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DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING 30^th SEPTEMBER 2007

Weather : July commenced where June left off – wet and windy.   Thankfully the weather improved as the quarter progressed, and September was settled if not especially sunny.

Fishing Activity
Finfish : Bass were prolific throughout the entire district.   Fish of all sizes were available, but frequently around 2.25 lbs (possibly of the 2002 year class).

Mackerel were also plentiful, right through to the quarter end.   It was nice to hear several reports of surface shoaling fish – just like the ‘good old days’.   Predatory fish were also present.   Along with the bass were reports even of thresher shark!

Fixed and drift nets were deployed through the wider Bristol Channel, in particular.   Most of the nets were compliant although reports of intermittent use of illegal fixed nets were followed up near Porthcawl.   Both ourselves and the Environment Agency were active in Burry Inlet and near Fishguard; EA detecting one offence.

Trawlers fished from Swansea and Port Talbot taking mainly ray and mixed flatfish.

Anglers took a range of fish from all marks.   Along with the usual species were reports of summer vagrants, including trigger fish, red mullet and gilt head bream.

MOLLUSCS
Whelk : Five vessels fished Carmarthen Bay.   Landings are now paid for on a yield basis at £750/tonne, and are reported to be holding up well.

Winkles have been taken from all areas, fetching up to £1500/tonne

Cockles fishing virtually came to a close in August following the severe spring mortality as previously reported.

Following the closure of Llanstephan the number of cockle continued to drop from 69/m2 to 6/m2 entirely independent of fishing activity.

The decision was taken to keep the other Three Rivers areas closed because too few cockle had survived the spring mortality event. A small dense patch of spat (2007 settled cockle) had settled in muddy ground at Ginst point near Laugharne, and its rapid growth tracked.

Some 1 year old cockle persisted on the Burry Inlet south, but it was very small and its growth poor, especially at School beds (Ochor Draw). Eventually this too died without getting near the even reduced 17.5mm minimum size.

Fortunately, signs of spat became evident during the summer, and across many areas of the Burry Inlet and Three Rivers. The rapid growth rates were reported to be unprecedented, perhaps due to the combination of mild and wet weather?

Whiteford Point supported some limited cockling effort on sparse but well grown cockle.

By the end of August many from the local industry moved north to fish the Morecambe bay beds which opened from 1st September.

CRUSTACEANS
Pot and net fishing continued throughout the quarter with reasonable landings of lobster and spider crab.   Edible crab catches increased towards the end of the quarter.

Fishery Offices have commenced a period of intensive discard monitoring at sea as part of the V-notch project.   They confirm previous fishermen’s observations of large numbers of undersized (<90mm) lobster which bodes well for future prospects.

The V-notching scheme came to a close in July, save for some ‘mopping up’ expected later on.   These later returns are expected to also be ‘streamer’ tagged with an individual numbered tag so lobster movement can be followed.

GENERAL
It is very pleasing to report that all areas of the District have received a very full coverage by Fishery Officers from both boat and shore during this quarter, being the most actively fished of the year.   The FPV activity is on schedule to meet full year targets.

The employment of a ‘crewman’ on the FPV has released on Fishery Officer back to their ‘patch’, and this has worked well.  

Fishery Officer tasks have had to be balanced between patch enforcement, Patrol Vessel, V-notching and survey and covering other leave or events, such as survey and sampling.

Secondly, despite this level of patrol effort, it is actually pleasing to report that the few infringements detected have been mainly minor in nature and often dealt with by verbal admonishment.

Fishery enforcement has to be a balance between detection and apprehension of offences and prevention – something that is difficult to measure in terms of success.

Similarly, most fishermen want to see a regular presence of enforcement staff, but do not wish to be harassed.   From the comments received it appears that this balance has largely been achieved.  In some cases, sea anglers in particular, there is often a perception that some fishing activity is illegal which clouds their judgement!

The Royal Navy Surveillance System (RNSS) Satellite monitoring system has now been rolled out to the Protection Vessel, as has been the case for other SFCs.   Vessels >15m are required by EU fishery law to have a satellite transponder that polls on a 2 hourly basis.   We can now keep an eye out on the activities of the larger vessels and plan patrols accordingly.   It seems likely that the EU will require such monitoring equipment to be placed on much smaller boats in future years. Big brother is watching!

Another ‘technological’ development has been the move to small catamaran craft.   These displace less water than mono-hulls and are therefore faster and/or more economical.   Their larger deck space offers a stable platform, which allows safer working and more gear to be carried.   It remains to be seen the extent to which this development enables more fishing effort either per capita (resulting from single handed working), or from fishing more gear, or through working rougher weather.   More likely a combination of events will arise.  The Committee’s unique 150 VCU maximum capacity size will limit the extent of this development.

It is again worthy of note that the Protection Vessel was again involved in a number of rescues in a range of circumstances - either directly or as standby vessel.

Finally, it seems as if markets are in development for a greater range of sea-products.   Not only are Chinese gatherers taking a range of species previously considered inedible, but we also have unconfirmed reports of other possible targets.

Interest has been expressed in taking various species of common brown seaweed (Fucus species) to extract alginates for the pharmaceutical industry.   In a similar vein, Chinese interest has been expressed in jellyfish (Rhizostoma) for culinary purposes and the French are believed to similarly have a market for use in anti-wrinkle cream.  Of course, neither jellyfish nor seaweeds are ‘sea fish’ and are therefore not currently protected by fishery byelaws.

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

OUTSTANDING CASES 2007

CONCLUDED CASES - END SEPTEMBER 2007

There were no concluded cases in this quarter.