European Commission proposal to prohibit all EU driftnet fishing - Defra wants to hear from you!

In the wake or is it wash, and a heavy one at that, of the drubbing meted out by the meteoric rise in the number of UKIP candidates in the elections by what is seen as people's perception that we are too heavily dictated to by EU legislation - Defra seem very keen to see that the proposed lateral driftnet ban is not fully implemented in the UK - read on!

"As many of you will be aware, the European Commission proposes a full prohibition on the taking on board or use of any kind of driftnet in EU waters, as well as applying a more detailed definition of driftnets with the aim of closing loopholes encountered with enforcement of the current legislation (mainly in the Mediterranean).   

The proposed prohibition is intended to apply from 1 January 2015, subject to agreement with Member States and the European Parliament.

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-563_en.htm (Commission proposal press release)

The Defra position will be supportive of adequate measures to address the enforcement of the current prohibition on driftnet fishing for highly migratory species where this has been a problem, such as in the Mediterranean.

But Defra is very aware that the Commission’s problem definition underpinning the proposal does not readily relate to UK driftnet fisheries targeting herring, bass, salmon and other species. These represent an important part of the fishing year and livelihoods of relevant inshore fishermen and, most significantly, do not have the serious by-catch or enforcement issues that the Commission is trying to address. Our liaison with the Devolved Administrations indicates this view is representative of a UK position.

Rather than the proposed blanket EU measures, therefore, the UK negotiating position on this proposal will be to seek alternatives such as the application of a risk-based regional approach, particularly in waters around the UK – the North Sea, Channel, and Western waters – an approach which will ensure that the right fisheries are monitored and required to take appropriate mitigation action where needed.

This approach is in line with the existing requirements of the EU cetacean by-catch regulation (812/2004) which targets controls on bottom set gill and entanglement nets in ICES Areas IV (North Sea) and VII (western waters), which is where the related by-catch has more typically been an issue in these areas, rather than driftnets, particularly in consideration of the way driftnets are typically deployed and attended in UK waters. We consider a ban of any kind is inappropriate in the context of our UK driftnet fisheries.

The next step is for Member States to make representations in Council working group in Brussels – where we anticipate discussions will probably commence from July onwards.

In the meantime we would welcome any comments or views on our intended approach in responding to this proposal as described above, or any additional perspective you can offer to inform our position. These should be returned to the above mailbox address - Marine.CommonFisheries@defra.gsi.gov.uk - for the attention of my colleague Iain Glasgow – such views would be most helpful before the end of June.

Regards Roy Smith

Common Fisheries Policy team Sea Fisheries Conservation Division Defra

Area A, 8th floor, 9 Millbank, c/o Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR Tel: 020 7238 1245

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

We’d love to hear about why the ocean is important to you, tweet or Instagram your ideas using the hashtag #WOD

June 8th was World Oceans Day

Can Richard Branson and Virgin make a difference?
Fish 2.0: Connecting fishermen and investors

The fishing industry is evolving; for most fisherman, knowing how to catch is no longer enough. New regulations, growing demand from consumers to know where their food comes from, rising fuel prices, and increasing globalisation have changed the business dynamic of fishing. At the same time, with many fisheries in decline, fishermen must develop new ways to fish without depleting the resource on which they depend. They must innovate to survive. To be successful, they need to focus on developing their businesses as well as fishing.

This new reality for fishermen is one that is familiar to me. I had experienced problems associated with understanding only the science, and not the business, side of growing a resource-based enterprise during the early part of my career. At the time, I was working in a marine science job with a venture capital funded company focused on creating pharmaceuticals from unusual marine organisms. Though our research team successfully found useful organisms, the company went bankrupt in just two years.

The management could not satisfy the investors – even though the results looked promising. Frustrated, I went to business school to learn how to better manage scientific organisations like the one I had worked for.

At business school, I learned that each element of business, whether finance, marketing or strategy, has its own language, and that there are common rules to follow, no matter what the business or where it is in the world. As in all languages, the art is in how you adapt and combine all of the elements in different contexts and situations.

After finishing school, I tried to apply my knowledge of this new language to ocean sustainability – where too few people in science, conservation, and small scale fisheries spoke it. Along the way, I met many fishermen and fish farmers who were working to build innovative enterprises. Most were frustrated by their interactions with the investors they approached for support. They felt unable to build the trust, relationships and knowledge needed to work together. Conversations with investors were short and led nowhere.

After several years of writing business plans for some of these emerging fishing businesses, I realised that I could not meet the growing demand.

To make an impact on the ocean, I needed to solve the problem at its root: investors and fishermen needed to learn each other’s languages, so they could communicate effectively and directly.

 

I developed Fish 2.0 to bridge this language gap. I kept the platform simple – a business competition for sustainable seafood. Under its umbrella as a competition, Fish 2.0 connects entrepreneurs, investors, and sector experts.

European fisheries fund allocated to promote growth across the UK

In the UK the Government are:

• improving the way we manage fisheries, including piloting a more local approach to quota management and publishing a register of fixed quota allocations
• working with sea anglers to get better data on sea angling through the Sea Angling 2012 project
• preparing a report for Parliament on the conduct and operation of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities.
• funding research projects and the Fisheries Science Partnership, so we have the data we need to manage fisheries well

• Specifiacally:

Fishermen across the UK will be able to apply for a fair share of a new grant scheme to help them adapt to the new Common Fisheries Policy and grow their businesses. 

The UK allocation of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund has been distributed fairly to each devolved nation based on factors including respective sizes of fleet, number of ports, sizes of industry, and historical allocations.

All four devolved administrations worked together to agree the allocations.

From next year, the UK fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors will be able to apply for grants from the scheme to help them grow their businesses. Up to 60% of the cost of equipment will be available to help fishermen adapt to the landing obligation and other aspects of the new Common Fisheries Policy.

Marine and Fisheries Minister, George Eustice said:

“This deal means that fishermen in every part of the UK will have access to a fair allocation of funding to help them buy the equipment they need to adapt to the new Common Fisheries Policy. This will help the fishing industry invest in their businesses and deliver long-term economic growth.”

The size of the UK allocation is currently being decided by the EU Commission. The current European Fisheries Fund is worth €138 million to the UK. We expect the new allocation to be higher.

Allocation of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund in 2014 – 2020:

Scotland 46.00%

England 35.60%

Wales 8.40%

N. Ireland 10.00%

Newlyn Green repairs making good progress

In just a few days since Monday the Cormac boys have made real progress in the repairs to Newlyn green and the section of the coast path...

washed away by the winter storms...

with suitably substantial footings being dug down well below sea level.

Stunning tub gurnard, just one of the fish on Wednesday's market in Newlyn

Ajax hake made up some of the quality fish on the market this morning...

along with Sparkling Line turbot...

beam trawl megrim...

netted ray...

and a solitary but stunning huge tub gurnard...

all safely delivered...

out on the quay preparations with the sardine ring nets are underway, here is a leaded footrope...

aboard the inshore trawler Still Waters there is plenty of mending to finish before the boat can go back to sea.

How the story unfolds - keep the dialogue open!

This story needs reading carefully in the context of Maria Damanaki's support and desire to introduce a pan-European driftnet ban - which will undoubtedly have dire consequences for many small-scale fishermen throughout Europe.

Extract from Peche Dev author http://www.peche-dev.org/IMG/pdf/121107_blue_charity_abstract_en-2.pdf:

"‪#‎driftnetban‬ : Now NUTFA understands the tricky games they were thrown into: first friend then control. I know NUTFA were sincere and really tried to defend the smallest but Big NGO played with them. To understand driftnet ban, read again the sustainable fisheries trusts part of blue Charity Business summary [or how BINGOS control & command a fishery by using the good image of the smallest fishermen] http://www.peche-dev.org/IMG/pdf/121107_blue_charity_abstract_en-2.pdf .

BINGOs first pretend to be friend of smallest fishermen, then use them in the public opinion to kill the biggest, then control the smallest; here it is not through privatization, but only through regulation via EU under the table pressure, pretending the smallest carry IUU cases. Damanaki is for long a strong ally of PEW, and reversely."

Though one NUTFA member and small scale fisherman it seems is not so impressed:

 

Jerry Percy‏@TheJerryPercy

@PecheFraiche Oh good, yet another self appointed consultant telling fishermen that they are naive. Don't be so patronising please.

Maybe Jerry and Yan should talk?

Ian Kinsey makes a very valid point in the discussion:

Ian Kinsey The majority of SSF are of a marginal nature , and demand a great deal of the vessel owner,s direct participation in the fishery. This kind of fishery is at the present time not the most attractive segment of the fishing industry for investment by proponents of privatisation.
The fisherman has let himself be played over the sideline, and into a roll as the "necessary evil" in justifying so many positions in and associated with the fishing industry. Collaboration seems to be the new mantra of many ENGOs and scientific groups, such as the GAP 2 and EDF. I am equally suspicious of both. Good fisheries management has many likenesses with good parenting - having the ability and foresight to lead, and nurture a collaborative environment to the benefit of the ecosystem.

#Solitaire race leader Mor Bic dismasted by the Wolf Rock lighthouse

After leaving Deauville in France yesterday the AIS tracking picks up competitors in the 45th #Solitaire du Figaro single-handed yacht race as they head back to Plymouth via Roscoff after rounding the Wolf lighthouse at midday today - apart from the Mor Bic...

not the best place to lose your main mast! 

The Mor Bic, skippered by Yan Elies was dismasted just after she rounded the Wolf Rock in 20 knots of sou'westerly wind while in the lead - now he will have an uncomfortable ride back to Falmouth from out there.

Dématage Yann Eliès (Etape #1) by lasolitairedufigaro