Quota Leasing Scheme

There is anticipated to be excess quota in the non-sector pools. In order to make the best use of this quota and to ensure opportunities are available to as many vessels as possible. Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is taking the following action for English vessels.

 

Details Offer of additional quota to vessels in the non-sector with under 10 metre capped licences and over 10 metre: Category B, C and no-quota annex licences.

The MMO is opening a window for vessels in the non-sector with under 10 metre capped licences and over 10 metre: Category B, C and no-quota annex licences to apply for access to additional quota. We are opening up additional access to a limited number of stocks earlier this year than in previous years to allow vessels to make the most of this opportunity. Vessels with these licences have a limited number of quota stocks for which they can fish. Under this scheme, these vessels can apply for access to more opportunities for the remainder of 2024. At this stage only stocks where the MMO are confident there is excess within the non-sector pools will be released.

The offer means that a small amount of the quota that England receives from the Trade and Cooperation Agreement will be distributed via the MMO to these vessels upon application and depending on availability. It will enable vessels with restricted non-sector licences to fish above their current limits for the leased quota stocks up to and including 31 December 2024.

The stocks covered by this initiative are:

Anglerfish - Area 7 Plaice – North Sea

Cod - North Sea Nephrops – North Sea

Haddock - Areas 7b-k Sole - North Sea

Herring - Areas 4ab Skates & Rays – North Sea

Horse mackerel - North Sea (Areas 4b,4c,7d) Sprats – North Sea

Mackerel - Western Sprats – 7de

Megrim - Area VII Whiting – North Sea

Applications for access to this additional quota should be emailed to: fmc@marinemanagement.org.uk by 08:00 on Monday 22 January 2024.

Applications made after this date may still be considered but quota availability after this date may be reduced. Applications must include vessel details (name, PLN and licence number), a basic fishing plan and quantities of individual stocks required. Where there are competing proposals for stocks the MMO may assess applications against economic, environmental and social criteria.

Modernising EU fishing vessels with digital tools.

The European Council has recently adopted the revision of the EU’s Fisheries Control Regulation, which aims to ensure that EU fisheries control and monitoring systems stay up to date with the latest developments in the technological field and enhance the way we manage fishing activities.

In light of this latest development, Fish-X is hosting a webinar on 26 January 2024 at 10 am CET, diving into the integration of digital tools into small-scale fisheries (SSF) vessels.

Join experts from maritime authorities, the SSF sector, research, and academia as we explore the transformative impact of modern technology on efficiency, sustainability, and resource management.

Don’t miss this chance to be part of reshaping the future of fishing fleets! 

💡 Register now for the Fish-X webinar: https://lnkd.in/eDQ2Ni63

Government to support small-scale fishing industry across the UK in latest medical consultation

The government launches a consultation on medical exemptions for fishers working on vessels 10 metres and under in length.

It is worth noting that "The Secretary of State for Transport is considering providing an exemption under regulation 14 of The Merchant Shipping (Work in Fishing Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2018 so that existing fishers working in fishing vessels of 10 metres and under (registered length as defined by the Fishing Vessels (Codes of Practice) Regulations 2017) in length are exempt from regulations 4 and 5."

Therefore, take advantage of this chance to have your say!

There are 3,385 Under10m vessels in the UK as of January 2024
They make up over 80% of the workforce and many fish singlehanded.

 
Government gives industry a chance to have its say on concessions that would benefit fishers on vessels of 10 metres and under. Safety of fishers is paramount and today will make sure that remains the case while ensuring fishers can continue their important work Government continues to listen to the views from across the fishing industry An industry-wide consultation starts today to see how small-scale fishers can fish as safely as possible.

In November 2023, regulations came into effect requiring fishers working on small UK flagged vessels to have a certificate of medical fitness. The government has worked to support those who can still fish but would otherwise be unduly forced ashore. Some grandfather rights have been extended for eyesight, BMI, diabetes and most recently seasonal fishers.

Unlike larger fishing operations, those who operate vessels of 10 metres and under are usually independent and require more support, which is why today the Department for Transport is seeing how to best deliver medical exemptions safely so hard-working, small-scale fishers aren’t unduly forced ashore.

The potential concession is being considered by the Secretary of State for Transport after listening to the concerns of those in the fishing industry as well as MPs representing coastal communities.

Industry is being urged to have its say on the proposals, which are being published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

The blanket exemption from holding a valid medical certificate would only apply to those who have already been working on vessels of 10 metres and under for at least 4 weeks between 30 November 2022 and 30 November 2023.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

The safety of those who are working in our fishing industry is paramount and it’s vital that any medical requirements work for them. That’s why we have actively listened to views from the fishing industry and MPs representing coastal communities, already granting concessions for factors such as eyesight, diabetes and BMI.

This consultation shows that we are open to proper solutions that uphold the highest standards of safety.

See the MCA’s GOV.UK pages to read and take part in the Medical exemption - existing fishers on vessels of 10 metres or under consultation.

Cornwall is THE seafood centre of the UK

A remarkable new research report proves the importance of Cornwall’s seafood sector Seafood jobs are four times more important to Cornwall’s economy than to the UK’s Cornwall’s seafood sector and contributes £174 million to the county’s total GVA.

For every fisherman at sea there are 15 more jobs in Cornwall 

New figures have revealed Cornwall is home to more seafood restaurants than anywhere else in the country outside of London. According to an independent research report, 16% of Cornwall’s table-service restaurants (not including fish and chip shops) specialise in seafood. That's the highest concentration in the UK outside the capital. The report was commissioned by the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation to determine the true value of seafood to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Overall, the sector contributes £174 million to the county’s total gross value added. Chris Ranford, CEO of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, said: 

“The results of this report are outstanding. We always knew the importance of fishing to Cornwall, but this provides the socio-economic evidence to back it up, inform decision-making and attract strategic investment into the industry. “The symbiotic relationship between fishing, hospitality and tourism is completely unique to Cornwall. It’s something we can all be proud of and make sure we’re protecting and enhancing for future generations.” 

Around 8 thousand people in Cornwall work in seafood, according to the report. That means for every Cornish fisherman at sea there are fifteen more jobs on shore – five of those are also linked to tourism. Malcolm Bell, Visit Cornwall, said: 

“Seafood is a key part of the Cornish brand. When you think of Cornwall, you think of the food as much as the destination. “Holidaying in Cornwall and eating Cornish seafood are one and the same so it’s vital we protect the fishing and seafood industry; without them Cornwall’s tourism economy wouldn’t perform as well.” 

Restaurants and cafes rely on Cornish seafood and its provenance, combined with the fishing industry, it establishes Cornwall as the UK hotspot for seafood. Ben Tunnicliffe, Head Chef at The Tolcarne Inn said: 

“Without fishing I wouldn’t have a business. Cornish fish has a lovely reputation around the country and abroad but we’re lucky, being able to use it direct as it comes off the boat and that’s what the visitors coming to Cornwall expect to see.” “Fishing, along with tourism and hospitality, is one of the few industries we have left in Cornwall, and it brings a lot of financial benefits to the county so it’s of paramount importance we work together to strengthen and protect its bright future.” 

The research was commissioned by the CFPO following the publication of their Cornish Fishing Strategy in 2021. Its aim was to refocus the strategic vision for the Cornish seafood industry post Brexit. Four key areas of action were highlighted; science & sustainability, ports infrastructure, recruitment & retention and communications & marketing. It’s expected the findings from the ‘Value of Seafood to Cornwall’ research will better inform regional and national decision-making and help drive strategic investment into Cornwall’s seafood sector.

Milder Monday morning in Newlyn.

Despite the ultra-cool blue skies things have warmed up a little in Newlyn this morning and, although there was only the one big boat trip landed, there were plenty of inshore fish to keep the buyers' fingers busy on their keyboards bidding online when the auction started at 6am...

name the fish...

with the lack of wind and the water like gin, bass landings continue apace...

the Cornishman picked up a few red mullet to add the her trip...

and the crew took the trouble to take out the livers on the bigger fish too...

the fine weather over the weekend giving rise to three good shots from the inshore trawlers...

though young Roger's Dory count on the Martha Mae was on par for this time of year...

while Tom had good pickings of ray with the Guardian...

and this fine looking conger...

head-on monk of all sizes from skipper Jimmy...

to go with the rest of the prime flatfish that beam trawlers do best at catching...

still more inshore bass...

and some specimen red mullet...

along with plentiful supplies of seasonal sardines...

and mackerel...

these boxes tell a story, it seems the times they are a-changing...

as the sun fights its way through a clouded sky.

More pollack background.

 

Through the ongoing Pollack FISP, scientists from the universities of York and Plymouth are working with the industry to better understand the stock of this commercially important – but data-poor – species

Whether it is the sleek olive-green fresh run of fish of late spring, or the gnarled old warriors seen in the winter spawning season, pollack have been an integral part of my life for nearly 40 years, whether as a commercial fisherman, as an angler or now, as a fisheries scientist.

After 1969, the availability of the Mk 21 Decca Navigator allowed wrecks far out of sight of land to be revisited, and the hitherto untapped hordes of pollack that congregated around these structures became a viable target for the commercial fleet and angling boats. Such was the impact of the system on fishing that some of us ‘old ’uns’ still think in Decca LOPs. As for many others, this (somewhat unreliable) system opened the doors for some truly exceptional landings of pollack, ling and cod.

MMO records show that 26,113t of pollack were landed into UK ports between 2008 and 2019, worth over £57m to the commercial fleet. The largest landings of pollack have been concentrated around ports in the South West of the UK, with Newlyn consistently recording the highest, although in recent years, Peterhead has surpassed Newlyn, mostly due to declines in landings at the latter port.

For many of the under-10m rod and line commercial fleet in the South West, these fish are a mainstay of fishermen’s catches, especially those without a bass entitlement.

The pollack Fisheries Industry Science Partnership (FISP) project was born from concerns among industry about perceived reductions in numbers and size of pollack in the South West.

Although official statistics suggested a decline in landings of pollack, it was clear that the scientific data for the species, especially in VIIe and VIId, was limited, with even the basic biology and ecology of pollack poorly understood. The lack of such data has implications for stock assessments for the species, and landings figures don’t account for the vagaries of market forces or movements and, crucially, lack an effort component.

The FISP fund, run by Defra, provided the perfect mechanism to finance this work. The project is split into two interlinked parts.

1. Acoustic tagging of pollack to obtain information on movements and site fidelity, led by Dr Emma Sheehan’s group at the University of Plymouth.

2. Interpol, led by Dr Bryce Stewart and myself at the University of York. We gather basic biological data crucial to future stock assessments such as age, growth, size at maturity, sex, stomach content and information on the spawning status and health of the fish. We also derive catch per unit effort (CPUE) from catch data from 13 charter boats across VIIe, and then model these data to ensure that the final index is representative of the whole of VIIe.

Live weights (tonnes) of pollack landed into four South West ports from 2002 to 2019.

Both projects rely heavily on the experience of the skippers belonging to the Professional Boatman’s Association, and the team at the Angling Trust, led by Hannah Rudd.

To age fish, we extract the otoliths or ear bones from the edge of the pollack brain and then prepare them in the laboratory. Otoliths form annual rings, much like those in a tree trunk. By counting these growth rings, we can accurately find the age of the fish. Age at size is an important parameter in many stock assessments, as these basic growth parameters are integral to the method used. These data are currently lacking for pollack in VIIe.

So how have we done? So far, the skippers have recorded and measured over 9,000 pollack from 492 trips. I have collected otoliths from 104 fish, sexed 462 fish (we have found an almost 2:1 ratio of male to female fish), and examined the stomach contents of many of these fish.

Liveweight landings of pollack from three major ports in the UK, 2008 to 2019.

By the end of the project, we will have sampled fish from two full spawning seasons, and have recorded CPUE for almost three years. In addition, we are collecting logbooks and records of trophy fish caught by anglers to produce a historical time-series of pollack sizes to expand our knowledge of what, if any, changes have occurred to the stock.

It is too early in the project to provide conclusions, but by the end, both elements of our research should provide a clearer picture of the state of the pollack stock in VIIe.

Simon Thomas extracting an otolith (ear bone) from the head of a pollack. These are used to age the fish.

Owen Malia, skipper of Outlaw, based in Dartmouth, who has over 40 years of experience fishing for pollack both commercially and as a charter skipper, said: “Since my involvement in the leisure sector, I have witnessed a fairly rapid decline in not only our catch rates, but also the seasonal sizes of pollack being caught/recorded by my anglers over the last eight to 10 years.” He added: “It has been no hardship to provide valued data for the project.”

To try to better understand any changes in pollack stocks, we will also look at the effects of environmental changes, such as water temperature and the increased presence of predators such as tuna.

Crucially, we will present these data to the fishing community at public meetings. This will ensure that those whose livelihoods are affected by management decisions have the chance to give their perceptions of our data, and for their views to feed into our final report.

Our model of fisheries science relies on close interactions between ourselves and those who spend their lives at sea – the experts by experience on the fish they target. This model can be extended to any data-limited species that has recreational value, or extended to incorporate commercial skippers. As true partners, the skippers are rewarded for their time and expertise.

The recent ICES advice for a zero TAC for pollack was based on landings and groundfish trawl surveys. Our data and project did not feed into that assessment at all. However, we very much hope that our research will improve the evidence base for future pollack stock assessments. As both a scientist and someone who has been involved in both the recreational and the commercial fishing industry, I know how important it is for management decisions to be based on the best available science when livelihoods are involved.

By Dr Simon Thomas, University of York

Dr Simon Thomas is a marine scientist who is theme leader for the data collection part of the pollack FISP. He is employed by the University of York, but is based in Plymouth. He has a PhD in marine ecology from Queens University (Belfast), and is also involved with ongoing projects on data collection on shark captures from the UK, using data supplied by charter skippers and anglers. He has been involved in fishing for most of his life. For more information on the pollack FISP project, especially if you would like to share your views on the fishery, please contact Simon at: simon.f.thomas@york.ac.uk

Fine #FishyFriday in Newlyn.

The lights are on but no one is in - try the door later at Newlyn Gallery...

Tom, still keeping an eye on the harbour...

and the market with just the one beam trawl trip to finish off a better week of weather...

there are some fishlike this turbot, with distinctly alien features...

while scallops look as good as they taste...

just the one netter, plenty of hake from the Ocean Pride...

along with some cracking tub gurnard...

with a limited by-catch available, sightings of pollack are likely diminish as the end of each month approaches...

while lemons seem to be high up on the landings list this week...

name this alien-like fish...

these mackerel can't get to your plate fast enough...

just the one big bluefin landed overnight...

a shot of grey mullet topped off the inshore line landings...

while the sardine boat Pelagic Marksman put ashore enough fish to keep local restaurants happy...

un-seasonal spider claws...

as daylight approaches it can be seen that most of the netting fleet are tied up over the big spring tide.