreement has been signed. However, on April 15, 2021, the organisation VisNed congratulated itself on its website that " the representatives of the fisheries of the four countries concerned have finally agreed on management measures " in the Channel. Better yet, the deal was supposed to start this Monday, April 19.

"We will die if this continues." Currently, the text under negotiation provides for a maximum number of seine fishing vessels (28 for France, 24 for the Netherlands, 17 for the United Kingdom and 6 for Belgium), a limit on fishing days ( 8 calendar days of fishing period per period of 14 days, which is all the same nearly 200 days) and technical measures (size of the mesh, cables, etc.). "The agreement provides that the organisations of producers of the vessels concerned must undertake to ensure that the rules thus defined are respected and to apply penalties in the event of infringements."

“The number of vessels authorised is already too many. And these are people who agree with each other. Who will actually control the cable length of a boat?" Asks Matthew Vimard. The OPN therefore refuses to sign the text. Some French producer organisations are still in the process of thinking.“The purpose of this agreement is to ensure a sustainable future for all fishermen and their families,” says Pim Visser, the leader of VisNed. "We are therefore continuing discussions between the fishing organisations of the four countries and it has been agreed that when further measures are necessary, they will be taken. This agreement is in this sense "a living document."

The fisherman Philippe Calone, who does not take part in the negotiations but "follows them very very carefully" , even wants access to the Channel to be prohibited for boats over 25 meters. 

"French fishermen fish less and less every year," he sighs. "We have never overfished, we always try to manage ourselves. We're not perfect, but it's not comparable with Dutch industrial fishing. It destroys the ecosystem, it destroys our profession. We're going to die if this continues, we can't take it anymore."

Full story courtesy of Reporterre.net 

Now's the time to, Discover Seafood!

Discover Seafood will join with creatives across the country for the UK Seafood Relay to shine a light on the people and coastal communities embedded within the UK fishing industry.

In an exciting next step for the innovative web portal Discover Seafood, the launch of the UK Seafood Relay will advance its ongoing work in celebrating UK commercial fishing and the special coastal community behind it. By collaborating with volunteers from around the country, the Relay will gather stories, photos and videos from key fishing towns to share with the British public on a purpose-built, interactive map. The project aims to foster a greater understanding of local seafood at a point in time when support and recognition of the UK fishing industry is critical.

Coincided with the gradual ease of lockdown restrictions, the Seafood Relay will take users on a vibrant, UK-wide journey to discover everything that local seafood has to offer. Forming a unique collective of local journalists, bloggers, photographers and filmmakers, both hobbyist and professional, the relay ‘adventurers’ will travel along the UK’s dynamic coastline to gather stories from fishmongers and fishermen, and share them with the online Discover Seafood community.

Gavin O’Donnell, Fisheries Programme Officer at the Fishmongers’ Company said,

“The UK Seafood Relay will support Discover Seafood in its mission to educate the public about seafood, seasonality and sustainability, shining a light on the ‘faces of fishing’ that deserve to be put on the seafood map but as of yet remain ‘undiscovered.’ By telling the story of British fish through the people and communities behind it, we want to encourage the public to support the UK’s rich fishing culture and turn to local, sustainably-caught, British seafood in the wake of Brexit.”

As well as providing the public with a portal into the UK’s coastal communities, the Relay will provide young creatives with an opportunity to advance their journalistic skills and share their work on a popular platform. The project hopes to inspire a new generation of coastal enthusiasts to discover the seafood businesses on their doorsteps, through carrying out interviews, writing blogs, and taking photographs.

Katie Stilwell, one of the relay’s first adventurers, said:

“Taking part in the Relay has helped me to reconnect with the coastal community in my hometown. It’s a great privilege to be able to share the stories of the people making a living through fishing sustainably and to engage a new audience through storytelling and creativity. I’ve met so many interesting characters and have learnt so much about the people who land the catch on my plate!”

Gavin O’Donnell continues:

 “The collected images and writings will be a documentation of how we live now, the many ways in which ‘a fishing life’ has changed over the generations, and a celebration of the varied, seasonal fare that is landed every day on our shores.”

You can follow updates of the UK Seafood Relay through Discover Seafood’s social media channels and register to become an adventurer on their website.

Space Intelligence partners with FIS to explore how satellite tech can transform Scottish seafood

 

Fisheries Innovation Scotland announces a groundbreaking collaboration between space and sea, as it commissions tech company Space Intelligence to conduct ‘blue sky’ research into the potential for satellite technology to transform Scottish seafood. FIS, which brings together seafood experts, scientists and the Scottish Government to champion practical innovation in fishing, have recently commissioned a number of innovative projects – from the digitalisation of vessels, to quantifying the fleet’s carbon footprint – to bolster the sustainability and prosperity of the sector.

This latest project will see Space Intelligence conduct a pioneering review of the role that satellite technology could play in supporting Scottish fisheries – the first time a satellite technology company has supported the Scottish fishing sector in this way. Space Intelligence are specialists in Earth observation and transforming satellite data into ‘actionable information’, with a focus on supporting nature-based solutions to climate change – for example, by providing maps of changing carbon sinks and restoration opportunities. As a company predominantly focused on forest conservation and land-based carbon stores, working in the marine sector will be a new venture for Space Intelligence too. CEO & Co-Founder Murray Collins PhD said,

“Technology obviously has a role to play in supporting the fisheries sector, as the sector looks to become more profitable, more sustainable and is improving people’s livelihoods. At the moment, there is a gap between what satellite technology currently does, and what the possibilities are. We will conduct blue-sky research, by reviewing what tech is out there and what could conceivably be developed to support the sector.”

FIS’ Executive Director, Kara Brydson described the unlikely partnership as signalling the “innovative, forward-thinking nature of a traditional sector often condemned as old fashioned ”. With Scotland being a global leader in seafood production, as well as a rising star in space exploration and satellite technology, the country is well positioned to foster novel collaborations between the two. Space Intelligence’s CEO, Murray Collins, explained that there are numerous ways in which satellites can drive transformational change in the fishing industry – from cutting edge ‘agile space’, whereby satellites are launched to perform bespoke research for specific challenges; to communication satellites that can track vessels, and land-mapping, which has so far mapped coral in tropical waters, but with potential applications to Scottish waters.

“The key,” Murray explains, “is that our research is driven by the challenges faced by the sector – rather than the technology itself. We want to explore the possibilities from systems that already exist, rather than reinvent the wheel.”

The challenge lies in communicating these high-tech, satellite solutions in a way that is useful and accessible to the fishing industry, so that fishermen and policy-makers can understand what these technologies mean in practice. The horizon-scanning conducted by Space Intelligence could then inform FIS’ – and the fisheries sector more generally – potential future work with satellite providers, from monitoring fish stocks to improve fisheries management, to improving safety at sea, and helping scientists understand the effects of climate change on the ocean.

Kara Brydson commented that “this project is the first of its kind. The Scottish seafood industry is modern and forward-looking and we’re excited to learn from Scotland’s satellite data analysts to support our future fisheries.”

The project will complete at the end of May 2021.

News! MMO announce first panel dates for Fisheries and Seafood Scheme in England.

 

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is pleased to confirm dates for the first English Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) panel.

The MMO is administering the new £6.1 million FaSS on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The fund includes support for business to adapt to new markets and respond to new trading conditions, improve safety on fishing vessels and onshore and to protect the environment – with funding available for equipment that reduces the impact of fishing on the marine environment, among other areas. More information can be found on their website.

Any applications that are over £150,000 in total project cost must be considered by the FaSS panel. The panel is responsible for reviewing applications and recommending projects for approval in line with the overall objectives of the scheme.

Michelle Willis, MMO Director of Finance and Resources said:

The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme is already attracting a lot of interest and we are delighted to announce the first panel dates for applications over £150,000. We encourage those businesses within the seafood and fishing > industry to apply and take advantage of the funding available which is aimed to help support the long-term sustainability and success of the seafood sector throughout England.

The scheme opened for applications on 6 April 2021 and in order to be considered for the first panel, it is recommended that applicants ensure their completed applications are submitted to MMO by 7 May 2021. The £6.1 million of funding announced under the FaSS is only available over the next 12 months so projects must be fully formed and ready to progress and spend quickly.

The first panel for 2021 is scheduled to be held in the week commencing 21 June 2021. Further dates may be released, subject to funding availability. You can contact the MMO Grants Team on 0208 026 5539 to discuss any potential panel application or visit the MMO website for guidance and information on how to make an application.