Fishing focus issue 31 autumn 2013 by Through the Gaps

The Defra and MMO marine fisheries newsletter

Inside this issue Autumn 2013

2014 TACs and quotas Page 3

Fisheries in European Marine Sites Pages 4

Issue 31

MMO News Pages 6 and 7

Facing future challenges

Having already attended my first EU Fisheries Council meeting in Luxembourg last month, I’m focusing increasingly on the quota negotiations at the December Council. The annual stakeholder event in Edinburgh on 29 October was a chance to hear from the fishing industry and other interested parties about their concerns and start to shape the UK’s priorities for the negotiations. Throughout the process we’ll be guided by the best available scientific evidence, achieving sustainable stocks and reducing discards.

by George Eustice MP Being from Cornwall I understand many of the challenges our fishing industry faces, as well as the critical importance of our marine environment. I therefore feel very privileged to be taking over responsibilities for the marine environment from Richard Benyon and want to build on the excellent progress he made as Minister over the last three years.

It’s a crucial time particularly with CFP reform implementation under way, Marine Conservation Zones designations coming up soon and England’s first marine plans being prepared. It's vital that we can balance the differing needs of the marine environment, ensuring it can continue to support vibrant local economies and communities, as well as protecting sensitive habitats and species when we need to.

I’m keen to meet as many of you with an interest in our seas as possible to listen to your views and discuss how we can best work together to seize opportunities, as well as tackling the challenges facing us. I’ve already made the first of what I hope will be many visits to the coast in my new role. I look forward to working with you.

COMMENT AND NEWS IN BRIEF

News in Brief Sea Angling 2012

As we move into November the pace is quickening on work to agree next year’s quotas. There was a good turn out from the industry and other interests at Murrayfield on 29 October to discuss this year’s scientific advice on the state of the stocks with Ministers. As ever, recommendations to cut particular quotas were more controversial than the advice to increase others and I expect that the debate will intensify following publication of most of the European Commission’s proposals (see page 3). The UK has a direct interest in most stocks and, when proposals vary from dramatic increases to deep cuts, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. But overall stocks are improving. The progressive implementation of the reformed CFP from 1 January should reinforce the trend so that more fish can be landed without risking future stock collapse. A true measure of success therefore will be whether we manage to put behind us the difficult and often painful quota negotiations each December. Wouldn’t that be great?

The report of the Sea Angling 2012 project – the biggest assessment of data on recreational sea angling throughout England – will be published on 27 November. Since 2011, using online economic and catch surveys plus face-to-face interviews with anglers around the coast of England, Cefas, the MMO and individual Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs), have collected information about catch levels and the economic and social value of recreational sea angling. The data will help the sea angling community to develop sea angling; to improve the scientific understanding of coastal fish stocks; and to enable national and local policy makers to make informed decisions on fisheries management. You’ll be able to find the report at: www.gov.uk/ government/policies/reformingand-managing-marine-fisheriesfor-a-prosperous-fishingindustry-and-a-healthy-marineenvironment/activity

Marine Conservation Zones Following our consultation on Marine Conservation Zones earlier in the year, we plan to announce the designation of Marine Conservation Zones soon. You’ll be able to find the announcement at: www.gov.uk/ government/policies/protectingand-sustainably-using-themarine-environment/activity and you can see the consultation at: https://www.gov.uk/ government/consultations/ marine-conservation-zonesconsultation-on-proposals-fordesignation-in-2013

MMO Triennial Review

John Robbs Director, Marine and Fisheries 2

In September Defra launched a Triennial Review of the MMO which was set up in 2010 to make a significant contribution to sustainable development in the marine area and to promote

the UK government’s vision for ‘clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas’. The review is examining the MMO’s functions, its governance arrangements and whether other delivery models would be more appropriate. Triennial Reviews are part of the government’s rolling reform programme to consider whether bodies remain fit-for-purpose and continue to offer value for money. Stakeholders’ views were sought during September and October but you can still feed views into the Review by contacting the Review Team at trt@defra.gsi.gov.uk We expect to announce the conclusions of the Review in early 2014. You can read about the Review at: www.gov.uk/ government/consultations/ triennial-review-of-the-marinemanagement-organisation

Microplastics in the marine environment Microplastics in our seas come from a variety of sources, including the breakdown of larger items. They can be found in marine organisms and, as studies suggest that microplastics absorb pollutants from the marine environment, scientists have recommended more research into their effects. We don’t yet know whether microplastics cause any harm in the marine environment, so Defra is funding a leading expert on micro-plastics in the marine environment to manage research by Plymouth and Exeter Universities to assess the likelihood of this. This project will report in March 2014. Also, Cefas is working with neighbouring European countries and local authorities to assess the risks and effects of microplastics in the English Channel and southern North Sea. You can read about the European project at: www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be/micro/ EN/Home/tabid/6572/Default.aspx

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

2014 TACs and quotas On 30 October the European Commission released proposals for 2014 Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for those stocks in EU waters and for EU vessels in certain non-EU waters. • TAC increases for North Sea and West of Scotland megrim, Irish Sea herring, Bristol Channel plaice, Rockall haddock and Northern hake. • Continued rollovers for certain stocks with limited data, where agreed at December 2013. • A number of fixed 20% TAC reductions (or increases) – for remaining stocks with limited data where the scientific advice was for a TAC change greater than 20%. • Further 20% reductions in 2014 for some stocks subject to advice every two years e.g. skates and rays and Irish Sea whiting. • Other stocks with proposed reductions include: Celtic Sea (VIIb-k) cod and haddock, North Sea nephrops (prawns), West of Scotland haddock, Irish Sea cod, English Channel (VIIde) plaice and sole. • Finally, there is currently no TAC proposed for seabass.

The main elements of the proposals include:

The proposals for stocks subject to third country negotiations (e.g. mackerel and joint EU-Norway stocks like North Sea cod, haddock and whiting) have not yet been released. Over the next month the UK Government will work with all those with an interest to agree UK negotiating priorities on the proposals before the Fisheries Council on 16-18 December.

EU fisheries powers Make sure you have your say on Defra’s Balance of Competence review on fisheries. The exercise flows from a Coalition Government commitment to review the balance of competences between the UK and the EU. Competence is the EU’s power to act. The evidence you give us will feed into a report to deepen public and parliamentary understanding of the nature of our EU membership by examining the EU’s effect on fisheries and their management in the UK. The fisheries review is considering the balance of competence in relation to all

fisheries, shellfisheries and aquaculture. We’d like your responses to a range of questions designed to generate evidence about where EU action on fisheries helps or hinders the UK. Questions address issues such as the level at which decisions should be taken, how successful the current EU arrangements are, and what will be the future challenges and opportunities for fisheries management. During the twelve week call for evidence period, we’ll be

meeting organisations with an interest in fisheries. We’ll also be holding events to encourage debate on key issues and to collect evidence for the final report. In summer 2014 we’ll publish the report summarising the information gathered. We’ll not be making specific recommendations or drawing conclusions, but setting out the evidence received. All evidence on which the report is based will also be published. The report will be one of 32 topic reports analysing what EU membership means for the UK.

You can find the call for evidence at: consult.defra.gov.uk/eu/ boc-fisheries and respond to the call by 13 January 2014. If you want information on events or have any queries contact: balanceofcompetence.fish@defra.gsi.gov.uk 3

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

Managing fisheries in European Marine Sites We’ve revised the approach that fishery regulators take to assess the impact of commercial fisheries on European marine sites (EMS) (Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas). This approach will promote sustainable fisheries while conserving the marine environment and resources, securing a sustainable future for both. With advice from the Fisheries in EMS Implementation Group, which includes fishing industry and environmental interests, a timetable has been developed that should protect the most sensitive features of these sites by the end of 2013, with all sites having appropriate protection in 2016. On 22 October the MMO completed formal consultations on four draft byelaws to protect reefs by prohibiting the use of bottom towed fishing gear.

The draft byelaws were prepared after informal consultations by the MMO from June to August 2013. The proposed byelaws will protect bedrock reefs in Land's End and Cape Bank EMS and Start Point to Plymouth Sound and Eddystone EMS; and ross worm reefs in Haisborough, Hammond and Winterton EMS and Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge EMS. The outcomes of the consultations will be announced soon and any byelaws for the four sites will come into force by 31 December 2013.

In the inshore area, Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) are taking similar measures to protect EMS: • Eastern IFCA is consulting on a district-wide byelaw which uses regulatory notices to restrict or prohibit fishing where there is a risk to features of an EMS. • Northumberland IFCA is consulting on byelaws to protect seagrass and prohibit mobile towed gear in the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast EMS. • Isles of Scilly IFCA is consulting on a permit byelaw which restricts mobile towed gear. • Southern IFCA is consulting on a byelaw to prohibit the use of bottom towed gear in 29 sites within their district. Byelaws will be in place by 31 December 2013.

You can find out more at: www.marinemanagement.org.uk/ protecting/conservation/ems_fisheries.htm

Domestic fisheries management reform update By reforming the management of domestic inshore fisheries, we’re aiming to place the fleet on a more sustainable footing, with greater responsibility and flexibility for individual fishermen. We’ve been getting feedback allowed catch plans to be for vessel safety, improving from initiatives, supported by tailored to local circumstances the quality of products and Coastal Liaison Officers funded and changing conditions. harbour improvements. The by the European Fisheries Fund, Fishermen could improve the Scarborough Fishermen’s to test approaches to reform. value of quota holdings by Co-operative has been set trading for stocks of more use up and should benefit from The Ramsgate Pilot Quota and could manage over-catches the increased interest in Group was set up to test a new retrospectively through quota traceability throughout the local fisheries management swaps and leases. They could food chain and in buying system for under 10 metre also reduce discards of bycatch seasonal catch from day boats. fishing vessels to see if by landing and sourcing the allocating quota to groups We’re also working closely with required quota. of fishermen could improve the Devolved Administrations profitability and sustainability. Fishermen in the North East to develop the Fixed Quota Benefits from the fishermen tested the benefits of collective Allocation (FQA) Register to working together include action for marketing and meet the timelines set out in a defined annual quota funding initiatives. They found the Concordat on management allocation which removed the benefits in working together of UK fish quotas and licences. unpredictability of monthly to secure grants from the EFF catch limits and improved You can read more about domestic fisheries including the Concordat fishermen’s ability to plan at: www.gov.uk/government/policies/reforming-and-managingtheir businesses and invest marine-fisheries-for-a-prosperous-fishing-industry-and-a-healthystrategically. The new system marine-environment/supporting-pages/reforming-domestic-fisheries improved flexibility and 4

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

CFP reform – preparing for change With the new CFP regulation close to being ratified by the European Union in time for 2014, we’ve been turning our attention to how we’ll implement the new provisions in the UK and how the fishing industry can adapt as smoothly as possible to new rules. To date our efforts have concentrated on our key priorities of regionalisation and the discard ban, but we’ll be preparing for all of the provisions of the new CFP. Regionalisation will allow Member States in a fishery to work together, with support from the Regional Advisory Councils, to decide appropriate detailed management measures. We’ve already undertaken work with the Member States who share our fisheries in the North Sea and North West Waters to ensure the ground rules and ways of working are understood. We’ve also ramped up our work with the stakeholder-led Regional Advisory Councils for these areas, as well as the Pelagic Advisory Council to help

ensure that they’re preparing for the future and able to participate in discussions. These are vital first steps to delivering the tailored rules appropriate for our fisheries rather than the one-size-fits-all approach that has, to date, hampered the CFP. We’re pleased with the genuine enthusiasm that is being displayed to operate more effectively under the new provisions. We’re also working with industry representatives, Member States and European institutions on how to implement the pelagic discard ban that comes into force on 1 January 2015. This wideranging piece of work covers science, quota management, enforcement, technical

Common Market Organisation The UK supports fundamental reform of the Common Market Organisation in fishery and aquaculture products (CMO), which is a major pillar of the Common Fisheries Policy. Reform of the CMO will bring it into line with current modern market practices and provide a strong, efficient and transparent internal market for fisheries and aquaculture products. The role of Producer Organisations will be strengthened to contribute to promoting viable and sustainable fishing activities in line with the CFP. There are also new marketing and consumer labelling standards. The European Parliament will be voting on the dossier in December before the

regulation comes into force on 1 January 2014. The European Commission hopes to introduce four implementing acts relating to Producer Organisations on 1 January. It hasn’t yet published these draft acts but aims to have a vote on them in November or December. They will help us to prepare a Statutory Instrument to transpose the regulation into UK law and give the MMO and other enforcement bodies the power to enforce the CMO. We’ll be consulting on this soon.

regulations, on-shore infrastructure and decision making processes. The work will inform a public consultation in England that we expect to undertake in early 2014 setting out proposals on how we can deliver the discard ban in pelagic fisheries.

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund The European Parliament has voted in plenary on new proposals for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, which supports delivery of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy and will benefit the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The majority of funds will support measures such as more selective gear to contribute to eliminating discards and innovative research to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the fishing industry. The European Parliament rejected funding for fleet renewal and investment in new fleets, which should help to reduce capacity in the fisheries sector and overfishing. There will now be further discussions on details before the final vote by the European Parliament probably in early spring. The Commission hopes to adopt the regulation to set up the Fund before the end of April 2014. 5

MMO NEWS

Response to England’s first marine planning consultation The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is currently working through almost 2,000 comments from more than 100 responses on the draft East Inshore and East Offshore marine plans.

The consultation period included drop-in sessions along the East coast, to ensure as many people as possible saw the MMO’s short film explaining marine planning and were able to comment on the proposals.

The consultation on the draft plans for the seas from Flamborough Head to Felixstowe closed on 8 October, after a 12 week period. It was our first ever public consultation on draft marine plans – a real milestone for English waters.

Some of the comments and issues raised during the consultation are listed below. These are just a snapshot of responses and don’t reflect the full range of views, which are still being considered. They include the need for: • Continued and improved access to fishing grounds The consultation covered the first two of 11 marine plans to be • Recognition of smaller delivered for England by 2022. employment opportunities, such We’re one of the first countries as coaching/training/education/ in the world to plan across all safety roles to meet the needs marine activities. of coastal communities The fishing industry had their • Close consultation with other say on the draft plans, as did sea users if seeking to restrict local authorities, ports and activities on the basis of shipping interests, aggregate biodiversity and leisure industries, coastal • Joined-up thinking between partnerships, environmental the relevant authorities for organisations and others. marine decision making

• Consideration of how the consultation documents are accessed and interpreted by those not supported by a professional organisation • Promotion of the regeneration of key coastal towns • Recognition of economic significance of ports • More consideration of tourism and fishing • A 20-year vision covering more than one sector • More consideration of co-location opportunities needed • Development of fisheries evidence. The MMO will now look through all the comments in detail, and seek to resolve any outstanding issues together with marine users. A modification report will then be produced to explain how we have taken responses into account and any amendments made to the marine plans. The MMO would like to thank all those who have taken the time to respond to the consultation and for taking an interest in marine planning.

You can see the film on marine planning at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFn0buPVU6A and if you have any further queries on the consultation, or want to sign up to our marine planning newsletter, you can email us on planning@marinemanagement.org.uk or phone 0191 376 2790. You can also follow us @The_MMO and join the #marineplanning conversation.

New licensing requirements for dredging Those who work from ports and harbours requiring dredging are being encouraged to read new guidance produced by the MMO. This covers regulatory changes which may affect people carrying out dredging from April 2014. Under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, the Government made licensing of navigational dredging a legal requirement. When the new marine licensing system came

into effect in 2011 it allowed a transition period for operators to adapt to the change. The transition period comes to an end in April 2014 and from then dredging activity, other than very small scale maintenance dredging, is likely to require consent from the MMO. During the transition period the MMO has been working to streamline the future application process, including developing an accelerated decision-making

process. The MMO plans to introduce this accelerated process in certain circumstances from November 2013. Further information will be available in the licensing section of the MMO’s website from November 2013, when people can also start applying for these licences. See: www.marinemanagement.org. uk/licensing or call 0300 123 1032.

MMO NEWS

Fisheries evidence to shape marine planning The MMO will soon publish two reports aimed at improving mapping of fish species and habitats, and understanding future fishing trends.

Marine Planning Manager, Russell Gadbury, said: “It’s really important to understand fishing data, to make sure we find the best ways to manage and protect resources while helping to secure a sustainable future for our fishing industry.”

Essential fish habitats The 'Essential fish habitats' report highlights where important fish habitats are in the English Channel and assesses how important these are to the environment and commercial fishing.

It identifies those habitats necessary to fish for spawning, feeding and as nursery grounds, all of which are vital for healthy and productive ecosystems and for making sure there are stocks to be fished in the future. The study focuses on 10 fish species; plaice, sole, lemon sole, dab, red gurnard, common dragonet, solenette, thickback sole, thornback ray and herring.

Fisheries futures The 'Fisheries futures' study was commissioned by the MMO to identify the trends and key factors in the fishing and aquaculture industries over the next 20 years. This helps marine planning ensure that the future needs of the fishing industry are

These reports will directly contribute to marine planning in the South Inshore and South Offshore areas, which will shape the future uses of our seas.

considered in marine plans. The report looks at recent historical trends in fishing activity and the possible future effect of factors such as marine policy, environmental changes and technology. Industry representatives were also involved in developing this evidence. The reports will be published at: www.marinemanagement.org. uk/evidence/index.htm

Fishing industry in 2012 statistics The MMO has published the annual UK Sea Fisheries Statistics report for 2012 on its website. The report includes detailed figures on the UK fishing fleet, the number of fishermen, the quantity and value of landings, international trade and the state of key fishing stocks. It also features some statistics at port level on type, quantity and value of catch. The report highlights that in 2012: • The quantity of fish has increased, while the value has decreased, primarily due to a reduction in the average price of pelagic fish, driven by a fall in the market prices of mackerel. • UK vessels landed 627,000 tonnes of sea fish (including shellfish) into the UK and abroad with a value of £770 million – a 5% increase in quantity but a 7% decrease in value compared with 2011. • Scottish vessels accounted for 58% of the quantity of landings by UK vessels, while English vessels accounted for 30%. • Plymouth saw the largest quantity of fish landed by the UK fleet out of ports in England. UK vessels landed 15,748 tonnes of fish into Plymouth worth £16.1 million in 2012.

This was an increase from 2011 when 14,253 tonnes were landed, worth £14.2 million. • Brixham saw the largest value catch of fish landed by the UK fleet compared to other ports in England. UK vessels landed 15,600 tonnes of fish worth £26.9 million in 2012. This was an increase from 2011 when 13,746 tonnes of fish were landed into Brixham, worth £26.1 million. • Newlyn was the busiest UK administration port for fishing vessels (610 vessels). 10,741 tonnes of fish were landed by the UK fleet into Newlyn, worth £20.2 million. This was an increase in quantity from 2011 (10,309 tonnes) but a decrease in total value of the catch (£22 million). The MMO website includes an archive of statistics dating back over 100 years which reveal that in 1912 £9.2 million of fish and shellfish was landed in England and Wales (1912 price). You can read the Statistics report at: www.marinemanagement.org.uk/news/ press/130926.htm 7

YOUR VIEWS

Defra and the Devolved Administrations are committed to consulting on the monitoring arrangements for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and are planning a UK-wide consultation in January 2014. The Directive requires Member States to put in place measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status in their seas by 2020. It was transposed into UK law in July 2010 through the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 and is consistent with the UK’s vision for ‘clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas’. The Directive requires each EU Member State to establish and implement, by mid-July 2014, monitoring programmes to measure progress against the targets and indicators in their national Marine Strategies. The UK published its Marine Strategy Part One in December 2012. This sets out the UK’s targets and indicators on marine mammals; birds; fish; pelagic and benthic habitats; commercially exploited fish;

MSFD monitoring consultation

levels of eutrophication and hydrographical conditions; concentrations of contaminants; levels of contaminants in fish and seafood for human consumption; marine litter; and levels of underwater noise. To develop the monitoring programmes, Defra has worked closely with the Devolved Administrations, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), environment agencies, other Government Departments and scientists in the UK Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy community. Many of the issues are also common to other Member States sharing the same seas and we’re working closely with them, through EU and OSPAR groups, to develop common approaches to monitoring. This will both address the requirement in the Directive for Member States

You can read about the Directive at: www.gov.uk/government/ policies/protecting-and-sustainably-using-the-marine-environment/ supporting-pages/implementing-the-marine-strategy-frameworkdirective and see the UK Marine Strategy Part One at: www.gov. uk/government/publications/marine-strategy-part-one-uk-initialassessment-and-good-environmental-status and when the consultation is published you’ll find it at: www.gov.uk/government/publication s?departments%5B%5D=department-for-environment-food-ruralaffairs&publication_filter_option=consultations

to develop co-ordinated and coherent Marine Strategies and help identify cost effective monitoring solutions. During the 12 week consultation period we’ll be arranging a stakeholder workshop and meeting stakeholders to run through the monitoring programmes and discuss any issues.

Revision to marine licensing fees and charges Defra is consulting on proposals to recover a higher proportion of the costs the MMO incurs in dealing with marine licensing applications, while at the same time minimising the impacts on businesses through efficiency measures and, for certain smaller projects by providing a public subsidy. You can find out more about the consultation, which closes on 19 November, at: www.gov.uk/government/ consultations/revision-tomarine-licensing-fees-andcharges

FishingFocus – Your views Have you any questions you’d like us to answer in the next issue of Fishing Focus or comments on this issue? You can email us on fishingfocus@defra.gsi.gov.uk or write to Fishing Focus, Defra Marine and Fisheries, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR. You can read previous issues of Fishing Focus at: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-forenvironmentfood-rural-affairs/series/fishing-focus 8

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