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DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING 30^th SEPTEMBER 2006

Weather : calm and dry.  August – rough, wet and windy.  September – mixed.

Fishing Activity
Finfish : Moderate levels of trawling for rays, plaice, sole and bass.  Netting, long lines and rod and line were also successful methods for bass.  Cardiff barrage has been a particular hotspot for bass angling this summer.

MOLLUSCS
Whelk : Six boats continued to fish whelk in Carmarthen Bay landing at £600 per tonne.  A few boats continued to take whelk from Fishguard.

Cockles : The Three Rivers estuary remained closed to cockle fishing although did attract some poaching effort.  Signs are of a reasonable settlement of cockle and good prospects for 2007 based on that year class.

Cockles continued to die in the Burry Inlet, albeit at a lesser rate.  Again a heavy 2006 settlement was noted, and these were growing on well.  In the absence of a minimum size those cockles on the lower shores and middle bank which grew best, were picked by about 15-20 of the licence holders.  To maintain a market, the processors had to change to smaller screens.  Some complaints have been received from the public concerned at the small size of cockle on the market.  We have assured them of the unusual circumstances prevailing and that landings are small in relation to stock and are being kept under close review.

Cockle beds in other areas came under some gathering effort, especially a bed at Angle which has caused some concern in relation of disturbance of Zostera grass beds there.  CCW have approached the Committee to request that cockle picking in the bed itself be limited, this and vehicle disturbance are under review.

Mussels : In the absence of widespread cockle fishing, effort has turned to mussel fishing much earlier in the year than is usual.  Beds at St Ishmael, Wharley Point, Pwll and Whiteford Point have been fished.  At Whiteford the mussel is of a small (seed) size, exposed to waves and unlikely (in the main) to last the winter storms.  In accordance with previous decisions, and discussions with CCW, vessel dredging was authorised.  The one North Wales vessel, however, found the ground too hard and finished after one load – finding better prospects closer to home.

Hand gatherers expressed an interest for the first time ever, supplying culture areas in Wexford, Eire at c £125/tonne.  Discussions and site visits took place with CCW, and a gathering regime implemented which runs on into the autumn.

Elsewhere at St Ishmaels, where a 51mm size remained in place, gatherers trialed two types of grading machine.  Fishery Officers report excellent size selection and return of the undersized to the beds where they are dispersed and bysys threads hold well   Prices for these premium mussels are in the range of £300-£500./tonne.

Winkle: There has been a resurgence of interest and up to 5 tonnes/week being taken at peak periods, sold at ca £1200/tonne.

CRUSTACEANS
Pot and net fishing reached its seasonal peak.  Catches of lobsters and spider crab were good, edible crab and crawfish poor.

Spider crab were so abundant that merchants imposed buying limits on the ‘small’.  Demand continued for green and velvet crab.

Fishery Officers and industry continued to maximize opportunities to collect lobsters for V-notching and return to the sea.  (See PR 11/2006).  By the end of the period some 22,168 lobsters had been returned – ahead of schedule and budget.  Monitoring of lobster movement is now taking place via either coloured claw bands or numbered streamer body-tag.

GENERAL
The Fishery Protection Vessel was very active over the period, working to maximum advantage around the weather.

The Fishery Officer reports show the range of fishing activities around the South Wales coast during the peak fishing period, including the detection of a whole range of offences.  Awareness of the byelaws is nevertheless high.

Certain ‘hotspots’ include netting in areas closed for bass/salmon conservation, and the ever present cockle fishing.  Unfortunately the larger fishing vessels indicate they are all too willing to encroach within the 6 mile SFC district.

Fishery Officers have been working closely with EA staff (estuary netting) and MFA on targeted action on vessel licensing, and buyer and sellers legislation in relation to the ‘black economy’.

Overall the reports show the variety of local fishing, the need for vigilance and the pressures upon staff time caused by the simultaneous disparate seasonal needs to V-notch lobsters, control inshore netting activity, intertidal cockle poaching and the activities of large boats whilst maintaining an ever presence checking for minimum landing sizes and all the other byelaws.

NOTE :  Some inspections are covered under more than one legislation and therefore can appear as more than one count in each period.

OUTSTANDING CASES

CONCLUDED CASES - END SEPTEMBER 2006

By way of change to the previous format, Members attention is drawn to Prosecution cases concluded within the quarter by way of reference to Press Releases issued.

press release 08/06                       date: 8 August 2006

FINES FOR PICKING ON CLOSED COCKLE BEDS

Magistrates sitting in Carmarthen on 7 August heard several cases brought by the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee concerning poaching incidents in the Three Rivers cockle fishery in Carmarthen Bay.

The court heard how following the large fishery in 2005, the cockle beds had been closed on 7 December 2005 to conserve remaining stocks. Over winter there had been considerable natural losses and coupled with a mortality event earlier in June the Committee had decided to keep the beds closed on conservation grounds. In these circumstances it was vital the cockles were left alone to spawn and grow to harvestable size.

Nigel Davies of Square Hall, Pemberton, Llanelli was fined a total of £1100 plus £173 costs for picking cockles from, and driving over the closed Gwendraeth fishery near Kidwelly on 16 February, 21 February, 5 April 2006 and also from the closed Taf fishery at Laugharne on 7 June 2006.

For picking cockles from the closed Gwendraeth beds on 21 February, Stuart Evans of 38 Heol Elvet, Llwynhendy, Llanelli was fined £250 plus £50 costs.

For picking cockles from the closed Gwendraeth beds on 16 February Len Bateman of 8a Bryngwyn Fach, Dafen, Llanelli was fined £200 plus £33 costs.

Owain Harries of 22 Upper Cross Street, Llanelli having had previous convictions taken into account was fined £450 for picking cockles from the closed Taf fishery on 7 June 2006. He was jointly charged with Paul Bowen of 29 Bryn Awelon, Llanelli; Paul Evans of 32 Heol Elfed, Cefn Cae, Llanelli; and Matthew Howe of 19 Heol Elfed, Llanelli who were each fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £40. Howe faced a further vehicle charge for which he was fined £150.

Speaking after the hearings a Committee spokesman said "It was disappointing not to be able to open the Taf cockle fishery this year which was kept closed throughout 2005. Poaching activity is making a poor situation brought about by natural events even worse. We welcome the level of fines imposed on these defendants and there are further cases in preparation. In future we will be asking the court to order the forfeiture of the quad bikes and Land Rovers of persistent offenders".