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DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING 30th SEPTEMBER 2008

WEATHER :  The period was characterized by poor weather.  Dull, wet and windy.  “The worst in 30 years of fishing Pembrokeshire” said one operator. 
July was a virtual write off.  Force 4-6 winds for the first 2 weeks, a week of gnarly conditions, then gales for the final week or so.  August had periods of gales interspersed with a few more settled days. This carried on into September save for two weeks c 12-28th which were settled.

FISHING ACTIVITY
Finfish : Catches were good throughout, especially of ray, dogs, flatfish, and in some areas bass. Trawler activity was disrupted by the weather more so than other static gear methods.  As previously reported, black bream, gilthead bream, trigger fish and red mullet were widespread, including bream north of Milford Haven.

Bass fishing appeared patchy.  Catches of blonde ray were exceptional off Vale of Glamorgan coastline, along with numbers of smooth hounds.  Good mackerel fishing was reported, despite the weather.

MOLLUSCS
Whelks – Ten boats fished between Milford (2), Carmarthen Bay (5) and Swansea bay (3) reporting reasonable catches at £600/tonne.

Cockles : Cockle fishing was limited as a result of poor stock availability of 19mm cockles following the widely report mortalities.

Three Rivers estuary reverted to ‘open’ status to permitted fishing on 9th September.  But no significant legal commercial fishing was possible due to the absence of >19mm cockle.  Beds at Llansteffan came closest.  Survey there showed some quantities at c 15-17mm in size.  Officers have been vigilant in checking this area for infringements in the event of any fishing.  Cockle prices are very low (£200-300/tonne) reflecting good cockle stocks elsewhere, a large stock of canned product, and the economic downturn across Europe reducing demand.  Accordingly activity on the beds, even Llansteffan, is limited so far.

Mussels : Stocks of adult (>45mm) mussel are low - a result of heavy fishing for two years, mussels scars exposed to storm events and heavy scouring, and general recruitment patterns.
The reports detail the hand gathered mussel seed fishery authorized for Whiteford Point between 31st July and 4th October, following site survey and liaison with CCW.  A protocol to aid future authorisation is under development.

Over the period some 1650 tonnes worth £165,000 were hand gathered by up to 70 persons working in groups of twenty, each allocated to a (merchant) supervisor.  Gathering took place on Spring tide lows exceeding 7.0m (local scale) i.e. c 16 days in every month.
Mussel dredging vessels attempted to fish but met with limited success because most of the mussel, even in July, was compacted.

In order to assist CEFAS and the industry, SWSFC officers received warranting and training in the EU animal/animal products regulations.  Mussel consignments to certain areas (incl. Northern Ireland and Eire) required checking for disease or pathogenic agents in order to retain their disease free status.  Whilst this greatly assisted CEFAS in that they did not have to send agents from Weymouth, and the industry (in that lorries were not delayed), it has disrupted other work including the checking of operations at Whiteford Point itself.  Officers could not be present both at the beach and checking loads at the merchant’s yards at the same time.  Work was reimbursed by CEFAS and it is hoped will make a contribution to a cockle mortality study.

Crustaceans : The summer period represents peak activity; or at least it would have had it not been for the weather.  Operators struggled on and took reasonable catches of all species except edible crab, catches of which were again low.  Numbers of lobster were taken, including plenty of undersized which were returned.  V-notched lobsters are being re-notched as the ‘V’ becomes less distinct in order to preserve their protection.  The scheme is well supported and fishermen frequently ask when it might start again?

Prices for shellfish were low, particularly for lobster (as low as £8.50 - £9 per kg).  At a time of high input costs (gear, bait and especially fuel) the relative returns have never been lower.  Several reasons have been put forward for these low prices including a reduction in demand in continental Europe as the ‘credit crunch’ bites.  But also supplies of Canadian lobster have been growing and are finding their way to EU markets.  Despite its perceived inferior quality, at times of economic strife consumers may be reducing their intakes of the European lobster?

GENERAL
FPV activity was naturally constrained by the weather.  To their credit staff put in the hours and flexibly so when conditions allowed.  Various mechanical works further constrained activity although much of these works were a question of making the most of the downtime caused by the weather.

A particular enforcement action this month demonstrated the flexibility of the organization to respond.  A shore based Fishery Officer viewed illegal fishing within a bass nursery area.  Whilst he maintained observation, the FPV Cranogwen new RIB came from Tenby to the Milford Haven to apprehend the individual!

The outstanding cases section demonstrates the variety of the Committee’s enforcement work across the main summer fishing season.

Marine Conservation Officer, with support from the CCW Biodiversity Officer, spent many weeks collecting cockle and water samples over the period of cockle mortality and in monitoring the rate and extent of die off via fixed transects in four areas.  Further cockle and mussel stock survey and monitoring work took place, making it a busy period, but they also found time to tag juvenile ray in conjunction with Swansea University.

Such work is essential, and it does beg the question how are WAG going to maintain the provision following the Ministerial announcement at 4.30 pm on Friday 12th September, that WAG are to dissolve Welsh SFCs and take their work in-house?

The announcement, and the manner in which the consultation took place, is something of an ignominious ending for both Welsh SFCs after over 120 years of stirling and proven work.  Staff and Committee are now working co-operatively with WAG on the delivery of an equivalent replacement service; assumed to commence April 2010 if the Marine Bill remains on schedule.

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

OUTSTANDING CASES END SEPTEMBER 2008

CONCLUDED CASES - END SEPTEMBER 2008

There was only one other completed case this quarter which went to court; this was not the subject of a Press Release due to the policy matters involved.

Mr Christopher Davies of Furnace Farm, Ponthenri, Llanelli appeared before Ammanford Magistrates on 28 July 2008 to answer two counts of taking and removing undersized mussels from the Machynys area of the Burry Inlet on the 29th January and 26th February 2008. The Defendant appeared and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

On the first occasion the defendant was stopped on the Machynys exit slipway by Fishery Officers who had witnessed fishing activity for over 2 hours. An inspection of his catch revealed that of the 400kg of mussel worth an estimated £325, 24% was below an operational tolerance of 45mm.

At the time a number of grading machines were in operation in the Burry Inlet and a smaller than usual (51mm) minimum size had been allowed in recognition that far more undersized mussel would be removed from catches using this method in comparison to the traditional rake and riddle technique. Clearly however, there could be no ‘tolerance on the tolerance’.

In very similar circumstances the defendant was inspected on the second occasion at the same location and found to have 22% undersized mussel in a catch of 240kg worth about £175.

The court was told it had been impossible to seize the catches and it had been presumed they had found their way into the marketing chain in the normal way.

In mitigation the defendant considered that the Fishery Officers should make their checks out at the fishing site whereby undersized could be sorted and returned. He considered he had been victimised and dealt with unfairly.

The Court agreed with the Prosecution that it was up to the individual to comply with the Law particularly on the second occasion and understood that deterrence was required for the many times when the Fishery Officers could not be present. It also heard that numerous advices and indeed verbal warnings had been administered over a lengthy period.

The Magistrates imposed £500 in fines for the two offences and Ordered a contribution to Prosecution costs of £110 (the full application). A further £15 was ordered in Victim Surcharge.