Dear All
It is timely to update the industry of recent developments.
1. VESSEL PERMIT SCHEME - Byelaw 41 In accordance with changes made in recent years,
find enclosed your vessel permit for 2005 which is now renewed automatically
provided catch return forms have been received for the full year.
i.e. For crustaceans (Class 1) or Molluscs (Class II) returns for
January - April (due May), May - August (due September), September
- December (due by the end of January).
For whitefish (Class III) an annual statement of catches from the
SWSFC District (due asap in January).
If your permit for 2005 is not enclosed it is most likely that our
records show that some returns are outstanding. Please contact Margaret
to ascertain the position, whereupon a permit for 2005 can be issued. If there are any changes of ownership
or to the vessel or fishing takes place for other species, you must
inform the SWSFC office to enable the permit to be amended. Please therefore check the details on
the vessel permits as soon as they are issued to ensure that they
meet your fishing requirements. This is your obligation, and inaccurate
details may otherwise render a permit invalid.
2. CATCH RETURNS FOR 2003 Find enclosed catch return graphs (Class 1) for
shellfish for 2003 based upon the returns you have previously supplied.
If there appears to be any errors or omissions, please let us know.
Graphs for 2004 will be provided as soon as vessel owners have submitted
full data.
In January and April 2004 DEFRA extended restrictive licensing to
all vessels fishing crustacean shellfish based on previous track
record. The submission of catch returns is one element of this.
The exact arrangements are still under discussion between DEFRA/CEFAS
and SFCs and industry will be informed of requirements in 2005.
It is the intention that only one set of returns be submitted. To
allow this SWSFC will consider modification of its byelaws.
3. SOUTH WALES SEA FISHERIES COMMITTEE
MATTERS a) The Fishery Protection Vessel Cranogwen is
now in refit following 17 years of service. Using 35% EU aid she
will soon emerge for sea trials in a substantially modified form.
Capability to launch 6m Sea Rider will be increased, and modern
wheelhouse electronics will allow better vessel tracking and seabed
recording.
b) Staff changes
Dr A Woolmer is soon to replace Colin Trundle as Committee's Biologist.
Colin moved to Cornwall SFC in September.
c) Fishery Officer L Richardson (West) has retired after 12 years
service, and a replacement is in the process of being recruited.
d) Following expenditure on the vessel, Committee's financial reserves
have been greatly reduced. Although its levy to local authorities
has increased it is still in real terms only 88% of what it was
in 1996/97 and expenditure still exceeds income, thus drawing down
reserves. 4. WHELK CLOSED SEASON Notices have already been circulated indicating
a renewal of the closed season for taking whelks from within the
SWSFC district between 1st January 2005 and 14th February inclusive.
Officers have agreed to work with the S&WWFC Ltd and industry
to measure whelks and catches, in order to assess the state of the
population. Options include removing the closed season in favour
of increased minimum landing size to 70mm shell length (35mm bar
spacing) as was originally intended, (locally whelks spawn at c
84mm size) and/or changed close season.
5. LOBSTER V-NOTCHING SWSFC has resubmitted its application for £336,816
of Objective 1 funding to WEFO. If granted, up to 24,000 female
lobsters would be purchased for release, commencing 1st April 2005
for three years.
Similar arrangements would apply to the last (PESCA) scheme when
6332 lobsters were returned in 2000 and 2001.
6. SKOMER MARINE NATURE RESERVE - NO TAKE ZONE? It was reported last year that discussions were
ongoing. Furthermore at National level, Government has received
reports from the Review of Marine Nature Conservation, Cabinet Review
on Fisheries, and Royal Commission in favour of no fish zones.
Skomer Reserve staff have informally discussed some options with
relevant fishermen who fish the reserve and local community interests.
Angers and divers are yet to be fully involved. A recent meeting
of the Skomer Advisory Committee agreed with the approach taken.
The South & West Wales Fishing Communities Ltd Association have
subsequently raised various concerns.
SWSFC awaits a request from CCW to consider whether the SWSFC should
advertise a byelaw for further more formal comment which could prohibit
fishing in the Reserve (or part) according to any restrictions or
exceptions. Any advertisement would signal a move from informal
discussion to formal discussion. Ultimately the Welsh Fisheries
Minister would be called to take a decision whether to make a byelaw
at all or in any modified state.
Any person wishing to receive further information on any proposal
as it arises (and before it is advertised) should contact this office.
7. EUROPEAN MARINE SITES (SPECIAL AREAS OF
CONSERVATION - SAC AND SPECIAL PROTECTION AREAS FOR BIRDS - SPAs) The EU has now adopted the sites as 'Natura 2000',
and the NAW has agreed that even in draft the full effect of the
law would be applied. Discussions on drafting a management scheme
are continuing within Relevant Authorities (i.e. Statutory bodies)
which will be put out to wider consultation in 2005/06 (depending
on site). CCW are still to produce 'Conservation Objectives' which
is the detail of the site justification and explanation of operations
which may damage or disturb, and current status of the site features.
A recent European court judgement makes it plain that fishery management
must be treated like a 'development'. i.e. Actions must be prior
assessed to ensure that they are unlikely (? will not) (significantly?)
effect the features for which each site has been designated.
Meetings with government officials and lawyers are yet to take place
to identify the effects of this legislation. However, it is clear
that environmental assessments will be required before judgements
are made on fishery management decisions. So for example, dropping
a cockle size from 19mm to 17.5mm, authorising a dredge to fish
an area, or whelk size dispensation, will not be confined to Committee
decision, upon instinct, previous practice or trial and error.
The practical and financial implications of this are not yet certain.
However, industry must understand that in the future Committee will
have less of an ability to take rapid decisions, or be its own master.
The Committee has already experienced the effect of a complaint
by an environmentalist concerned about razor fish dredging to the
European Commission and the work and restrictions which resulted
as the Commission largely upheld that complaint.
There is little doubt that in the future, management of sea fisheries
will be a very different business to that undertaken in the past.
It is hoped that the new Fishermen's Association will involve themselves
with such aspects in the future, in doing so remove some of the
work for SWSFC staff whose responsibilities are divided and defined
by the various legislation.
8. FISHERY REVIEWS As hinted above, Government have received and
are considering their response to several reviews.
1. EU CFP Review (2002), and the Prime Minister's Cabinet Strategy
Group Report 'Net Benefits'. This is a major and radical review
suggesting amongst other aspects:- Fleet reductions, Marine Protected
Areas, restricting and re-focus of fishery departments, environmental
appraisal, user pays, greater say for anglers.
2. Review of Fisheries & Environmental Enforcement - (Bradley
Report). This builds upon the above, but in the context of who will
undertake the enforcement work. It recommends that DEFRA Sea Fisheries
Inspectorate become an arms length Agency, and that SFCs join this.
This week the Minister has agreed to establish the Inspectorate
and some portions of the Fisheries Departments, but has deferred
a decision on SFCs. Environment Agency have themselves made a bid
for SFC business. SFCs have asked that we be strengthened legally
and financially with a view to taking on work in the 6-12 mile from
DEFRA.
User pay models have also been suggested for commercial vessels
and a sea angling licence. Sports fish status has been suggested
for some species.
Government is set to respond to both reviews by the end of April
2005. DEFRA and Welsh Assembly are free to take a different stance,
within obvious legislative constraints.
This is a complicated business with unknown outcomes, but which
has been exercising the minds of fishery managers for over 12 months.
3. Review of Marine Nature Conservation - Irish Sea Pilot Project
The report calls for better management of marine life on a systematic
and ecosystem basis. It calls for up to 25% of sea areas to be set
aside, and better protection via a new Marine Act in order that
species/habitats of National importance can be identified and managed.
These would supplement the EU designations (Item 7).
4. Royal Commission on Environment Pollution - released in December,
calls for 30% of UK waters to become reserves closed to commercial
fishing, changes in public rights, decommissioning, control of fishing
effort etc.
5. Much of SWSFC officer's time has been spent informing participants
of the unique nature of inshore fisheries management which, largely
under the stewardship of SFCs for over 100 years, has been generally
doing OK. It is all too easy for the public to think that the dire
situation faced by offshore mixed fin fisheries is also a reflection
for other species in inshore areas - it does not!
9. SCALLOP CONSERVATION WAG have recently revised their proposals to
introduce gear restrictions and closed seasons for scallop fishing.
They propose a statutory instrument which:-
a) Proposes a 6 dredge limit (0-6m) and 8 dredges (6-12m) - the
limit in England is 16 dredges.
b) Proposes to extend the current closed season to 1st June - 31st
October (currently 1st July - 31st October).
c) Sets a 110 mm scallop size throughout Wales. (Currently 110mm
via a combination of National legislation and SWSFC byelaw).
All comments to Sarah Thomas, AFPD, NAW, Cathays Park, Cardiff.
CF10 3NQ Tel: 02920 823184 by 4th February.
10. SOUTH & WEST WALES FISHING COMMUNITIES
LTD (SWWFC) The above was formed in 2004 with the receipt
of significant grant aid. We welcome the establishment of the organisation
and urge all fishermen to make full use of the facilities and contribute
fully to the running of the organisation. It will link with other
similar organisations in Wales.
Links with the SWSFC and SWWFC are strong. Officer liaison takes
place on a regular, almost daily basis, and several board members
sit on the SWSFC itself.
11. CATCH RETURNS It will be obvious from the above, and from previous
industry Newsletters that the sector is facing some serious challenges.
I offer no apologies for repeating previous sermons. The (shell)fish
industry in Wales is significant and one that is undervalued. If
it is to stand up and be counted it must do so on a basis of collective
responsibility. One large element of this is the necessity to properly
record the amount of fish and shellfish landed, their value and
the amount of fishing activity that takes place. Such figures bear
recording through all aspects from point of first capture to final
destination and point of sale. Whilst the industries position in
poorly recording landings and value in this respect is entirely
understandable, it does itself no favours. In matters of importance
such as negotiations with sea anglers, no take zones, SACs and in
General management and application for grant or recognition with
respect to marine developments, a failure to be able to demonstrate
the reality of what is actually happening 'on the ground' will see
the industry lose out.
It only remains to wish you good fortune and good fishing for the
year to come from us all at South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee.
