How tech is revolutionising UK fishing - Fisheries APPG’s latest event

Last week the APPG on Fisheries and over 100 attendees heard from pioneering innovators from across the UK, about how data and technology are helping to improve the UK fisheries sector.

The fisheries sector is complex, and brings with it a range of challenges both new and old. Innovators from the worlds of science, tech, and the fishing industry itself have been working together to make fishing more resilient, safer, more transparent, and more environmentally friendly. The APPG’s latest event showcased some of the most impactful and promising efforts from the UK.

"It was fantastic to hear about all the exciting ways that collaborative efforts are improving the fishing industry,” said Sheryll Murray MP, who chaired the event. “Innovation has a very positive role to play in supporting the UK's fishermen and our marine environment."

Michael MacCorquodale from novel online sales platform Bullfish Market, who spoke first, saw opportunities for improving the industry within the recent disruption. “Despite the problems we have faced during the past year, Brexit and Covid-19 could arguably be the greatest opportunity for innovation,” he said. “It has allowed us to go online with platforms such as Bullfish Market, host events like this one and educate each other on the opportunities for our industry to grow.”

Matthew Frow, who heads up Seafish’s Kingfisher service, spoke next. The Kingfisher Bulletin provides fishermen with real-time information on hazards and other marine users. “I believe a considerable challenge facing innovation in the fishing industry is the adoption of technology by the smaller, less well financed vessels,” he said. “In particular, for technology relating to fishing safety, cost should never be an issue.”

The next three speakers all showcased technologies that aid fishing selectivity and help fishermen avoid unwanted bycatch. Tom Rossiter spoke of SafetyNet Technologies Ltd’s ‘Pisces’ tool that uses light to deter bycatch species, but also mentioned the need for stability in the sector. “Ongoing uncertainty is not a friend of innovators, nor the fishing industry that needs to feel secure in order to invest in new innovations and technology,” he said. His talk was followed by Professor Paul Fernandes, who spoke of how the Smartrawl project uses underwater cameras and artificial intelligence to fish selectively, and Dr Robert Enever of Fishtek Marine Ltd, who said the uptake of ‘pingers’ to deter cetaceans required constructive collaboration between fishermen, policymakers and technologists. 

The final two speakers both emphasised the need for inter-sector collaboration to maximise fishing efficiency and minimise its impact on the marine environment. Dr Mark James spoke of the recently concluded Scottish Inshore Fisheries Integrated Data System (SIFIDS) programme, which collected data with the collaboration of the inshore fleet to support co-management and stock assessment. David Stevens, skipper and chairperson of Fishing into the Future, rounded off the presentations by highlighting how mutual understanding and transparency is crucial. “The key to unlocking great opportunities in innovation is through creating the right policy approaches, achieved by working collaboratively,” he said.

The event was recorded and is available on the APPG website, along with a summary of the panelists’ answers to questions from attendees. The APPG Secretariat will also publish a policy brief detailing the outputs and key messages for the event in the coming weeks. The APPG on Fisheries’ next event will take place in the next parliamentary term. Sign up to their newsletter to be the first to hear about the event launch.

Spring arrives in Newlyn.

The spring is sprung the grass is riz...

and the flag is flying...

with the netter's landing a sign that it's the start of a big spring tide...

as is the sight of the good ship Enterprise with her stern well out of the water...

as is the Crystal Sea's...

there's always plenty of work on the deck of a beam trawler to be done...

low water reveals the extent of the scouring close to the edge of the North pier.

 

Seafish responds to the Netflix film, Seaspiracy:

 

10 reasons to feel good about seafood in the UK This week Netflix released Seaspiracy, a negative film about the seafood industry. 

Our Director of Operations Aoife Martin responds to the criticism. The new Seaspiracy film on Netflix targets the global fishing industry. It paints a challenging and, at times, extreme picture of an industry that is vital to feeding a growing global population. It would be easy to think that these practices are the norm and to tar the whole industry with the same brush. But films like this are designed to shock and it doesn’t always suit to highlight the good work that is happening (in the UK and beyond) to ensure our fisheries are managed sustainably.

At Seafish, we know seafood is a healthy and sustainable choice. We understand that some people think and choose differently but we want to make sure consumers have access to balanced information so they can make informed choices.

We also know the global seafood industry isn’t perfect and nobody could condone the horrendous activities highlighted in Seaspiracy. Fortunately, these activities are rare in the UK and there are plenty of reasons to have confidence in the industry that produces the seafood we eat.

We have previously talked about why we can keep eating fish. This latest film is another chance to highlight the ongoing work by our seafood industry to make sure the seafood on our plates is safe and sustainable.

Photo of people eating fish and chips by the shore Reasons to feel good about seafood

1. Our coastal communities depend on our marine environment, so they care deeply about preserving its future Sustainable management of the marine environment is essential to the future of an economically vibrant seafood industry. Many of those whose livelihoods depend on producing seafood understand this. They champion the sustainable use of our marine resource so that there is plenty more fish in the sea for generations to come. From working with lobster hatcheries to release juvenile lobsters into the wild, to encouraging governments to take stronger measures to support better management of our mackerel and herring fisheries, to using special equipment when fishing to make sure seabirds don’t get caught in fishing gear – and there are many more examples of this good work happening.

Photo of people tagging lobsters at sea

2. Seafood can help to feed the world

Looking at the bigger picture, seafood has an important role to play in feeding a growing global population. In 2017, fish provided more than 3.3 billion people with 20 percent of their average intake of animal protein. Our global population is projected to rise to 9.8 billion people by 2050 - that’s an extra 2 billion people that we will need to feed. Sustainable seafood, both wild capture and farmed, has a key role to play in providing a solution to this problem and to ensuring food security for many.

Where there are issues then we must work collectively to address them. Campaigning against this vital food source is not the solution.

3. Seafood is good for you

The health benefits of eating seafood as part of a balanced diet are often glossed over. Seafood is the only animal protein we are encouraged to eat more of by Public Health England and the World Health Organisation. Seafood is high in protein, full of vitamins and minerals, and is rich in omega-3 fats (if you choose an oily fish like mackerel or sardines). This makes seafood an excellent addition to a healthy, balanced diet, as well as being tasty and convenient. So, there are plenty of reasons to eat at least two portions of seafood a week.

4. Fraudulent and criminal activity in the UK is very low

On a global scale Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing remains the biggest global threat to the sustainable management of fish stocks. The good news is that fishing is well controlled in UK waters, with strict regulations limiting who can catch fish, how it can be caught and how much can be taken.

The UK also has robust import controls, and traceability and labelling enforcement in place. There are regulations in place to help track seafood through the supply chain as it moves from a fishing boat or fish farm, to the processor, retailer and on to your plate. Reputable retailers also implement strict traceability protocols to ensure that all seafood stocked, whether sourced from the UK or beyond, meets sustainability and safety standards.

The UK also has the National Food Crime Unit, a dedicated division within the Food Standards Agency, which works to uncover and respond to food fraud issues.

5. Sustainable seafood is a high priority in the UK

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (2020), 78.7% of wild caught seafood comes from sustainably managed fisheries. Recent research by the University of Washington also highlights that ‘scientifically-assessed fish populations around the world are healthy or improving. And, for fish populations that are not doing well, there is a clear roadmap to sustainability.’

In the UK, since 2011, the Sustainable Seafood Coalition (SSC) has been working to ensure all seafood sold in our shops and restaurants comes from sustainable sources. The SSC brings together UK retailers, leading seafood suppliers, and food service outlets who follow agreed policies to ensure seafood is responsibly sourced.

We know that not every fishery is sustainably managed but time and time again we see the seafood industry, environmental groups and scientists working together to drive improvements in fisheries management through a global network of Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIPs). There are currently eight FIPs in the UK, covering a variety of species from scallops to cod.

Photo of people working behind counter in a fishmongers

6. Buying responsibly sourced seafood in the UK is easy

Seafood certification and labelling make it easy for people to identify and choose sustainable seafood. In the UK, the best-known scheme is the Marine Stewardship Council ‘blue fish label’ which is applied to seafood from fisheries that have been rigorously assessed against a set of stringent science-based criteria, before being certified as sustainable. Similar schemes operate for farmed species too, such as Best Aquaculture Practices.

7. The UK is leading the way on the welfare of workers in the seafood supply chain The UK seafood sector is a global leader in human rights and ethical responsibility across the supply chain. When ‘The Guardian’ newspaper shone a light on terrible working conditions in Thailand’s prawn industry, the UK supply chain was quick to react. The Seafood Ethics Action Alliance was established by seafood processing and retail businesses to share information on emerging global issues and to agree best practice solutions so that the welfare of fishing industry workers is protected.

A similar UK initiative is focused on improving the welfare of fishermen working in the UK. The Fishermen’s Welfare Alliance was set up by fishermen for fishermen to address issues impacting on their health and wellbeing.

Photo of people working with a net on a pier in front of a fishing boat

8. Clear commitment to reducing the impact of fishing on the marine environment There are plenty of examples across the UK of initiatives designed to limit the impact of fishing on the environment. This includes a growing network of marine protected areas around the UK coastline.

Other initiatives, led by industry, include developing and trialling new fishing gear designs that can limit the accidental capture of seabirds and marine mammals. The UK has committed to bring cetacean (dolphins and porpoises) bycatch to as close to zero as possible and to reduce seabird bycatch. Through the UK Protected Species Bycatch Monitoring Programme, the UK has also been recognised as having one of the best approaches to bycatch monitoring and mitigation in Europe.

Research is also underway to modify gear designs to limit their impact on the seabed, particularly in dredge fisheries, so that important benthic habitats are protected.

9. The industry is actively tackling its contribution to marine plastic pollution Marine litter and lost or discarded fishing gear in our oceans creates a challenging problem, but it is a problem that the fishing industry is helping to fix. Participation in the global Fishing for Litter initiative means that crew on UK fishing vessels voluntarily collect litter at sea and bring it back to shore for recycling.

Losing fishing gear is costly but the environmental implications are even greater, as this gear can directly impact marine life. The UK fishing industry is proactively engaged in finding ways to limit gear loss and to recycle it once it is no longer needed. It is working with the research community to find ways to reuse and recycle fishing gear, such as turning it into kayaks or fashionable clothing.

At a bigger scale the Global Ghost Gear Initiative is working internationally to solve the problem of lost and abandoned fishing gear worldwide. Many UK companies are partners in this important initiative.

On land, fish processors are actively working with researchers to find more sustainable packaging options to minimise the use of oil-based plastics. This includes using alternative materials produced from prawn shells and pineapples.

10. There are plenty of low carbon footprint seafood options. We know that seafood has a smaller carbon footprint than other animal proteins, such as beef or pork. Research also indicates that a diet that includes seafood can have a lower environmental impact than a strictly vegetarian or vegan diet.

Certain aquaculture species, such as mussels and oysters, are a naturally low carbon food which is good news. But they also help deliver wider environmental improvements such as improving water quality and providing habitats for other species.

There is more to be done though and the seafood industry and research community are working together to better understand the carbon footprint of seafood, and to find ways to reduce it. We expect this to become a priority for the seafood industry and for consumers over the coming years.

So what does this all mean? When criticism comes our way, it’s important to take a balanced look at issues and respond – and that’s exactly what we are doing.

We know that there are issues to fix and some of those issues are happening here in the UK but we also know that there are many people committed to doing things better. These individuals and businesses work to ensure that the seafood on our plates is environmentally, ethically and economically sustainable. We have the will and vision in the UK seafood industry to make our own positive change. Much has been done but there is always more to do and our seafood industry is up for the challenge.

Seafish response in full.

MMO Friday Round Up.

In case you missed it, here are the the main updates from our GOV.uk pages this week: 

Consultation on Marine Protected Areas:

Evidence and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) 

Make a marine licence application:  

Marine Licensing: sediment analysis and sample plans: 

April 2021 catch limit consultation: 

Seafood Response Fund:  

Seafood Response Fund closes on Friday 26 March:  

Fishing vessel licence variations:  

Current catch limits: 10 metres and under non-sector pool: 

United Kingdom Single Issuing Authority (UKSIA): 

Quota use statistics:  

Monthly Sea Fisheries Statistics February 2021:  

Monthly UK sea fisheries statistics:  

UK and foreign vessels landings by UK port and UK vessel landings abroad:

 provisional data: 

Understand your fishing vessel licence:

 
Increased presence at sea deters illegal fishing: 

Increased presence at sea deters illegal fishing

 

How enhancements to surveillance and fisheries control capacity is helping to keep illegal fishing at bay in England’s seas.

Vastly increased offshore patrols, aerial surveillance and monitoring have ensured illegal fishing has been kept at bay in England’s seas since the UK became an independent coastal state on 1 January this year.

With additional government investment of £32m, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has enhanced its surveillance and fisheries control capacity. It has more marine officers on shore, more patrol ships at sea, increased aerial and radar surveillance to complement existing electronic monitoring systems.

Michael Coyle, MMO Head of Compliance and Control said:

MMO activity at sea or on shore operates on a risk based, intelligence led approach and matches the seasonal pattern of fishing activity. Levels of activity are usually reduced during the winter months, but we’ve maintained our enforcement presence at sea throughout.

During March, inspections are at a higher level than ever due to the increased capacity we’ve introduced. There have been 41 inspections so far in March; 15 of these were UK vessels and 26 were EU vessels.

The overall intent is to enable fishermen to go about their business while MMO exercises control duties in a proportionate and reasonable way.

While inspections at sea help the MMO gather important data that could lead to prosecution, such as incorrect mesh sizes, undersized species, undeclared catch - they are not the means by which the government acquires data on what is being fished where and when. This information comes from fishing catch, landing and sales records that all fishing vessels and merchants are legally required to supply.

The MMO also works with partners including the devolved fisheries administrations, Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities and the Joint Maritime Information Centre to ensure a coordinated approach to control and enforcement across UK waters. This sophisticated intelligence network is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The UK currently can also request data on EU fishing vessels to support enforcement efforts and the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides the framework for continued data exchange. There are ongoing technical conversations with the European Commission to rapidly establish a mechanism to allow sharing of this data moving forward.

Further information about the MMO’s fisheries enforcement activity is published on blog posts from MMO and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

"We've put you through a fair pasting today" - MP Neil Parrish to Defra's boss, MP George Eustice.

 Seafood and Meat Exports to the EU commons committee hearing.

This morning's Environment,Food and Rural Affairs committee hearing completed with MP Neil Parrish making it very clear that the UK should be doing more in its battles over trade with the EU while at the same time having George Eustice point out that as we are no longer a member of the EU we have no influence on how they decide to deal with a third par country like the UK.

"Because it's a heritage fishery it is dominated by people who fish part-time " -Can't imagine the Falmouth and Helford oyster guys appreciate being referred to as 'part-timers'!

On the bright side, the vast majority of the exchanges were focused on the travails of the fishing industry. With a welcome parting shot from Owen Patterson asking the Secretary of State if he would make the current tax relief far more attractive to boat owners to go for a new build which in turn might just bring a welcome boost to UK boat building yards, especially as many (but not all) are in the North!

Listen to the audio version of the meeting here.

Witness(es): George Eustice, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;

 

David Kennedy, Director General Farming and Biosecurity, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Ian Hewett, Operations Director, Animal and Plant Health Agency

Fisheries Innovation Scotland announce new projects to help strengthen the Scottish seafood sector

 

Fisheries Innovation Scotland (FIS) today announced two new projects, following invitations for pioneering research issued in late 2020. FIS, which brings together seafood experts, scientists and Scottish Government to champion practical innovation in fishing, sought new ideas to explore digitalisation of the Scottish fleet and understand greenhouse gas emissions from fishing vessels. Both projects offer opportunities for FIS to help the sector build business reputation, resilience and new routes to market.

Kara Brydson, Executive Director of FIS said: “These projects are designed and led by our industry, bringing heads together to create sustainable business opportunities in the new political and market contexts we’re facing together.”

Responding to the need to combat greenhouse gas emissions across all industries, FIS will partner with consultancy MarFishEco (MFE) and Heriot-Watt University to explore specific emission issues from each fleet segment within Scottish fishing. FIS hopes this piece of research will be an important contribution by the Scottish fishing industry, especially as the Glasgow-hosted 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) edges closer.

Experts from MFE and Heriot-Watt University will look to inform the development of a practical tool to measure and validate changes in carbon use at an individual vessel level and inform national action to reduce fleet emissions, including identifying technological solutions, costs and pathways to transition.

“MFE are excited to be selected to undertake this work as such emissions baselines are becoming increasingly important in terms of nationally determined contributions to reduce carbon emissions,” said Andrew Johnson, MarFishEco Chief Executive.

 “Scotland has such a large biomass of fish landed at its ports making it an obvious place to begin such work and understand what the picture looks like. It will then be equally important to engage with policy and industry to find practicable solutions to mitigating carbon emissions as best possible without detrimental impact on the economic viability of different fisheries. We hope this work will provide an important baseline upon which to build so that Scotland can be ahead of the curve and place itself as a world leader both in terms of high-quality seafood but also in terms of industry initiatives to help curb the negative impacts of industrial activities.”

With technology playing an increasingly critical role in many crucial aspects of Scottish fisheries, through in-water gear selectivity, real-time reporting apps, and more, FIS recognised the need to accelerate its understanding of how to provide business and research intelligence to fishers, scientists and managers.

FIS will work with Verifact, a company that provides software and advisory services to the seafood sector, to audit the Scottish fishing fleet’s current and future digital capabilities, and look for opportunities learned within other sectors in order to support FIS in identifying practical, innovative projects. Frank Fleming, CEO of Verifact said:

“We are looking forward to working with FIS to identify how emerging technologies can play a key role in adding value to the Scottish seafood sector. The project will explore how digitalisation can add value to catches and build efficiencies in supply chains while contributing to scientific data collection and sustainable practices. FIS are forward-thinking by looking at this project. Other food sectors are also investing in this area and it is important that the Scottish seafood sector maps out what it can do in the short and medium-term to inform its decision making in the coming years.”

Over the next five weeks, both organisations will be working on their respective projects, with support from FIS, its members and other experts. Once the initial desk-based research is complete, FIS members will decide on the next steps for practical innovation projects. More information about the project teams will be released on social media channels over the next month.