DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2004 WEATHER - Mixed and certainly not a glorious summer. However, periods of calm prevailed, especially in July. August was particularly wet and windy. The first week of September was settled and then the mixed, windy weather returned again. FISHING ACTIVITY MOLLUSCS - Whelk fishing continued in Carmarthen Bay by eight vessels. Prices remained at £600 per tonne. Catches decreased as the water temperature rose, which is characteristic of the fishery. COCKLES - The quarter was dominated by cockle matters, but for very different reasons. Reports confirm the shortage of larger legal (19 mm) cockle in the Burry Inlet and the growing efforts of license holders to find them. Nevertheless stocks of sublegal (17.5 mm to 19 mm) cockle were plentiful. The policy of either dropping the size or making allowance for undersize was continued, in order to 'thin' dense patches, particularly where the cockles were either held on high banks (and where growth would be poor) or where the July temperatures were causing 'heat stress', ie. Cockle gaping and at risk of desiccation. It was obvious that some cockle - particularly those of the 2002 year class, were suffering. The CEFAS survey showed a substantial bed (>1000 tonnes) of cockle at Ochor Draw (Penclawdd) in an area not previously favoured by the industry because of poor accessibility, poor meats, poor growth and presence of shell. At industry's request the percentage small size allowance was increased, on the 29 July, to promote thinning. However, it was soon clear that the sizes were so small that, if a fishery was to continue, more drastic size reduction measures would be necessary. Industry called for sizes to be dropped, for the first time ever, to below 17.5mm, ie. In effect, to take everything except 2004 spat. They claimed that the cockle were dying and might as well be taken. The Committee's Biologist undertook further surveys of cockle and monitored any die-off, and reported to a Committee Working Group on 4 August. Some cockle die-off had taken place, but had been associated with hot weather in July. Matters appeared to have stabilized somewhat in the meanwhile. Committee agreed the unprecedented action of taking a substantial proportion of cockle below even the 17.5 mm size, even though stocks of adult cockle elsewhere were extremely low. In other words, numbers of broodstock cockle was low and the industry would have to rely upon the hopeful survival of 2004 spat for its future. As it happened, when the industry went into the area to fish, most of the cockle had died. It was clear that the cockle were extremely 'delicate' and something other than heat stress and high densities was causing a significant mortality problem - thus continuing the pattern first seen over a similar period in 2003. Samples have been taken for histological examination by CEFAS (Weymouth). Indications are of a relatively high loading of cockle parasites of various species. However, the significance of this is yet to be reported and monthly sampling continues in order to establish a baseline. The Industry then sought to gather 19 mm cockles from other areas - particularly the north side at Penrhyngwyn, and later at Penclacwydd. Fishery Officers report the activities of gatherers at Ochor Draw in trying to draw protest and force the Committee to take action on cockle size, and then over their taking of <19 mm cockle when stocks were, in any case, depleted. In consultation with industry, Committee had agreed its willingness to drop the cockle size to 17.5 mm where patches were dense enough to support such action, or cockles were dying. No such cases were put forward. Unfortunately, much effort had to be expended in enforcing a difficult situation and ensuring a sense of 'fair play' to all, and several license holders have been reported. The endpoint is therefore a dire shortage of larger cockle (>17.5 mm), and the future of the cockle industry rests mainly on the prospects of one year class - that spawned in the Spring of 2004, and which is exceptionally heavy and widespread, but which will be vulnerable to normal over-winter losses. What few older cockles exist would be expected to be the mainstay of the broodstock. The cause of Summer cockle mortality in both 2003 and 2004 remains unknown and will not be at all easy to identify. Contributory causes could be complex. For 2005 the future looks grim and is dependent upon over-winter survival of spat, and the extent to which the Committee can reduce cockle size to 17.5 mm. Elsewhere, cockles remained in short supply in the Three Rivers estuary as well. At Laugharne, historical holding areas have changed due to river movement, and were adversely affected by mussel settlement (since removed by vessel). A substantial 'patch' of cockle of <100 tonnes at Llansteffan was not sufficient to open the beds, but has been heavily poached by persistent individuals. Some have been apprehended, but the situation has been extremely difficult to contain, and onerous in terms of staff deployment. In many cases a policy of outright 'deterrent' has been necessary, rather than a policy of 'apprehension', depending on resource availability. Some cockle fishing continued on the small cockle bed at Cwm Ivy (Whiteford Sands) by landing mainly to small boats. This bed is health classified. Similarly, cockle beds at Kilpaisson (Angle) of c <60 tonnes, and Pembroke River (c 1000 tonnes) have been identified and await health classification. MUSSELS - Owing to the shortage of cockle, industry have targeted mussel earlier and more heavily than normal. Mussel beds at Machynys and Pwll (Burry Inlet north), and Wharley Point (Llansteffan) have been fished. Some erosion of the mussel beds is evident at St Ishmaels. CRUSTACEANS - Fishing has been steady, if unexceptional, around the prevailing weather conditions. Generally, lobster catches have been very good with plenty of shellfish around the 90 mm minimum size and very many more being discarded. Other areas around the UK report similarly. Spider crab catches have been very good and markets have, in the main, held up. Prices are variable, from only 20p per kg for small hens to £1.80 per kg for good cock fish. Edible crab catches were down, but appeared to pick up later. Some believe that spider crab inhibit edible crab from entering the pots. GENERAL MARINE CONSERVATION OFFICER (MCO) - Colin Trundle, the Committee's first MCO, moved on to Cornwall SFC, for family reasons, at the end of August. He agreed to be paid for leave owing and was able to 'tidy up' surveys on Llansteffan cockle, Whiteford mussel, and a final small survey re Ensis dredging, before his departure. At its 27 September meeting, the Committee agreed the urgent need for a replacement, which I think is a measure of the large impression he made of the job. We wish him well. BASS MOVEMENTS - It is interesting to note that the recapture of a local bass for the fourth time, in a similar location and time to previous captures. Clearly some of these fish can be considered 'residential' despite know spawning migrations south. Might they yet be discovered to have the same homing ability as salmon? DEFRA SHELLFISH LICENSING - As previously reported, DEFRA licensing took effect in 2004. Dispensations are available from DEFRA to land more than the daily limits for those licensed vessels without a shellfish endorsement. Catch returns will also be required to be submitted to DEFRA, although may, in the future, be collected by SFCs. These return requirements have been postponed to 2005 by CEFAS. Crustacean management has historically been the preserve of SFCs. As we pointed out at the time, DEFRA's involvement has meant that things have got 'messy'. When government departments are more certain in their outlook and needs, the Committee will need to revisit its byelaw requirement.
* Provisional figures. Any amendments to be shown on next quarterly report NOTE: Some inspections are covered under more than one legislation and therefore can appear as more than one count in each period. OUTSTANDING CASES - END SEPTEMBER 2004
CONCLUDED CASES - END SEPTEMBER 2004 CASE ONE CHARGES COURT SCHEDULE FACTS MITIGATION SENTENCE CASE TWO CHARGES A further charge of failing to mark the buoys attached to the net was abandoned by negotiation. COURT SCHEDULE FACTS A subsequent boarding and inspection revealed 6 bass and 1 mullet. The defendant admitted the net was in the region of 200m in length but said he had brought the wrong net to sea. The fish and net were seized, the latter measuring 214 m. MITIGATION SENTENCE CASE THREE CHARGES COURT SCHEDULE FACTS Rapid closure of the vessel was achieved by the deployment of the inspection RIB which identified the fishing vessel 'ISADALE' from Fleetwood; trawl gear was deployed and fishing. She was 6 miles from the nearest land (Worms Head) but was still almost 3 miles inside the District boundary. Fishery Officers boarded the vessel and instructed that the fishing gear be hauled. The skipper was interviewed and claimed ignorance of the byelaw. The catch on board comprised 6 stone boxes as follows; 5 bass, 2 ray, 2 cod, 2 dover sole/mixed flatfish. MITIGATION The vessel had fished most of its time outside the Committee's district and had only strayed in during the latter part of it's operations. It was claimed the vessel would have been entitled to fish under the current byelaw but the owners had not made an application in time. The owners who admitted strict liability were said
to be 'tucked up in bed at the time' of the incident. SENTENCE The court was reminded that both fishing gear used and fish taken in contravention of byelaws was liable to seizure and subsequent forfeiture. As seizure had been impossible in the circumstances no such application had been made but the court was invited to take this issue into consideration in determining the level of penalty. |
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