Fishing News Awards - 2020 live from last night!

The Fishing News Awards 2020 The Fishing News Awards 2020 shine a spotlight on the achievements, innovations, and successes of the commercial fishing industries of the UK and Ireland in 2019. 

Closer to home, local skipper and boat owner Sam Lambourn from Newlyn picked up this year's Lifetime Achievement Award cited in particular for his ability to build consensus and work in guiding the industry in a positive direction at both local and international level.

While at little further up the road across the border in Devon, Brixham Fish Market won the Fish Market of the Year Award after the installation of a pioneering on-line remote computer auction system.

For a full programme, click here In the light of the challenges faced by all in the industry, we felt that delaying the announcement of the winners of the awards that were originally scheduled to be named at the Presentation Evening on 14 May was the appropriate thing to do. We hope that this online announcement of the winners will offer an opportunity to celebrate their success, reflect on the industry’s achievements in 2019, and look forward to better times. 

We are delighted to announce that in place of the usual table donations to the Fishermen’s Mission at the awards evening, a Just Giving page has been created to allow those who wish to make a donation this year to do so. Click here to make a donation and support the work this charity does for fishermen and their families.

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Five selection boxes of prime-quality seafood to be won!

Unable to host the drinks reception as planned at the Fishing News Awards 2020 presentation evening, the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation is instead offering the chance to win five £50 boxes of seafood in an easy-to-enter competition.

At a time when everyone in the industry is working extremely hard to restore market stability and enhance the circular economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, freshly caught prime-quality seafood showcasing what demersal, pelagic and shellfish vessels, together with processors, have to offer, was an obvious choice for the prizes.

Halibut, haddock, lemon sole, langoustine, scallops, salmon, smoked haddock and mackerel, monkfish and whole-tail scampi are among the species that will be included in the bespoke presentation boxes to be supplied by Amity Fish.

Enter now,  by clicking here

Monday morning's fsh auction in Newlyn - mainly net fish.

Monday' mornings market was mainly net fish from the orange duo, Stelissa...

and Silver Dawn.  

Early morning (0520) departure to #BreakersYard for #Duo of the port of #Newlyn decommissioned extremely productive #Trawlers #SaraShaunStevenson / #Filadelfia ‘escort Towboat between craft’..... #NostalgicTimeForMany #FreshCornishFish pic.twitter.com/hgGe36O8C2

— NewlynFishing (@NewlynFishing) May 25, 2020

The number of big beam trawlers in the main fleet has shrunk by two recently as the Filadelfia and Algrie were both recently towed to the scrapyard in Truro river.

Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard publicly shared as Seafish transfers ownership to Global Seafood Assurances

Following a two-year, open, collaborative process, the final Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard (RSVS) has officially transferred ownership from Seafish to Global Seafood Assurances (GSA), according to an 11 June announcement.

Developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) in April 2018, the not-for-profit GSA has set out to offer supply chain assurance for seafood. Seafish, a public body that supports the GBP 10 billion (USD, EUR) U.K. seafood industry, said RSVS “was revised to reflect the seafood industry’s needs as part of a groundbreaking global supply chain assurance initiative.”

The RSVS, the next iteration of Seafish’s Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS), is a voluntary, vessel-based certification standard.

The RSVS “enables commercial fishing operations to provide assurance of decent working conditions and operational best practice through independent, third-party auditing,” Seafish said in a press release.

Two core principles comprise the revised standard: vessel management and safety systems; and crew rights, safety, and well-being. The strong emphasis RSVS places on crew welfare aboard fishing vessels is underpinned by Work in Fishing Convention ILOc188 and other global conventions, Seafish and GSA noted.

“It is now recognized that assurance of good crew welfare on fishing vessels is critically important and inseparable from good environmental management,” GSA Europe and Board Director Melanie Siggs said. “It has been a really exciting two years working with Seafish to evolve the RFS into the new, globally-applicable Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard. Assurance of crew welfare on fishing vessels has been missing in seafood supply chain assurance, and the RFVS enables us to fill this assurance gap. Through RFVS certification, we can celebrate those working to best practice and also help drive improvement.”

Seafish Director of Operations Aoife Martin said the release of RFVS marks a pivotal moment for fishing certification.

“We are delighted to mark the release of the RFVS, the culmination of a two-year collaborative development process and a significant milestone in the certification of fishing best practice. This release also coincides with Seafish formally transferring ownership of the standard to GSA, a move that will enable the RFVS to reach its potential as a global assurance model for fishing vessels,” Martin said. “I would like to thank the RFS Oversight Board members for their guidance and strategic direction since the RFS was first established in 2016, but particularly for its support during the RFVS development process. Seafish would also like to thank the technical working group members and existing members of the UK RFS who have contributed time and expertise to test the new Standard to make sure it continues to meet the needs of the seafood supply chain.”

A robust standard development process was used to develop the RFVS, which included input from all facets of the global seafood industry, from catching, processing, and retail to standard holder and non-governmental organizations. A fully transparent engagement process, overseen by an independent oversight board and supported by technical working groups comprising of over 30 international seafood stakeholders, was launched in July 2018 and included two open consultation phases, Seafish and GSA said.

The proposed standard was tested on vessels around the world in 2018, including in waters off of Russia, Peru, the Faroe Islands, and the U.K. Over the course of the next few months, Seafish and GSA said a set of vessel certification pilots will be carried out “in order to refine the proposed RFVS Certification Model.” The first auditors for RFVS have received training, with a full auditor training program currently in development as well, according to Seafish’s press release.

“The RFVS will open for applications once the vessel certification pilots have been completed,” the press release said.

You can download the RSVS here:

Full story courtesy of Madeline Kearns at SeafoodSource.com

APPG Newsletter June 2020

Welcome to the APPG on Fisheries newsletter. Through regular updates, we aim to keep you informed of policy developments, Parliamentary announcements and sector headlines. We also provide round-ups of current Committee inquiries and fisheries-focused monitoring of the Parliamentary record, Hansard. Contents Use the links below to rapidly navigate around the newsletter. Parliament News | Fisheries News | Hansard Monitoring Wellbeing, Welfare and a Life at Sea Our next virtual event will be on Thursday 2 July at 3pm, and is open to all. The event will focus on the welfare and mental wellbeing challenges that affect UK fishers, and how they can be addressed. Get in touch to register. Parliament News Final Payments from Fisheries Response Fund Eligible English fishing and aquaculture businesses are due to receive a further and final payment from the government’s Fisheries Response Fund by 15 June. The MMO-administered fund has been supporting the sector since April in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Scottish Government Releases Additional Quotas The Scottish Government has released a support package of up to £2 million aiming to allow inshore shellfish fishermen access to additional fish quotas, particularly mackerel. This is in response to the collapse of the international shellfish market.   EFRA Committee Talks to Fishing Industry Leaders Earlier this week, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee heard from the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, the New Under Tens Fishermen's Association and the Scottish Seafood Association on the subject of the future of UK fishing. New Fisheries Bill Progressing Through Lords The House of Lords finished close analysis of the Fisheries Bill on 11 March. The Bill is due to move onto report stage on 22 June, where it will undergo further line-by-line examination. The Secretariat's digest of initial significant changes since 2019 is accessible here. Fisheries News A round-up of the latest UK-relevant fishing news from a variety of sources. Recording of APPG 'Innovative Responses to the Pandemic' Event The recording of last week’s event is now live, along with transcribed answers to the questions put to panelists from MPs and attendees. APPG Secretariat Publishes Brief on Fisheries Socioeconomics The Secretariat's latest brief details the key outcomes from February's event, namely the socioeconomic challenges and opportunities faced by the fisheries sector. APPG Secretariat Publishes Signpost Article to Direct-Sales Initiatives The post highlights a number of direct-sales initiatives operating across the UK, as a useful resource for the fisheries industry and consumers alike. Action Plan Published for Future of Our Inshore Fisheries Project Seafish has published a report and action plan which set out first steps for reforming UK inshore management. Co-management and collaboration are key themes. Scottish Government's Seafood Resilience Fund Gives Out Over £5 Million The fund has aided 128 companies in Scotland's processing sector. Other Scottish funds, such as the Sea Fisheries Intervention Fund, have supported vessel owners. MMO Releases Guide for England's Marine Development Sector The guide is for businesses involved in marine development in English waters, to help them navigate the government support packages currently available. Hansard Monitoring Hansard is the official record of debates, votes and ministerial statements in Parliament. Our newsletters gather together any debates or questions concerning fisheries that have recently taken place. Debate | Commons | 9 June | Future Relationship with the EU, including Fisheries Question | Lords | 9 June | EU Trade and Security Debates, including Fisheries Question | Defra | 9 June | MMO Resources to Assist Fishing Industry Question | Defra | 9 June | Monitoring Defra's Performance in Assisting Fisheries Question | Defra | 9 June | Estimates of Vessels Receiving Funds, and Effectiveness Question | Defra | 9 June | Promotion of British Food, including Fish Question | Defra | 9 June | New Fisheries Rules After Transition Period Question | Defra | 9 June | Supporting Fishermen Without Access to Funds Question | Defra | 9 June | Food Prices During COVID-19, including Fish Question | Defra | 8 June | Costs and Benefits of Sea For Yourself Campaign Question | Defra | 8 June | Reforming Rules on Fish Discards Question | Defra | 8 June | Trial of Effort System for Inshore Fishing Debate | Commons | 4 June | Future EU-UK Partnership, including Fisheries Debate | Commons | 4 June | Business of the House, including the Fisheries Bill Debate | Northern Ireland | 2 June | EU Exit, including Fishing Rights

For more information, contact the APPG on Fisheries Secretariat Katrina Ryan, Sara Mynott and Jacob Ashton secretariat@fisheriesappg.org

POST BREXIT LANDING OBLIGATION JUNE 2020

One of the benefits of leaving the Common Fisheries Policy will be the potential to rethink and redesign the landing obligation. Initially the industry will continue to work under EU retained law, but after 1st January there will be scope to redesign and implement new arrangements tailored to the conditions in UK fisheries. Both Defra and the NFFO have begun work to identify deficiencies in the EU landing obligation and how these could be addressed to inform a more effective and workable UK discard policy. The contents of this paper were discussed at a recent Defra/MMO/NFFO landing obligation forum.

Ministers have indicated that they wish to retain the principle of the landing obligation but are open to refinements in the way that it works in practice. Defra have arranged a meeting/conference call for Friday 5th June, to discuss how the landing obligation might work after 31st December 2020.

Post Brexit Landing Obligation

In preparation for that meeting we have prepared a draft list of points (below) which amount to NFFO policy in this area.

Address CFP Design Deficiencies

• A requirement to land all quota species in all circumstances (except when an exemption is in place) is unenforceable – a well-designed discard policy focused on reducing unwanted catch, with the understanding and support of the fishing industry, by contrast, is an achievable objective
• EU legislators’ focus was on legislation, not implementation (someone else’s problem); there is a need for a more integrated fisheries management approach in which discard policy has a place but is not the main driver
• The potential for chokes in mixed fisheries remains a deep rooted and ongoing problem
• The LO has led to loss of visibility of catches in some fisheries and in some circumstances – leading to a degradation in the scientific advice and the quality of fisheries management decisions
• The LO depends on extensive use of exemptions – these are temporary and require annual re-visitation – absorbing too much time and effort
• The LO was developed in an artificial moral panic, with inadequate account taken of the views of those who would be subject to the new rules
• Discard policy should not be legislated for in inflexible primary legislation
• Successful implementation requires an ability to adapt and adjust – which is not available within the CFP’s rigid decision-making process

Priorities

• Secure adequate quota to reduce potential for chokes (TAC decisions, UK proportion of shared stocks, internal allocation and transfer arrangements)
• Re-brand the LO without losing emphasis on reducing unwanted catch
• Reposition and reaffirm discards policy as a facet of fishing management (not the priority) - the principle priority/objective should be to maintain fishing mortality within safe limits and maximise sustainable yields
• Recognise the diversity of circumstances in which discard policy is applied
• Maintain high-survival and de minimis exemptions where sufficient evidence is available – replacement for STECF role – but on a more reasonable time cycle
• Re-connect with fishers – policing by consent – this requires dialogue at all levels
• Maintain focus on reducing unwanted catch, through hearts and minds rather than blunt policy instruments and heavy-handed enforcement
• Reaffirm emphasis on the importance of accurate catch information and its connection to sound management decisions
• Remove TAC status where it serves no purpose – eg. Irish Sea whiting
• Muscular positioning on this issue when dealing with the EU during bilateral negotiations – UK discard policy will be separate, distinct and more effective in practice than the CFP
• Further development of gear selectivity and avoidance strategies as practical ways of reducing unwanted catch
• Explore voluntary use of REM subject to safeguards on ethical, legal and practical aspects, where this is a valid option
• Focus on what economic incentives are being created when regulating – minimise scope for unintended consequences
• Management Plans as envisaged by the Fisheries Bill could be the right vehicle for regionally and sectoral sensitive discard policies
• Explore scope in Fisheries Bill for a charging scheme that would allow landing of unavoidable overshoots without creating an economic incentive to target
• Measures to ensure that non-UK vessels fishing in UK waters comply with UK discard policy

NFFO June 2020

Fisheries and Brexit report.

Click on the video to access the report.

Liberation from the EU’s common fisheries policy (CFP) was one of the most touted and prized benefits of Brexit. Fishing communities were among the most vocal supporters of Leave in the referendum. Yet sea fishing – even after the addition of fish processing – accounts for a negligible proportion of UK GDP and is heavily dependent on easy access to European markets, whereas UK consumers prefer fish that is imported from Europe. That economic insignificance combined with mutual dependence suggests that a deal on fishing should be easy for both sides to agree. 

However, the EU has made a trade deal with the UK conditional on continued access to UK waters after Brexit, demanding an agreement on fishing rights that replicates the status quo. It has been mooted that the EU will delay a deal giving the UK’s financial services sector access to its market if there is no agreement on fishing rights. The UK, meanwhile, is asserting its post-Brexit right to become a sovereign fishing power – an independent coastal state – and is offering the EU annual negotiations over access. 

This stand-off has the potential to derail the entire talks. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry has suffered badly in its key markets: the closure of restaurants in the UK and the shutdown of valuable seafood exports to continental Europe. Specific compensation schemes to support fishers through the crisis have been introduced across the UK, but it is still not clear what will be left of the industry once business returns to something more like normal. In this short report, we look at the economic and political significance of the fishing industry for the UK and the EU, how fishing features in the Brexit negotiations and the longer-term implications of Brexit for the future of the fishing industry.

Report courtesy of UK in a Changing Europe - An award-winning academic thinktank working on #Brexit. We are the authoritative source for independent research on UK-EU relations.

Maverick under tow - both Penlee lifeboats busy yet again!

Penlee lifeboat was kept busy yesterday, first providing the final tow into the harbour for the crabber Harriet Eve and then for picking up the pollack handliner Maverick which had suffered fuel supply problems.  The inshore lifeboat ILB Ivor and Mollie Dent was on standby astern of the tow as the two boats entered Newlyn in poor weather.

Maverick was 50 Miles off and heading home when her main engine cut out. Skipper Dave Smith changed filters and bled system and made a few more miles before same thing happened again. After the 3rd time this happened just 5 miles from Newlyn he decided to call the coastguard in case it happened coming in through the gaps in such scuffly weather.