All new All Party Parliamentary Group meet - the challenge ahead.

 

The new All Party Parliamentary Group on Fisheries met for their inaugural meeting at 1 Parliament Street on Tuesday (15 October 2024), to elect officers and map out a cross-party work programme to promote and support a sustainable and thriving UK fishing industry in Parliament.

With the Group, which is currently being formalised, comprising 23 Members across both Houses of Parliament, the well-attended meeting heard MPs and Peers discuss key issues and priorities surrounding UK fisheries – from recruitment and the development of offshore renewable energy to upcoming fisheries negotiations, including the fast-approaching 2026 review of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

All with strong fishing interests within their constituencies, the Officers elected to the APPG were as follows: Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland as Chair of the Group, alongside Labour’s Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes as Co-Chair, Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP and SNP spokesperson on Defra, Seamus Logan as Vice-Chair, and Bridlington and The Wolds Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst as Treasurer.

Recognising the geographically and operationally diverse nature of the UK’s fleets, APPG Members noted the need to ensure representation of the full spectrum of the fishing industry, its various fleet segments and related sectors – from the pelagic, whitefish and inshore fleets to onshore processing, marketing and retail. Several actions were agreed and will be brought forward over the coming months, in support of charting a strategic course for the industry within Parliament.

Following the meeting, APPG Chair Alistair Carmichael said, “I am delighted to take on the role of Chair of the APPG on Fisheries. Over the years the APPG has been a focus for important work in Parliament to support our fishing industry and I intend to build on that momentum in the months and years to come. Between issues surrounding space at sea, the ongoing co-development of Fisheries Management Plans and upcoming negotiations that will shape the future of the UK’s fishing industry and fleets, this is a critical moment for fishing in the UK with both challenges and opportunities. With a new government in place there is a chance to reset the narrative and secure useful policy changes for coastal and island communities. Together the Members of the APPG on Fisheries will work to ensure we are best placed to support this within Parliament.”

APPG Co-Chair Melanie Onn added, “The UK’s fishing industry is diverse, and is crucial to many coastal economies. Supporting livelihoods onshore as well as at sea, the processing industry and associated sectors downstream are a vital piece of this picture. With adequate support, including across each of its related sectors, the UK’s fishing industry holds potential in terms of livelihoods, regeneration, and resilience within coastal communities. More than that, the industry has the potential to play a vital role in supporting the nation’s food security and economy.”

Online survey for stakeholders of demersal fisheries in Celtic Sea and Western Channel

Online survey for stakeholders of demersal fisheries in Celtic Sea and Western Channel Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has launched an online survey to seek views on future management of demersal fisheries in Celtic Sea and Western Channel.

MMO is leading development of the Celtic Sea and Western Channel demersal Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) which covers demersal stocks in English and Welsh waters in ICES areas 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h.

The FMP covers demersal species such as pollack, cod, monkfish/anglerfish, nephrops and skates and rays.

This online survey will help improve our understanding of the fisheries, including gaps in data, current issues and potential future management measures.

Data collected from respondents will be used in the development of the FMP, which will subsequently go to public consultation and is due to be published by the end of 2025.


Please email the FMP team at FMP@marinemanagement.org.uk if you would like any further information on this FMP. The survey will close on 31 January 2025.

Take the survey here

Fly-shooter restrictions amongst key changes in the latest Fisheries Management Plan announcement.

Some good news from the House of Commons this week when the latest announcement was made on the Fisheries Management Plans for the UK.

Subject to Parliamentary scrutiny, the following measures will come into force on 16 December 2024 which means:

The introduction of new minimum landing sizes for:

• lemon sole (250mm)
• turbot (300mm)
• brill (300mm) 

in the English waters of the Channel Sea ICES areas 7d and 7e) (Channel demersal non-quota species FMP, and Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP), and an increased MCRS for crawfish to 110mm (Crab and lobster FMP) in all English waters to protect the juveniles of all these stocks from being landed before they have matured.   

There was much concern these huge fly-shooters were having on non-quota stocks like red mullet 

The introduction of a restriction on the engine power of vessels (not greater than 221 Kw) using flyseining gear (fishing with an encircling and towed net, operated from a boat by means of two long ropes (seine ropes) designed to herd the fish towards the opening of the net) in the English territorial waters of the Channel Sea. This is to help manage fishing effort on demersal non-quota species in inshore fishing grounds (Channel demersal non-quota species FMP).   

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

Key question - does 'territorial waters' mean out to 12 miles? (Ed)

Finally, this new legislation will allow commercial catch limits for bass to be updated promptly in fishing licences following international negotiations, so they are in line with evolving evidence. This is instead of having to change legislation, which takes time. (Bass FMP).  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.

​​Keep checking the blog for further updates on FMP implementation.

Sardines shine at the MSC/ASC UK 2024 awards!

Despite some pretty atrocious weather to travel in, many of the non-fishing folks die to attend the MSC awards later in the day braved the heavy overcast skies and pouring rain over Plymouth's Sutton Harbour...

and assembled on the quay to be welcomed by Intrafish's Adam Pillar...

and Hugh Grant look-alike, Lewis Colam who had arranged for their Parkol built Admiral Gordon...

to be alongside so that the skipper and crew...

could demonstrate net mending...

cod end closing...

fish identification...

safety at sea...

and the fish-finding and naviagation tools available to the skipper in the wheelhouse...

the MMO were welcome on board for a change to talk through the work they do to see that all the regulations...

 are being adhered to at sea with things like mesh sizes...

then the gigantic tinned BBQ was already fired up...

and serving grilled sardines...

despite the fish auction closing the market itself is still in daily use...

sited directly opposite the old fish market on the Barbican...

then it was time to take walk around the corner to watch some of the familiar fish found in the Western Approaches at the National Marine Aquarium...

the MSC UK awards were held in The Box museum, gallery and archive with its stunning collection of restored figureheads...

some of which hung over the stage...

hosting the event at The Box was down to Tudor Owen from Plymouth City Council, who are hugely proud and supportive of the industry in Plymouth...

The forward-thinking initiative of a Jersey lobster fisherman and a collaborative group of Cornish sardine fishers have been rewarded with wins in two of the most prestigious categories at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) UK annual awards.

Ian Syvret, Skipper of The Shilling, part of the 190-strong Normandy and Jersey Lobster Fishery, was named Fishing Hero of the Year for his efforts to ensure the commercial success of MSC certified lobsters, while the Ocean Leadership award went to the Cornish Sardine Management Association (CSMA) for the initiative they showed with a new scheme to safeguard plentiful, sustainable catches for many years.

Both winners received their awards at a ceremony hosted by comedian and environmental economist Dr Matt Winning.

Determined to build on the achievement of the Normandy and Jersey Lobster Fishery becoming the first European MSC-certified lobster fishery in 2011, Ian, in close collaboration with the MSC and local merchants, developed an elastic claw band that meets Consumer Ready Tamper Proof Packaging criteria. This innovation enabled Ian to sell his sustainably caught lobster live with the blue MSC ecolabel in Jersey and abroad, and has paved the way for other Jersey fishers to follow suit.

After receiving the award, Ian said: 

“I am very pleased to have won this award. It’s recognition that I have been putting in a lot of effort to try and highlight that we have a sustainable Jersey MSC lobster. I’m very proud of Jersey having this accreditation and I was fed up with people coming to the island and not realising we had something special. So, I thought I am going to do something about this. I decided if chain of custody is a problem we had to circumnavigate the tamper proof problem. It took a year of thinking about it and being stubborn and not taking no for an answer and then two years developing it.”

Ian fought off stiff opposition for this award from Mike Bailey of the Poole Harbour clam and cockle fishery who was nominated for always going above and beyond to promote the fishery and its sustainability, including taking several documentary film companies in his boat to show them “how it is done”.

This year’s MSC award was handmade by eco homeware company Rawr, using crushed cockle shells from the MSC certified Thames Cockle fishery and mussel and scallop shells from Shetland’s MSC certified fisheries.

Lisa Bennett, MSC UK & Ireland Senior Fisheries Outreach Manager, said: 

“These two winners exemplify innovation and a future focussed approach, and we are thrilled that we can highlight these achievements through the MSC UK Awards. Ian Syvret overcame a significant obstacle to ensure he can sell his catch to sustainable seafood lovers far and wide.Meanwhile, the Cornish Sardine Management Association have shown fishers everywhere how to take control of their own destiny with their own data. I hope both winners will inspire their colleagues around the British coast.”

Other notable winners on the night included:

Sainsbury’s – awarded Gold in the Supermarket of the Year category for offering the greatest range of MSC certified seafood Lussmanns, a group of six independent restaurants with a menu loaded with sustainable seafood dishes that change with the seasons - named Foodservice Champion of the Year Birds Eye and Iceland rewarded for their perfect fish finger sandwich formula marketing campaign The MSC and ASC 2024 UK Awards, sponsored by Seafood Scotland, Plymouth Gin and Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, are a celebration of the commitment to sustainable seafood across the whole supply chain from ocean to plate. A complete list of award winners can be seen here.

Gus Caslake was summoned to the stage to collect the award for Ocean Leadership on behalf of the Cornish Sardine Management Association. 

In 2023, the association initiated a self-sampling scheme which sees skippers submit detailed weekly catch data. This is shared with scientists at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, providing them with key insights on stocks, size and age distribution as well as mortality rates and migration patterns. Armed with this data they can make well-informed decisions on catch limits, helping to prevent overfishing and secure the long-term future of the Cornish sardine population.

Gus Caslake of CSMA said: 

“It’s all about collaboration between our skippers and processors as a closely linked up organisation from sea to plate. The award is a testament to the work the guys do on the ground catching the fish and processing the highest quality Cornish sardines you can get. The award will help us to demonstrate that we’re catching and handling the fish in a sustainable manner.”

Then, it was the turn of Queterie NG from to accept the award MSC Product of the Year none on behalf of Tesco who scooped the Product of the Year award for its Finest Cornish Sardines in Tomato Sauce. This was voted on in a public vote..,

Tom Pascoe, skipper in the Cornish sardine fleet took time away from fishing aboard the Charlotte Clare to attend the awards and was on stage to talk about how this season has been and his faith in the future of the fishery... 

the morning after provided a bracing walk to Plymouth Hoe and the recently commissioned statue in honour of merchant seamen and fishermen.

Betting on the dogs

With a 5:30am start, this morning's packed fish market provided a great opportunity for members of the National Federation of Fish Friers to see first hand the journey fish make from the boat...

to the auction...

and see first hand the huge range of fish species up for auction. The main purpose of the visit, organised by the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, is to explore the introduction of spurdog, once hugely popular in London and sold as rock salmon.  Spurdogs were restricted to a zero quota for many etars, despite the boats finding them everywhere and in increasing numbers. 

Last year the ban was finally lifted after several years of a small quota allowance for the gill net fleet, by which time the market for these tasty and easy to prepare fish had all but dried up so much so that the spurdogs on the market yesterday morning made only 20 per kilo. By comparison, big dogs were making 50p a kilo 30 years go when landings made by longliners and netters were at their peak. Later today the friers will get to see first hand how the fish are caught and handled aboard the gillnetter, Silver Dawn which landed to the market earlier. Following the tour of te boat they head off to the processor Falfish and enjoy some of the spurdogs landed on the market this morning in their taste test kitchen. Fish education is one of the CFPO's priorities in supporting the Cornish fishing fleet - in a country where 80% of the population think a hake is a garden tool - as per the Guardian article a few weeks ago!

 

Shags harassed by thieving gulls!

Coming to the end of the neap tide, the overnight rain has stopped and it's hovering around the 14˚ mark this morning...

with fine-ish weather over the weekend the market was end-to-0end with fish from four of the hake netters and just about every inshore boat that was able to put to sea...

the Stelissa...

Silver Dawn...

and the Ygraine filled most of the first bay...

with the addition of inshore fish...

including this huge trip of ray from Tom's Guardian...

the were late season John Dory...

and good mix of quality fish like soles and monk...

there were plenty of spurdogs all looking for a market...

and a smattering of bonito tuna again...

the Ocean Pride filled most of bay 3 with her hake...

along with some cracking inshore red mullet...

in total, three stunning bluefin tuna...

were landed, the boats now eeking out the remainder of their individual 10,000kg quotas

cuckoo wrasse, one of the more colourful fish on the market...

Cod has been at the bass again...

the lumpers have made a start on clearing today's big landings...

as young Jeremy takes on bait to feed his pots...

it's not just people who have to keep their eyes peeled on their pasties when gulls are in the near vicinity, half a dozen shags feeding on small fish are hounded by lazy local gulls in search of an easy breakfast!