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DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2007

Weather : Mild with the occasional gale towards the period end.  October through to the end of November was pleasantly warm with wind and occasional rain, but no gales.  The first severe gale of the season was late - the 29th November.  This very unsettled weather continued to the year end (and beyond).  Few frosts were experienced.

Fishing Activity
Finfish : Bass continued to be present to the end, although unlike some recent years, they did not shoal up.  This was put down to the wide spread of baitfish.

Bass, cod, whiting, flatfish, rays and dogfish continued to be taken by the inshore netting and trawling fleet, mainly east of Gower.  Fishing was generally said to be ‘slow’.  Quota restrictions began to bite hard, with only 50kg of cod and plaice quota per non-sector boat per month.  Industry bought/leased quota to legalise landings until the start of the new quota year.

Anglers reported the first sizeable cod to the east.  These are said to have migrated northward along North Devon and will reach Swansea by Xmas.

Cuttlefish and squid appeared in the catches, with the internal bones increasingly washing up on the tideline.

Herring were evident in the Fishguard area, and some was landed to netting methods.  Mackerel were seen into December in Carmarthen Bay!

MOLLUSCS
Whelk : Vessels fished Carmarthen Bay obtaining £750/tonne on a yield basis.  The smaller vessels retired for the year just before Xmas.

Cockles : As previously reported, stocks were low following the summer mortality, and comprised mainly one year class (2007 spat).  This kept poaching interest low during the most difficult period of the year.  Patches existed in the Burry Inlet to a 17.5mm size (with allowance on the north side.)  The south side retained a 17.5 mm size.  Licence holders frequently did not make their 350 kg daily quota.

The Burry Inlet cockle survey took place in November, with preliminary results being received in December.  They showed the lowest number of large cockles on record, with an average settlement of spat across the standard survey area.  Accordingly quota was reduced to 250kg to a 17.5mm size in early January.  Industry asked for more cockle, but eating into next years sole spawning stock is a very risky game.

Laugharne : Local industry alerted us to an unusual autumn cockle mortality event at Laugharne on the 5th November.  The dense patch comprised mainly well grown 2007 (spat) to 26mm in size (when the normal size might be 13-15mm).   Industry also pointed out that there were signs of spawning and possibility of algal settlement.  A sample was sent to CEFAS for pathological analysis.  Unfortunately the biotoxin team intercepted it and ran a test which turned out positive for DSP, leading to the Council Public Protection dept putting in place a 28 day health closure.  Subsequent samples proved negative and this lapsed.  The eventual pathological analysis also proved negative both here and of Ferryside cockle.

Whilst the cause of the deaths is unknown, neither post spawning mortality or algae bloom can be ruled out.  Autumn spawning is not an unusual event particularly in the Three Rivers.  Is it any coincidence that the spring mortality currently being regularly experienced is also around spawning time, and of cockle which is fast grown, frequently dense and of a lower age than would normally spawn?  Perhaps we need colder winters and less organic matter in order to slow down cockle growth and thus “tease out” possible cumulative circumstances?

Upon seeing cockle dying and wasting, local industry naturally called for the beds to be temporarily opened.  Their aim being, to obtain at least some economic value from something that would likely die.  Senior Officers held mixed views.  The value of such cockle was poor - inside of these large cockles were small meats in ‘adult’s clothes’.  Fishing would create disturbance that might be deleterious to cockle that might survive.  CCW advised against.  Community interests and Police raised concerns at the short notice and their ability to prepare for “open fishing”. SWSFC officers could not guarantee limited numbers of fishermen, although mass presence would have been extremely unlikely. In the end the Public Health situation resolved that most of the cockles died before they could be legally fished by any opening.

Mussel : In the absence of cockle, hand gatherers sought to take mussel instead.  ‘Something has to feed our children’ they said.  Areas of adult (>45mm) mussel has been fished since September, frequently using graders to sort the small (seed) which is returned to the sands from the marketable.  Debate exists as to the extent to which the returned seed remains on the beds.  This depends upon the location, grader, operator and prevailing weather. 

In point of fact, the Committee currently has no powers to directly prevent grader operation, and its byelaws prevent removal of undersized mussel without permission, thereby encouraging on the bed sorting (just as cocklers use sieves). On the mussel scar at St Ishmaels,  grader activity has been temporarily prevented in practice, by stopping the use of vehicles under byelaw 48.

Permissive activity in designated conservation sites requires Environmental (Appropriate) Assessment, and CCW have this year expressed their serious concerns as to the extent that protected oystercatchers may have insufficient food in the absence of cockles.   CCW infer mussel must fill the gap, although preferred mussel size for oystercatcher food is >25mm.  Research is underway to see if CCW are correct, or whether their advice (again) proves ultra-precautionary. Industry perceives that Public Servant officers make decisions from the luxury of salaried positions – which fishermen have not!

Meanwhile friction has arisen between those who fish graded adult mussel at £1500/tonne and those who wish to take it all (seed as well) at £200/tonne. Policy must reflect circumstance and location. 

Whiteford Point contains mainly seed.  Storm exposure prevents most reaching adulthood.  Indeed most do not survive their first winter and get sand blasted, covered or removed.  Committee policy has evolved in discussion with CCW in determining how much can be removed, from what position, by what method and over which season.  Vessel operators have the upper hand since they can dredge at high water which does not disturb birds.  However, the pattern of late mussel spat settlement of 2006 was repeated into 2007.  Mussel seed was so small and tightly packed to be dredged by vessels.  Prospective hand gatherers laid ‘claim’.  Whilst Committee Officers negotiated hard with CCW and debated environmental circumstance and prospects, hand gatherers were authorised to fish a particular area to a 200 t ‘quota’.  On the spring tides of 27-30 October some 20 persons removed c 80 tonnes of a previous vessel allocation.  Some wave action disturbed mussel and fishing pattern, but it held on.  SWSFC Officers tried to negotiate with CCW for near total removal in the face of imminent (and overdue) losses.  Eventually the provisions of the Habitats Directive to ‘prove the unprovable’ and a lack of time saw authorisations lapse much later than the 30th September date requested by CCW. The set of spring tides between 9th and 12th November were the last dates fished.  Over this period some 50-60 gatherers fished each day to remove approximately 200 tonnes. Total hand removal therefore amounted to c 280 tonnes only (worth c £56,000) of some 3-5000 tonnes total stock. We now wait to see what survives the winter, and whether the oystercatchers really needed (or might have accessed) any of such small (<25mm) mussel in any case?

Aggrieved mussel seed pickers were then encouraged by the leading merchant to collect from Penrhyngwyn (Burry Inlet North).  This is an area allocated for adult mussel only as there was no doubt about mussel survival to adulthood or question of poor growth, or of size of mussel which could form oystercatcher food.  SWSFC Officers gave prior specific instruction to the labour organiser that only large mussel was to be removed.

Aided and abetted by the merchant, numbers of pickers sought to strip the bed.  Fishery Officers were mobilsed in number and the Police called in assistance. Around 40 tonnes of gathered mussel were seized and then relaid by the Fishery Officers.

CRUSTACEANS
Pot and net fisheries continued their extended season into late November at which point gales stopped play.  Landings and prices were good.

Fishery Officers rallied to tie up the loose ends of the V-notching scheme.  Around 1000 lobsters were V-notched, but were also released with ‘streamer tags’ on the underside of the tail.  The previous white or blue elastic bands placed on the claws were ‘batch’ marks; each streamer tag is individually numbered.  Industry have been asked to record each capture before re-releasing the lobster; in this way we can find out more about lobster behaviour and movement.

Fishery Officers also turned to become scientists by venturing on lobster boats across the district in order to record lobster lengths – both in the catch and of those discarded.  Such a survey provides a ‘snap shot’ of the current standing or “health” of the stocks which can be compared to previous baseline surveys (e.g. 1995 – 1999 C Davies work) or in the future.  This is again part of the V-notching grant scheme.  I am pleased to report that very good numbers of juvenile lobsters were found.  As for how good, members will need to await the results of the report!

GENERAL
The Fishery Protection Vessel was very active in October and November, but the weather curtailed operations in December.

The larger offshore vessels were observed to stay clear of the district, perhaps as a result of the court case earlier in the year?

Time was spent especially to the east of the district, incl use of  Cardiff harbour.

Officers have previously noted the growing use of catamaran craft.  It has been very obvious this year just how seaworthy they are, effectively extending the fishing season into the autumn.

Leanne Llewellyn commenced work as Marine Conservation Officer from 22nd October, and we warmly welcome her.

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

OUTSTANDING CASES DECEMBER 2007

CONCLUDED CASES - END DECEMBER 2007

press release 12/07 - Date: 15 october 2007
Lobster fisherman took undersized 
Magistrates sitting in Haverfordwest on 15 October 2007 heard how Mr Mark Albery of 16 Gloucester Terrace, Haverfordwest as skipper of the fishing vessel ‘Golden Promise’ had been found to have taken 19 lobsters below the minimum size on 6 June 2007.

Boarding Officers from the SWSFC Patrol Vessel ‘Cranogwen’ inspected catches aboard the fishing vessel as it operated near Linney Head in Pembrokeshire. The defendant told the Officers he had lifted several strings of lobster pots that day but claimed not to have had time to measure all the catch.

Conditionally discharging Albery for a period of 12 months, the bench warned that any repeat of the circumstances would see him returned to court with the prospect of a substantial fine. They ordered Albery to pay £150 towards prosecution costs.

press release 13/07 - Date: 15 october 2007
Gatherers caught on closed cockle beds 
Ammanford magistrates sitting on 1st October heard several cases relating to the Three Rivers Cockle Fishery.

On 6 June 07, Fishery Officers stopped 6 defendants from gathering cockle on the closed Gwendraeth beds. Caught in the early hours, Paul Jones of 17 New St, Burry Port; Mark Davies of 23 New St, Burry Port; Jason Sheeley of 69 Andrew St, Llanelli; John Evans of 5 Woodbroke Terrace, Burry Port; Dale Robinson of 4 Golwgfor, Pembrey; and Simon Thomas of 28 Station Rd, Burry Port were fined £300 for fishing on closed beds at night and ordered to pay £20 and £15 each in prosecution costs and victim surcharge. Gathering equipment was forfeited for destruction.

On 11 June 07, Fishery Officers stopped 4 defendants from gathering cockle on the closed Gwendraeth beds. A quantity of cockle worth c.£100 was returned to the sands. Attending court, Richard Davies-Jones of 113 Amanwi, Bryn, Llanelli; Mathew Beddington of 47 Elgin Road, Pwll; and Ashley Jones of 30 Golfor Fawr, Penyfan, Llanelli were fined £80 and ordered to pay £30 and £15 each in prosecution and victim surcharge. Stephen Keddy of 33 Heal Dinas, Felinfoel, Llanelli was dealt with in absence and fined £150 plus £30 costs and £15 surcharge. Gathering equipment was forfeited for destruction.

Elsewhere in the Gwendraeth on the 11 June 07, Fishery Officer stopped 2 defendants as they exited the sands at Pembrey Country Park in two vehicles which were carrying 11 sacks of cockle worth £150 which were seized and returned to the beds. Oliver Jones of 19 Clos Maes yr Ysgol, Pontarddulais and Michael Rees of 1 Ashgrove, Gorseinon were fined £150 and ordered to pay £60 and £15 each in prosecution costs and victim surcharge. Gathering equipment was forfeited for destruction.

On 17 June 07, Fishery Officers stopped 3 defendants from gathering cockle on the closed Tywi beds at Llanstephan. A quantity of cockle worth c£300 was returned to the sands. Stephen Melbourne of Bro Wen, Llwynhendy, Llanelli attended court and was fined £80 plus £30 costs and £15 surcharge. Jason Melbourne of 107 Trilwm, Trimsaran; and Sami Magor of 7 Bridge St, Kidwelly were fined £150 plus £40 costs and £15 victim surcharge each. Gathering equipment was forfeited for destruction.

press release 14/07 - Date: 19 october 2007
Fisherman not allowed to land tails and claws 
A Porthcawl fisherman had penalties of £890 imposed by Bridgend Magistrates this week having been found guilty at trial in a prosecution brought by South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee, of landing detached tails and claws of both lobsters and crabs.

Sitting on Wednesday 17 October, the court heard that catches made by Abraham Prescott of 16 Pen y Fford, North Cornelly, Bridgend had been inspected by Fishery Officers on 21 June 2007 when Prescott returned to Porthcawl harbour following a fishing trip. Detached tails and claws of both lobsters and edible crab were discovered.

The court was informed by the Prosecution that the minimum size regulations for both species were expressed as a body width dimension and so if claws or tails were detached it became impossible to tell precisely what size the animals were originally. It had been the Officers view that the detached parts had come from small individuals.

Furthermore, the lobster tails landed had been mutilated by removal of some or all of the tail flaps. This meant it was impossible to tell if they had been marked with a V notch as part of the Committee’s lobster stock enhancement scheme in South Wales whereby some lobsters are marked and protected by byelaw in order to maintain a standing stock of breeding individuals.

In a final charge the court heard that Prescott had not been the holder of a crustacean permit needed to land more that one lobster per day and that he came ashore with eight.

Prescott was fined £500, ordered to pay £375 costs plus £15 victim surcharge.

A spokesman for the Committee welcomed the level of support from the court for the promotion of sustainable fishing practices and particularly for the V-notching of lobsters scheme. “Considerable time and expense has been invested in lobster stock enhancement with which the fishing industry has cooperated and supported in good measure. Whilst currently a small fishery in South Glamorgan, we want to see stocks grow which is why we felt this prosecution to be absolutely necessary.”

press release 15/07 - Date: 15 october 2007
Trawler too big for fishery limits
Haverfordwest Magistrates sitting on 15 October heard how a Brixham based beam trawler was caught inside the fishing limits off Pembrokeshire in May 2007.

Fishery Officers aboard the Patrol Vessel ‘Cranogwen’ were monitoring the movements of radar targets in the late evening of 1st May. In the early hours of the following day a boarding craft was launched to intercept one of these target which had been track-plotted to have incurred up to 0.9 miles inside the SWSFC district.

Officers boarded the vessel ‘Three Sons BM169’ which had fishing gears deployed on both sides and the defendant Mr Barry Stockton of 29, Elizabeth Ave, Brixham identified himself as the skipper. Under caution Mr Stockton admitted the vessel was inside the SWSFC district and had a VCU level of almost 259 when the byelaw limit was 150.

An examination of the trawls when hauled aboard revealed that they exceeded the 4 metre aggregate limit for the District and thereby contravened another byelaw.

Having pleaded guilty to the charges, Mr Stockton told the court that the mate of the vessel had been left in charge whilst he slept. After the vessel’s gear had become caught on an obstruction, she had drifted inside the fishery limit and only then had the gear been shot away again to fish as they towed out of the District.

Mr Stockton was give a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 in prosecution costs.

Charges against the owners of the Three Sons, NSA Trawlers Ltd also of Brixham, were dropped after the company agreed to accept a Formal Caution.