FISHING BODY REJECTS BASIS FOR GREENPEACE'S DIVISIVE COURT ACTION

Some things are just not what things seem.....

"Greenpeace comes to the aid of Britain's small fishing vessels "

Sounds fantastic doesn't it - British fishermen now getting help from of all organisations Greenpeace!

This is what they say: 

"Environmental pressure group says the government has awarded too great a share of the UK's fishing quota to less sustainable, industrial craft"

Seems fair enough. But this is a case of "lies, damned lies and statistics" to create a headline and emotive theme for a story and now a court case!

The figures they quote are as follows:

"Fishermen operating vessels under 10 meters long are only allocated four per cent of the UK’s fishing quota and six per cent of the English quota, whereas the five largest* foreign controlled vessels in England have 32 per cent."

What they don't say - because it doesn't suit the argument - is that the two quotas they give figures for are mainly for two entirely separate fish types. The first (6%) refers to mainly white fish species and the second (32%) refers to pelagic fish like mackerel and herring - it's a bit like comparing dairy farming milk quota with arable farmers potato quotas - the two are not related other than by common cause.

The five largest* vessels are huge pelagic trawlers like the one below...

Freezer trawler Ariadne

who fish exclusively for pelagic fish and they do not catch the hake, haddock, cod, pollack, red mullet, bream, John Dory, Dover soles, whiting, bass (well they will sometimes), mullet, pouting, wrasse, ray, skate, plaice or ray...

all of which are what the 6% refers to as caught by the tiny (in comparison) inshore boats like the one above.


The NFFO goes one step further and in the article below outlines why Greenpeace's action may in fact have greater unintended consequences that are more damaging in the long run - though at least as they say turning the spotlight on the plight of the industry as a result of the CFP's flawed quota system and mis-mangemnt by the MMO failing to take into account the needs of very small fishing interests may turn out to have positive results!



From the NFFO:

"The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) has warned of potentially devastating effects policies outlined by Greenpeace could have on the availability, sustainability and price of fish should the NGO’s High Court action, announced this week, be successful.

The practical effect of following Greenpeace’s policies could leave much of the UK quota uncaught, undermining the nation's food security and putting the country’s national dish at risk. As a knock on effect of this, the proposed policies could also result in fish consumption becoming the exclusive preserve of the rich as prices at niche markets supplied by small-scale local fleets would be unaffordable to most British families.

The NFFO, which represents fishermen of all vessel sizes, has stated that whilst the proposed court action will help to shine a spotlight on the quota issue and help to bring clarity to an issue which has become bogged down in distortions and misinformation, the grounds for the case are delusional.

NFFO chief executive, Barrie Deas, said “So much nonsense has been spoken by Greenpeace on the issue of quota distribution and the sustainability of large and small-scale fishing that a court case which scrutinises the real issues can only be a good thing.

“As well as threatening the affordability of fish, greater allocations to the smaller inshore vessels could result in these waters becoming overfished as competition displaces vessels to previously sustainably fished areas. ‘Robbing Peter to pay Paul’ is simply not the answer.”

“Despite Greenpeace’s claims that they champion small boat fishermen, they have once again failed to think through the practical implications of what they are proposing. The UK’s need for a diverse fleet of large, medium and small vessels to take advantage of all its fishing opportunities is vital to the industry’s interdependence in supporting port infrastructures and ensuring continuation of supply.”

While there have been periodic acute shortages of quota in some under-10 metre fisheries, these resulted from a number of different factors, most of which were unrelated to the internal distribution of quota in the UK. The overall reduction in EU Total Allowable Catches since 1990 together with restrictive EU policies, for example towards skates and rays are among factors much more significant than the internal distribution of UK quota between small and larger vessels.

In recent years the NFFO has advanced a number of ways to address the underlying issues of quota shortages in the under 10 metre fleet. Championing more responsive management at EU level and by regional member states, providing high-catching under-10 metre vessels with more effective quota management systems equivalent to those already enjoyed by producer organisations and strengthening industry cooperation are just some examples of work being done by the NFFO and its members to safeguard the future of the UK’s diverse industry.

Deas continued: “All of this is a million miles away from Greenpeace's cynical toytown fantasy narrative of evil pantomime villain monster vessels. The under-10m fleet is a vitally important component of the UK fishing industry and it is of the utmost importance that it is put on a proper sustainable footing. This will not be achieved by Greenpeace’s distractions and grandstanding.

“There can be merit in using quota to encourage more sustainable ways of fishing. However, it is simply nonsense to say smaller vessels automatically fish more sustainably than large vessels. It all depends on the management regime and what the vessels are doing, not their size.

“Although there are always risks in going to court, we are confident Greenpeace's shallow and frankly erroneous claims will wither under the spotlight of High Court action. Greenpeace must have made the judgement that the publicity, even of failed court action will justify the costs. It is this deeply cynical tactical thinking that has characterised Greenpeace's intervention in fishing from the start.”

Source: Courtesy of the NFFO

Newlyn's international rugby star Jack Nowell - ride the tackles, ride waves!

ENGLAND rugby star and Newlyn boy Jack Nowell has lent his support to the campaign to build a new Penlee lifeboat station. The sportsman visited the current station in Newlyn last week and learnt about the work of the crew as well as the ambitious plans for a new £850,000 station.

He joined RNLI volunteers to launch the campaign, backed by The Cornishman, which aims to raise £200,000 towards the cost of the new building.

“It’s a huge honour and privilege to be asked to support the Penlee Lifeboat Station appeal,” he said. “I grew up in Newlyn and the volunteers at the station are my friends, so I’ve always supported the charity. “The lifeboat station is right at the bottom of my garden. I remember me and my brothers watching the lifeboat go out through the harbour when we were younger and wondering where they were going. We’d always try and find out afterwards what had happened and who the crew had saved.”

English rugby player Jack Nowell pays a visit to Penlee lifeboat station to show his support for their new fundraising appeal. Jack grew up in Newlyn and could see the lifeboat launching from the station from his window.

The sportsman visited the current station in Newlyn last week and learnt about the work of the crew as well as the ambitious plans for a new £850,000 station.

He joined RNLI volunteers to launch the campaign, backed by The Cornishman, which aims to raise £200,000 towards the cost of the new building.

“It’s a huge honour and privilege to be asked to support the Penlee Lifeboat Station appeal,” he said. “I grew up in Newlyn and the volunteers at the station are my friends, so I’ve always supported the charity. “The lifeboat station is right at the bottom of my garden. I remember me and my brothers watching the lifeboat go out through the harbour when we were younger and wondering where they were going. We’d always try and find out afterwards what had happened and who the crew had saved.”

Subject to planning, the much needed new station will be rebuilt on the site of the existing boathouse in Newlyn Harbour.

Proposals would see a new building twice the size of the current one boasting improved facilities for the crew including a larger changing and shower room, dedicated mechanics workshop, larger crew room and separate training room, which could also be used by groups in the local community.

“As a professional rugby player I know just how important teamwork and training is, so a dedicated training room is vital for the crew,” said Jack whose visit to Penlee was made into a short film.

“It’s incredible the amount of training these guys do, but they need it to keep up to date with the equipment they use and so that they stay safe when out at sea. It’s really important for me to be able to do what I can to help them raise the funds needed for their new lifeboat station and help them get the facilities they deserve.”

Other proposals for the site, include a visitor attraction where Penlee’s heritage and sea safety information can be displayed.

If given the go ahead by planners, building works at the station are expected to begin in October and should take around five months to complete.

Much of the £850,000 build fund is set to be met through trusts, grants, philanthropy and corporate supporters but there are hopes £200,000 can be raised through the public fundraising campaign.

“I’d encourage everyone to get involved, support the events that are being organised or organise your own,” said Jack. “It all helps towards that target.”

For more information and to donate to the appeal, visit the station of log on to 

Show your support and donate to the appeal: http://bit.ly/15ORawA

Cooperate to succeed - in US style academia speak!

When you are addressing your audience it is a good idea to use plain English - and not use so many academic terms that mean nothing to the lay person or in this case the Great Lakes fishermen of Michegan.!

Signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations (FAO) and Michigan State University (MSU) to support cooperation in the area of inland fisheries

© FAO: http://www.fao.org

I spy with my ......

The Pew Charitable Trusts launched groundbreaking technology that will help authorities monitor, detect, and respond to illicit fishing activity across the world’s oceans. Project Eyes on the Seas, as the system is known, furthers a long-term effort by Pew to dramatically reduce illegal or "pirate" fishing.

European Commission acts to protect sea bass stock

(26/01/2015) The European Commission has announced measures to avert the collapse of the declining sea bass stock. Immediately effective emergency measures will place a ban on targeting the fish stock by trawling while it is reproducing, during the spawning season, which runs until the end of April. This will be complemented by further measures to ensure that all those who fish sea bass make a balanced and fair contribution to saving the stock.

Protecting sea bassThe European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, said: "The impact of this stock collapsing would be catastrophic for the livelihoods of so many fishermen and coastal communities. This is about saving sea bass and saving jobs in the commercial and recreational fishing sector. I am proud of our quick reaction to what is an immediate danger to the stock". The pelagic trawling ban is a critical first step in this package of measures. This ban will protect the stock from being targeted when at its most vulnerable – when the fish is coming together in shoals during the spawning season to reproduce.

The spawning season is already underway and will last until end of April. Pelagic trawling on is a major source of mortality and reduces the spawning stock as it makes up 25% of the impact on the stock. With a reduced spawning stock further actions and any rebuilding of the stock would be endangered. The measure will therefore come into force immediately and last until 30 April 2015. It will apply to the Channel, Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and southern North Sea.

Commercial and recreational fishing

In order to help the stock of sea bass recover, more action is needed to address the impact of all other commercial and recreational fishing activities.

Therefore the Commission is currently making a renewed and urgent effort in order to help Council and Member States put in place a package of measures to manage commercial and recreational fisheries on seabass more effectively. For recreational fishing which accounts for 25% of sea bass catches, this would include a limit of three fish per day per angler. Member States would also need to set a minimum size of 42 cm so that fish are not caught, or are released, before they have reproduced. For other commercial fisheries than pelagic trawling, this would also include limiting catches. The Commission is working with the Member States involved to prepare a proposal to the Council of Ministers as soon as possible.

Background

Sea bass is one of the most valuable fish on which many fishermen, especially small fishing enterprises, depend. Recent scientific analyses have reinforced previous concerns of unsustainable fishing advising urgently a substantial reduction in fishing mortality. We are witnessing a rapid decline of sea bass that risks leading to a collapse if no action is taken. International scientific bodies have called for an 80% reduction in catches to turn the situation around.

Around 100 fishermen depend to a higher degree for part of the year on pelagic trawling of sea bass, while during the rest of year their income is made up also from other fisheries. There are however several hundred small scale fishermen that depend solely on sea bass for their income and for whom finding another source of income is much more difficult. With over 1.3m recreational anglers in France and another 800 000 in the UK, many thousands of jobs also depend on recreational fishing.

Following a lack of agreement between Member States since 2012 on coordinated and effective measures to protect this important stock and another lack of agreement of EU ministers in December's Fisheries Council, on 19 December 2014 the UK made a formal request to the Commission to take emergency measures. The Commission then consulted the Member States involved and analysed the scientific evidence available. On the basis of discussions with all Member States and based on the scientific evidence the Commission has taken its own decision. The Commission has previously taken such emergency measures to protect vulnerable stocks, most recently with anchovy in the Bay of Biscay.

We need to "have access to data to help understand small-scale fisheries"

ON 10 JUNE 2014, the member States of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) adopted the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (1) (“Guidelines”). 

To make these Guidelines effective, it is crucial that the FAO, governments, and civil society have access to data to help understand small-scale fisheries. Currently, catches from these fisheries are not collected separately, but are lumped in with industrial catches, even though they represent about one-quarter of global catches, and the majority of catches in many developing countries. To promote the transparency needed for good governance (2, 3), the FAO ought to request from member countries a report of catch data that distinguishes between industrial and small-scale fisheries. 

Many decades of debate have failed to produce one, agreed-upon definition of a “small-scale fishery,” but the modest variations in definitions between countries do not preclude efforts to gather global statistics. Just as the Guidelines do not impose a single definition of small-scale fisheries, each of the FAO’s member States could define their own small-scale fisheries, reflecting local realities. 

These changes would help to highlight the importance of small-scale fisheries and may also help governments that still treat these fisheries as a solution to demographic pressure and rural landlessness (4) to focus instead on their inherent value. 

Daniel Pauly1 and Anthony Charles2 * 
1Sea Around Us, 
Fisheries Centre, 
University of British Columbia, 
Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, 
Canada. 
2School of Business and School of the Environment, 
Saint Mary’s University, 
Halifax, NS B3H3C3, 
Canada. 

*Corresponding author. E-mail: tony.charles@smu.ca

Lessons to be learned!

Here's a good news story from the across the pond where stricter West Coast fishing rules spur new technology aimed at recovering groundfish species:

View a slideshow of the technical details of the new trawls designed to help overcome the restrictions imposed by the changing rules and technical regulations enforced across the board: http://s.oregonlive.com/q52QHHV

The report:


Sara Skamser's net building business, Foulweather Trawl, has begun manufacturing modified nets to help fishermen avoid catching fish they would rather leave in the water.

The owner of Newport's Foulweather Trawl fishing net company has been a trusted business partner of West Coast trawlers for three decades, but many of them were skeptical when she began developing special nets designed to keep out unwanted species.

They didn’t want to invest thousands of dollars in a new tool with no guarantee that using it wouldn’t also make it harder for their desired catch to stay in the net.

“They’re human – they don’t want to have to try something new that isn’t working perfectly yet,” Skamser said.

New federal rules created to curb overfishing in the West Coast groundfish industry limit the amount of unintended catch that individual fishermen can bring up in their nets, and have turned many of Skamser’s skeptics into customers.

While no officials records track how many Oregon fishermen use gear modified to more closely target the types of fish they bring aboard, both fishery managers and trawlers say use of the technology has skyrocketed since the new rules took effect.

And it’s having a major impact on the sustainability of Oregon’s commercial marine fishing industry. The nets can help fishermen avoid sensitive and overfished species and are an important piece of the effort to rebuild West Coast groundfish – yelloweye and darkblotch rockfish, for example -- that in the early 2000s stood on the brink of collapse.

New rules change fishing practices

In the old days, trawling along the West Coast was a free for all.

Seasonal fishing caps and limits on unintended catch were set fishery-wide, with no regard for how much any single fisherman was taking. As a result, each season was a race to catch as many pounds as possible before the fishery was maxed out.

Kurt Cochran, a Newport-based fisherman who trawls for “anything that swims,” says in those days, unwanted fish that came up in fishermen’s nets were known as “dinner.”
But starting in 2011, federal regulators switched Oregon, Washington, and California groundfish trawlers to the catch-share system, creating a strong financial reason for fishermen to reduce their chances of bringing in unwanted species.

Under the new rules, each fishing outfit is granted a share of the season’s catch – say, 30 tons of hake, out of a 227,000-ton fishery-wide limit. Likewise, individual fishermen are limited in the amount of unwanted fish they can bring up in their nets. If they surpass that quota, they could be forced to stop fishing whether or not they have reached their catch limit.

“We use an excluder of some kind or another for every fish we do anymore,” Cochran says.
The push for better sorting tools – called excluders -- has also created an unlikely partnership between fishermen and scientists from the regulatory agencies that police their harvest.
“It used to be this side against side; academia versus fishermen,” Skamser said. “There’s a growing collaboration on the port.”

Mark Lomeli and Waldo Wakefield, two scientists with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, spend their days listening to fishermen’s worries. If a fisherman tells them too many halibut getting tangled up in their hake nets, Lomeli and Wakefield find ways to fix it. They also loan out excluder nets and cameras so fishermen can test the gear themselves.

The pair’s experiments offer fishermen valuable information about which tools work best.
“It’s easier to justify buying something if somebody’s done a little research on it to prove it’s a gain,” Cochran said.

Innovation yields success

Two major successes in the past year in the groundfish and shrimp trawl fisheries illustrate the value of the partnership.

In July, Lomeli, Wakefield and scientists from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife tested the effectiveness of LED lights in keeping eulachon smelt out of pink shrimp nets. The tactic was a slam-dunk. Fishermen who dragged the lighted nets saw a 91% reduction in the weight of eulachon they brought aboard.


By the end of the season, Lomeli said, “everyone was using them.”

Part of that is because the lights are only $40 apiece to buy – a small expense, considering that trawl nets run tens of thousands of dollars. Convincing fishermen to buy into a $21,000 net modified to keep salmon out of hake nets is more difficult. But last fall, a close call in the hake fishery convinced many fishermen the expense was worthwhile.


With the season well underway, the hake fishery was nearly shut down after too many Chinook salmon got caught up in trawlers’ nets. Recognizing that salmon numbers were unusually high in 2014, fishery managers ruled the fleet could continue fishing, but they had to move into deeper waters where salmon were sparser. Many fishermen also volunteered to use new nets that are designed to give salmon a way out.

“We’ve had our share of close calls, and the worry of a shutdown makes it really important to use the excluders,” Cochran said. Lomeli and Wakefield are still experimenting with strategically placed net lighting that, they believe, could further reduce the number of salmon coming aboard. They’re hoping to finish those studies next year, and have new tools to share with the industry.

Full story courtesy of:

Kelly House
khouse@oregonian.com
503-221-8178
@Kelly_M_House