Narrated by Assistant Curator, Jen, this video explores the Museum's temporary exhibition on the history and heritage of fishermen's ganseys. The tour highlights objects and images from our Nationally Recognised Collection, including traditional ganseys and knitting contributions to the SHOAL lockdown project.
1:09 ANSFM : 1994.358 - Gansey with double bone pattern
Knitted by Ms H. Reyburn of Callander, Perthshire, c. 20th century
1:44 ANSFM : 2019.364 - Gansey with hearts and cable pattern
Knitted by Mrs Elsie Buchan of Fraserburgh, part of the Moray Firth Gansey Project Collection, c. 20th Century
2:15 ANSFM : 2019.372 - Gansey with marriage lines and cable pattern
Knitted by by an unknown knitter from the Rosemarkie area, part of the Moray Firth Gansey Project Collection, c. 20th Century
2:42 ANSFM : 2019.366 - Gansey with chevrons and cable pattern
Knitted by Mrs Elsie Buchan of Fraserburgh, part of the Moray Firth Gansey Project Collection, c. 20th Century
3:23 ANSFM : 2019.90 - Gansey with basketweave stitch pattern
Knitted by Mrs Ritchie from Pittenweem, c. 1950s
4:04 ANSFM : 1994.209.7 - Gansey with tree of life pattern
Knitted by an unknown knitter from Anstruther, c. 20th Century
4:34 ANSFM : 2019.398 - Eriskay Gansey
Knitted by Christina Margaret McInnes of Eriskay, part of the Moray Firth Gansey Project Collection, c. 1980s
The Minister of State for Farming, Fisheries and Food, Victoria Prentis MP, was questioned on the outcome of the annual fisheries negotiations between the UK and its international partners, including the EU and Norway, at an evidence session of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee at 2.00pm on Wednesday, 2 February 2022.
Download or listen to the entire session.
The purpose of the session
The evidence session will take place in Committee Room 6 of the Houses of Parliament and can also be watched on parliamentlive.tv
The Minister is expected to make a short presentation at the start of the meeting about how the negotiations will impact the UK fishing industry for 2022. She may then be questioned about the overall outcome of the negotiations, any winners or losers in the talks, and specific fish quotas in various waters around the UK. The Minister will be accompanied by senior officials.
Witnesses
Victoria Prentis MP, Minister of State for Farming, Fisheries and Food at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Mike Dowell, DEFRA Deputy Director for EU Fisheries Negotiations and Policy
Policy after Brexit
Brexit is done, but what does it mean?
Doing things differently?
Policy after Brexit brings together a number experts in their respective fields to investigate how policy and policymaking have changed in a range of sectors. We asked them to consider how changes so far compare to what was promised before Brexit, and to analyse what changes lie ahead and what their impact might be.
Their contributions are divided into three sections: first, those policy areas (trade, immigration, agriculture, fisheries and subsidies) where Brexit compelled the UK to put in place alternative policies. Second, those retaining significant amounts of EU law where the government could think seriously about divergence (financial services, procurement, taxation, consumer protection, environmental policy, energy policy and aviation). A final section considers new or emergent sectors in which both the UK and EU are looking to dip their regulatory toes (climate change and net zero, data and digital, autonomous vehicles and bioscience).
‘Taking back control’ of British fisheries and waters was wholeheartedly
embraced by those campaigning for the UK to leave the EU. As a result, fisheries
attained an exceptionally high profile during the Brexit referendum and the
negotiations that followed, and continues to do so.
Many who promoted the benefits of Brexit for UK fisheries were senior
politicians who now hold positions of power in government, including that of
Prime Minister. Their promises fell into three main categories: UK control of
fisheries regulations, restrictions on the access of foreign vessels to UK waters,
and increased quota shares for UK vessels. All of this was to be achieved with
only minimal effects on the UK’s ability to trade with the EU, which is the main
market for British-caught seafood.
As the Brexit negotiations rumbled on through 2020, it became increasingly
obvious that the UK would need to make significant concessions on fisheries
in order to avoid a costly no-deal Brexit. Consequently, although the fisheries
minister Victoria Prentis promised an exclusive zone for UK vessels within 12
miles of the British coast, the government acknowledged that EU vessels would
still have significant access to fish in offshore UK waters.
Likewise, although the UK government initially wanted all future fish quotas
to be based on the proportion of fish populations living in UK waters (zonal
attachment), this approach appeared to dissolve as the government pushed
instead for large headline gains in quota (up to 80%), whereas the EU aimed to
maintain the status quo.
WHAT HAS CHANGED SO FAR?
Despite the lofty promises to the UK fishing industry, the reality delivered by
Brexit falls well short of the rhetoric.
The TCA provides for an increase in UK quota-share of 25% of the value of the
previous EU catch in UK waters, phased in from 2021 to 2026. This translates
into a less than 10% increase in value (less than 100,000 tonnes) of the total UK
catch.
Many EU vessels have been granted access to offshore UK waters (1,822 up 15
December 2021). One hundred and fifty-three of these also permitted to fish
DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY? POLICY AFTER BREXIT 19
within the six-to-twelve-mile zone off the southern English coast, and another
170 in Crown Dependency waters. Crossing this UK red line generated particular
anger from the UK fishing industry, with the National Federation of Fishermen’s
Organisations (NFFO) calling the deal ‘miniscule, marginal, paltry, pathetic’.
Despite these British concessions on access and quotas, disagreements over
French requests for further licences continue to hit the headlines and currently
remain unresolved. These tensions have arisen due to a lack of detail in the TCA
about the specific proof of past fishing activities needed to qualify for a licence to
fish in UK waters. Unfortunately, small vessels (under 12 metres) do not generally
carry satellite-based vessel monitoring systems and are hence finding it difficult
to provide this evidence. The French government maintains this is discriminatory,
and fishers have already blockaded ports in protest. Further French government
threats include banning all British seafood imports and imposing extra checks on
goods arriving from and leaving the UK.
The TCA may have achieved tariff-free trade with the EU, but British seafood
exporters face extra paperwork and costs and a ban on the exporting of live adult
shellfish. Consequently, UK seafood exports to the EU have dropped significantly.
A recent analysis for the NFFO predicts that by 2026 the UK fishing industry
will have lost £300 million in earnings due to Brexit.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES FOR THE FUTURE?
Could UK fishers enjoy a better future once the initial adjustment period ends in
2026? It looks unlikely.
The wording of the TCA implies no further catch-share increase after 2026. If
the UK sought to impose this, the EU could reduce reciprocal fishing access and
place tariffs on fish imports and on other goods, or ultimately suspend other
parts of the agreement. We are already seeing this play out with the relatively
minor disagreements over licences with France. Compromises on fisheries will be
essential for maintaining favourable trade.
If the UK cannot increase its quota-shares or further restrict foreign access,
perhaps it could increase the productivity of the fish stocks in its waters through
its stated ambition to become ‘a world leader in managing our resources while
protecting the marine environment’. The TCA is more promising on this front,
with long-term commitments from both the UK and EU to ensure that fishing
activities for shared stocks are environmentally sustainable and to restore
populations of harvested species above levels that can produce maximum catches.
Whether these commitments will be acted on remains to be seen.
20 DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY? POLICY AFTER BREXIT
A more promising route may be through the measures contained in the Fisheries
Act. Again, there are encouraging commitments on sustainability, especially
the incentives to connect quota distribution with the use of fishing gear and
techniques with a lower environmental impact, and recognition of the need to
reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from fisheries while adapting to the effects
of climate change.
Under the Joint Fisheries Statement, agreed by England, Scotland, Wales, and
Northern Ireland, there are also new, more granular fisheries management
plans, which might address the neglected issue of species for which catches are
currently not limited by quota.
Brexit may also provide an opportunity for the UK to enhance the protection
of its offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which was previously hindered
by the need to gain agreement on measures from all relevant EU states. The
UK government has already proposed banning bottom-towed fishing gear (e.g.
trawling for flatfish and dredging for scallops) in four of these MPAs, including
Dogger Bank, although this is now facing a potential legal challenge from
Denmark over compatibility with the TCA.
The only certainty looking forward is that there will continue to be tensions
between the UK and its neighbours over fishing rights. As climate change
continues to alter the distribution of fish stocks across international waters, such
disagreements over quota-shares and access seem only likely to escalate further.
Shifting away from the current fixed system of allocating fishing opportunities
according to past shares, towards a more flexible zonal attachment method, seems
the only logical way forward. But whether the UK wants to keep rocking the boat
remains to be seen.
The whole sector is excited about the new UK Women in Fisheries network. It will make
connections across the board, and get the whole sector communicating more, and in a
different way.
UK Women in Fisheries recognises and supports women working in the UK fisheries sector,
wherever that maybe. All women working in the sector are welcome to join, wherever they
maybe. Women work as female fishermen, in fisheries associations, they are fleet managers,
policy makers and charity workers. They are active at all levels within the commercial
operations of retail, wholesale and export of fish and fish products. They are leading fisheries
training centres, they are entrepreneurs in the fishing industry and often play crucial roles as
partners of fishers, taking responsibility for administration in addition to having their own
income and running the household.
If you are involved in fish in any way, the network is for you.
UK Women in Fisheries network will engage and join together these women, to highlight and
support each other, and provide representation and recognition. Women working in fisheries
can join up here.
Research
Research carried out into the role that women play in fisheries and UK fisheries, found that women are crucial to the fishing industry, community and to fishing families,
and “provide a backbone to the industry” but also found that:
“Women experience issues around pay, abuse and violence, as well as
prejudiced and traditional beliefs. There is a lack of adaptation to women’s
bodies in the industry and few opportunities for women to start fishing.”
As a result of this body of research, a policy brief was written, and recommended the
establishment of an organisation to represent women in fisheries.
What we will do
An important ambition of this new network is to increase the visibility of women’s work in this
traditionally male dominated industry.
Forming a network and putting women in fisheries in touch with each other, will go some way
towards women’s roles in fishing being understood and recognised by the sector. Women will
feel confident and have raised aspirations through their membership of the UKWIF.
Membership is open to all women working in UK fisheries, join up here:
Women across the sector are recognised by policy makers for the communication qualities
and the resilience that they bring to the sector.
Clare Leverton, UK Women in Fisheries board member, says:
“Women’s contribution to fisheries is valued, whether at the quayside or at the
negotiating table, and UK Women in Fisheries network will connect these
women, keep them informed, and enable them to have a “voice” in policy
making around fisheries policies.”
Fully documented fisheries in action
Dutch researchers and fishers are developing a digital tool to implement fully documented fisheries (FDF), with support from the EU.
VisNed and several fishing vessels are developing a digital tool to implement a fully documented fishery (FDF)
VisNed and several fishing vessels are developing a digital tool to implement a fully documented fishery (FDF)
When you go out fishing, you can never be sure what you’ll catch. It could be anything – from a prize specimen to an old shoe. Imagine, then, the scale of the problem if you’re using fishing nets and end up bringing hundreds of kilograms of catch on board?
Unwanted catches have long been a problem in fishery, because not everything that is caught can be sold or is fit for human consumption. Catching fish and then throwing it back into the sea is both harmful and wasteful. To combat this problem, the European Union introduced the landing obligation Search for available translations of the preceding conservation measures that require all catches to be registered and brought to shore (landed).
But this requires time and space and can be very costly. A Dutch fishers’ organisation VisNed calculates that, on average, a vessel would need around four more people on board to process and land the unwanted catches. However, there is no room for more people on most Dutch fishing vessels and a larger crew would mean lower wages for each crew member.
Technology to the rescue
This is the point at which science and fisheries intersect to develop innovative solutions. In the Netherlands, researchers at two institutes of Wageningen University (Wageningen Marine Research and Agro Food Robotics), in cooperation with VisNed and several fishing vessels are developing a digital tool to implement a fully documented fishery (FDF)Search for available translations of the preceding linkNL. The project has received just under €3 million in support from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
FDF introduces automated recognition of the size and species of each fish, distinguishing between catches fit for human consumption (above minimum size) and unwanted catches (below minimum size). Using remote electronic monitoring (REM) systems, the tool can determine the weight of the total catch.
Developed by Agro Food Robotics, the process uses complex algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) and spectral learning and vision technologies to recognise fish species and classify the fish by size (above or below the allowed minimum conservation reference size). The same technology is already in use for measuring and assessing the quality of agricultural products, such as broccoli and tomatoes.
To test the process in a life-like environment, researches at the Den Helder fish market first constructed an exact copy of a fish sorting line used on board fishing vessels and equipped it with two high-definition cameras: one to recognise the species and one for 3D visualisation and determination of volume.
After a successful trial run, the prototype was then tested on board a fishing vessel for the effects of vessel movement and salt-water spray on the camera lenses. The second trial with more vessels at sea was launched in 2021.
The preliminary results show that the process can be applied without major changes to the way fish is normally handled on board. It currently recognises four species – plaice, sole, turbot and brill – with speed and accuracy. The technology calculates the weight of each fish by determining its volume and can also distinguish if a fish is above or below the minimum size.
An earlier project (Innoray) has demonstrated that the same technology can be used to distinguish between the three main commercial species of rays, even when they are lying upside down, which is very difficult for the human eye.
The project also meets privacy and data protection (GDPR) requirements, as the system can process data without human interaction. In fact, the footage can be destroyed as soon as the computer has counted the fish and the data belongs to the fishers themselves.
Promising perspectives for future use
There is a lot of potential for this technology. For example, the cameras could be linked to electronic catch reporting systems (e-logbook) and reduce the administrative burden on the skipper. It also allows real-time monitoring of fishery, which could improve data collection and transparency.
Because it collects data on catch quantity and composition of both target species and unwanted catches, this technology could also become an important source for scientists evaluating the state of fish stocks, boosting the efforts for the sustainable management of marine resources.
Thanks to this project, the Dutch flatfish fishery received an exemption from the landing obligation until the end of 2021. While the project is yet to be fully evaluated, the FDF technology could become a mainstay of EU and global fisheries, all of whom are facing the same challenges of registering catches by species and size.
Then check out the January episode of Euronews OCEAN “Where’s the catch”, which looks at how science is supporting sustainable fisheries.
Vessel monitoring systems are an essential tool towards fully documented fisheries. Across the UK, the devolved nations worked in harmony over the past 20 years to install on vessels first over 24m, then 15m and finally over 12m vessels. But now, small scale fishermen with under 12m vessels in England say the long delayed roll out of the Government’s inshore vessel monitoring system is discriminatory and unfair to their class of vessel and has a timeframe that is impossible to comply with.
Felixstowe Ferry fishermen James Whyte said:
“DEFRA has been working on this for a long time, it was supposed to be rolled out in 2019 but has been delayed by them for years. Now, having released details about the various kits just before Christmas, they want the first group of fishermen to choose and install the kit by 14th March but have only just announced an event where suppliers present their kit to fishermen on February 9th. That will give us a month to do further due diligence, and get it installed. It’s just another example of the Government putting pressure on us to meet an arbitrary time frame we just arent ready for because of their delays and their shortcomings. In our area we often have to book technicians weeks in advance because we have none locally”.
Unlike the VMS on larger vessels that went through robust Government procurement processes that interrogate the financials and performance of a company, the kit, and that there are contracted-in service levels agreement for warranty, this project has not. Government chose a ‘type approval process’ for the under 12 iVMS systems which means there has been no independent testing at sea, and fishermen are left to do their own due diligence on the financial health and past performance of the suppliers and then choose the kit. In addition, while the roll out of the VMS kit on larger boats was fully funded, these small scale fishermen will only be eligible for grants of £650 regardless of the cost of the kit and installation.
Former MMO officer and Executive Officer of the South Devon and Channel fishermen’s association Beshlie Pool said
“I have spent the past weeks trying to get more information from suppliers. Just the basic details on how their kit is installed and works, what the conditions of warranty are, what at sea testing has occurred etc.
So far 3 have agreed to come and present their kit to our members later this month so fishermen can see it, hold it and ask questions about its performance and testing, but I am still waiting for a lot of information. The grant is a one time only offer from the Government, so we also need to do due diligence on the companies to check the suppliers ability to provide after sales service, and what that is. When the regulation comes, we expect it to make it illegal for fishermen to leave the harbour without a functioning kit, this is why understanding breakdown support is so vital. Unlike bigger boats, the day small boats could be stuck in the harbour with a broken kit and that may be the only fine weather day where they could fish, for weeks.
I am deeply concerned about the additional stress this roll-out is causing, at a time when these same boats are faced with the Government going to the enforcement stage on CatchAPP and when the MCA is stepping up new safety testing. It is a perfect storm of new regulation, the mental health consequences are palpable.” said Pool.
Meanwhile, French fishermen with vessels under 12m, to include those licensed to fish in UK waters, were given a choice by the French Government of a iVMS system which has higher costs, and ongoing mobile phone costs or, an AIS system which is as little as a quarter of the price and has no ongoing costs. AIS also has the added benefit of other vessels at sea being able to see small fishing boats; it was developed as a collision avoidance device. Many small scale fishermen in England want the UK Government to consider this option for them too.
Devon and Severn IFCA district trawlermen who took part in the pilot project for the iVMS wanted to remain anonymous because of ongoing actions but said
“We know there have been real problems for many boats with the reliability of the kit installed, and the after sales service that has seen them tied up waiting for spares. The IFCA has been over zealous in dragging fishermen in under caution for interview, and issuing summons, some of which have had to be revoked where there have been problems with the IFCA case. It is a minefield, and I cannot understand why the MMO is not pausing this and testing the kit and suppliers health, properly”.
Shadow Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner said
“On recent visits to the coast, I have been most struck by how much pain this is causing small scale fishermen. This IVMS roll out has been delayed by years, and yet the Government now expects these micro businesses to make choices in a matter of weeks, this does not seem fair or proportionate.
The Government’s triage document for this intervention from 2018 estimated the mean costs of c.£1200 pounds per device and that this would be covered by EU funding. But because of Government delays EU funding is no longer available and suppliers submitting kit to the type approval last year were told that a limited £500 grant was going to be offered to fishermen. We need to understand how this influenced the kit that was submitted, and if it caused the suppliers to provide cheaper kit, over perhaps more suitable robust kit. After suppliers submitted their kit, the Government changed this amount to £650 pounds but that is still just half of the cost of the Government’s original estimates.
This Government has allowed EU vessels to fish in our 6-12nm, is stepping up new safety inspections without financial support, taking the CatchAPP to enforcement stage, and now forcing a light speed roll-out of this new kit. One could be forgiven for thinking the Government is trying to drive this small scale sector out of business and deliver decommissioning by stealth. If the Government wants to reduce the size of our inshore fleet they should be honest and set out a compensation scheme, not simply overburden them in home-grown red tape some of which they cannot simply comply with, and much of which they cannot afford. DEFRA Ministers must now intervene and reduce the overwhelming pressures being felt by fishing families around the coast”.
