REPORTS
Return to Reports Home

DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING 31st March 2009

WEATHER
Settled and continuing cold until 12th January.  Then stormy with gales, and a period of snow in the first week of February, reverting to cool and unsettled.  Then warmer and more settled for the last three weeks in March.

In conclusion, the cold winter spell ended by mid February with normal temperatures and northerly winds resuming although it was not particularly wet nor warm.

Water temperatures therefore reached a minimum of around 7oC but slowly began to rise assuming normality by late March (early April).

Fishing activity remained generally low as described below:

FISHING ACTIVITY
FINFISH
Limited trawling and netting took place in the Bristol Channel.  Some codling were present off Cleveland (north Somerset) feeding on sprats, but did not make it around to our shores.  Spurdog and rays were similarly evident east of Swansea.  Spurdog have been absent for many years and it was nice to note their presence.  EU quota management now applies, as does a 100cm maximum size.

Some very large bass were caught in February by shore anglers off the entrance to the Three Rivers estuary.  Numbers (in excess of 20 fish) exceeded 10lbs, very large by any standards.  It would appear that for some reason a transient spawning aggregation had been found.

Elsewhere dogfish, dabs, flounder and whiting were ubiquitous, but not worth the commercial fleets putting in the effort.

MOLLUSCS
Whelks
Whelks were taken from Swansea to St Brides.  Owning to the small size of individual whelk, several of the boats move west.  Up to 12 boats fished, often alternating days between crab pots and whelk pots, earning £600/tonne.  Whelk egg cases seem less prevalent this year on local shorelines, but that may merely reflect weather conditions and timing as cuttle shell was also infrequent.

Cockles
What limited fishing of very small cockle that was taking place in the Burry Inlet, ceased on 19th January when sizes reverted to 17.5mm following receipt of CEFAS November survey data.  The sizes had been left low in order to supply limited quantities of cockles to local to Xmas markets.

Three Rivers estuary contains only patches of spat (0+) cockle at Laugharne and Gwendraeth.  The only area containing larger (1+) cockle at Llanstephen was washed out week commencing 12th January when storm swells aligned with spring tides.  Other shellfish also littered the sandy shoreline of Carmarthen Bay.

Mussels
In the absence of cockles of any size, interest in mussel was maintained.  Groups gathered Burry Inlet mussel and purified them for local niche markets.  Some also fished Mumbles (Swansea Bay)) and a patch located in a sheltered hollow at Cwm Ivy.  All told around 45 tonnes were taken valued at £22,600..

Scallop
The scallop fishery remained ‘the story of the moment’.  The vast majority of the activity took place in central Cardigan Bay often by large vessels beyond 6 and even 12 nautical mile boundaries.  NWNWSFC permits were held by 59 vessels, allowing them to fish only in areas they had previously not closed.  More were, in fact, inactive.  Landings and sizes were generally good although both SFCs have detected offences against the 110mm MLS inshore (offshore it is 100mm).

Allegations were rife of vessels fishing inshore in potential closed areas at night. However, there was little evidence of this and for the main part static gear remained intact and voluntary industry liaisons worked well so as to avoid gear conflict.  Observers on high positions were capable of seeing vessel lights at night some distance offshore, and it would appear that distances were being misjudged.  Around 24 smaller vessels held a SWSFC permit, but only a few vessels holding a permit actually fished and then mainly north of Fishguard.  Indications, however, were of vessels falling back to SWSFC area as the main scallop beds thinned out and catches decreased.

A vociferous movement was building in Cardigan Bay to rid the area of destructive scallop vessels who allegedly damage the SAC and its protected dolphins.  Elin Jones AM, Minister for Rural Affairs, has a constituency which borders the hot zone.  On the 9th February she announced, out of the blue, a management review of scallop fishing and a request that NWNWSFC extend their existing prohibitions on a temporary basis.  (See Item 8(c)).  In fact most of the effort was taking place in waters under WAG UK Governments own control beyond 6n miles.  Those discussions on appropriate management control continue and will have an influence also on Scallop fishing in SWSFC waters.

Separately a decision was taken by SWSFC Committee on 9th February to implement a statutory closure of scallop dredging on maerl and seagrass beds in the Milford Haven at South Hook, and maps were subsequently drawn up and distributed.

Crustaceans
Fishing effort is generally low at this time of year as vessels undertaken a refit and replenish their gears.  Those that did fish found quality crab, but lobsters were few and far between.  It is postulated that cold sea temperatures were to blame.

Landings of prawn (mainly take place north of the SWSFC district) have been reported as being low over this winter.  That trend has not been reported for the SWSFC district.

GENERAL
The FPV made the most of the settled periods to cover the area between Cardiff and Aberystwyth (for NWNWSFC).  Several patrols were made north of Fishguard in liaison with NWNWSFC and occasional Royal Navy vessel.  The vessel entered annual refit on 24th March for some routine and additional works.

Biological staff continued with a wide range of survey tasks and additionally leant a presence to wider aspects such as skate and ray conservation, Biodiversity Action Plans and in developing a crab tagging programme to help inform National studies.

Equipment was generally maintained and replaced across the board in readiness for more active times in the spring.

The organization bid farewell to FO M Tilling on 19th April as he was promoted to Assistant Chief with North Eastern SFC – not the first time that SWSFC has lost staff to promotion opportunity!  We thank him for his services over the last six years and wish him well, and that he make the same impression at NESFC as he has done here.  Measures to recruit a replacement are in hand following agreement to do so from WAG who take over the SFC service from 1 April 2010.

On that score planning for the new WAG Fisheries and Marine Enforcement regime is well in hand with a stocktake taking place of existing activities and resources, and identification of all individual component parts of the transfer task.  This will hopefully enable a smooth transition, progress on which is reported separately at each quarterly meeting.

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

OUTSTANDING CASES END MARCH 2009

CONCLUDED CASES - END MARCH 2009

PRESS RELEASE 01/09 – 21ST January 2009
MAGISTRATES CONSIDER FISHERIES MATTERS
Haverfordwest Magistrates adjudicated on matters brought before them by South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee on Monday 19th January.

In the first case, Jonathan Peter Voyce of 6 Ynys Dawel, Solva pleaded guilty to taking undersized lobsters from the Ramsey Sound area on 29th May last year. Fishery Officers found 3 lobsters below the 90mm minimum size in a sample from a large catch of the crustaceans aboard his boat; a number of other lobsters were also released. In mitigation Mr Voyce mentioned he had an inexperienced crewman at the time and had now changed his procedures to ensure lobsters were measured as soon as they came on board.

He was given a 6 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of £100.

In the other case, Kevin James Wheeler of Glendarriff, Broadhaven was dealt with in his absence having failed to answer a summons for setting a net with an accomplice across the low water channel of the River Gann at Dale. Fishery Officers had observed the men operating a net which blocked the entire channel on 28th June last year. The Committee’s byelaws prohibit more than 25% of any such channel being fished at a time. Wheeler was fined £350 and ordered to pay £100 costs.

A spokesman for the Committee welcomed the support of the Magistrate’s Court in supporting the byelaws which were designed to ensure the orderly regulation and sustainability of the South Wales fisheries and marine environment.

PRESS RELEASE 03/09 – 4th March 2009
MAGISTRATES CONSIDER FISHERIES MATTERS
Haverfordwest Magistrates adjudicated on matters brought before them by South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee on Monday 2 March.

In the first case, Christopher John Allen of 1 Fidre Gongol, Fishgaurd pleaded guilty to taking undersized lobsters at Neyland on 19 October last year. Fishery Officers found 15 lobsters below the 90mm minimum size in a catch numbering 64 of the crustaceans. In mitigation Mr Allen mentioned he had an inexperienced crewman at the time and had now changed his procedures to ensure lobsters were measured as soon as they came on board. He was fined £400 and ordered to pay costs of £100 plus £15 victim surcharge.

In the other case, Douglas Gwyn Hook of Hare Steps, Reynalton, Kilgetty pleaded guilty to charges of taking 9 undersized lobsters and 14 undersized edible crab on his boat which was boarded by Fishery Officers from the Committee’s Patrol Vessel in the Milford Haven waterway near Sandy Haven on 8 October 2008. The lobster gauge in use on the vessel was out of date and applied a historic size of 87mm although 3 of the lobster failed even this lesser test. Hook told the magistrates he had employed a German crewman whose poor English had led him to misunderstand the skipper’s instructions. Hook was fined £400 and ordered to pay £100 costs plus a £15 victim surcharge.

A spokesman for the Committee welcomed the support of the Magistrate’s Court in supporting the byelaws which were designed to ensure the orderly regulation and sustainability of the South Wales fisheries and marine environment.

PRESS RELEASE 04/09 – 25th March 2009
NO NETTING IN NURSERY AREA
Haverfordwest Magistrates adjudicated on matters brought before them by South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee on Monday 23 March.

Victor Kenneth Bowman of 5 Waterston Road, Hazelbeach, Milford Haven pleaded guilty to gill netting in a Bass Nursery Area established by Committee byelaws in the Pennar Gut area of the Haven waterway.

On 18 September 2008, Fishery Officers observed Bowman in a small boat operating a gill net near the Pennar Gut channel on an ebbing tide. The court heard that several types of fish were vulnerable to fishing gears in such locations. Following an inspection by the Committee’s Fishery Patrol Vessel, a number of mullet and a 37 metre gill net were seized.

Placing Bowman on a 2 year conditional discharge, the Magistrates stressed that any further similar offences would lead to a revisit of the current charge and possibly a substantial fine. They ordered that he pay £200 in prosecution costs and also ordered forfeiture of the seized fish.

A spokesman for the Committee welcomed the support of the Magistrate’s Court in supporting Bass nursery legislation which is currently under review in Wales. Nursery areas are understood to have contributed significantly to increasing bass stocks which may have taken a knock recently as a result of prolonged cold weather.

PRESS RELEASE 05/09 – 7th April 2009
WHELKS TOO SMALL
Swansea Magistrates Court heard about two cases of undersized whelks landings brought before them by South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee on Friday 3 April.

Involving the same vessel ‘About Time PE8’ landing at Swansea marina, the court heard that on the first occasion 6 October 2008 the vessel landed 3 tonne sacks one of which contained 76% undersized. On 17 December an inspection by Fishery Officers revealed 63% in a 900kg haul. The cumulative value of the landings was estimated to be in excess of £2000.

The Prosecution told the Court that regulations had been introduced on previously worthless whelks following heavy fishing for them in the late 1990’s when Far Eastern markets were developed. There was a closed season during spawning over winter months and also a minimum size. The shape of the whelk shell meant they were difficult to measure and bulk quantities necessitated the use of a riddle on vessels. An allowance of undersized had been written into the regulations but this was limited to 10%.

The owner of the vessel, Robert Evans of 2 Burnett Close, Chryston, Glasgow was fined a total of £500 and ordered to pay £100 prosecution costs. The skippers of the vessel on respective occasions, Michael MacEarchen of Sunnyside, Manby, Grimoldby, Louth, Lincolnshire and Ieuan Bloom of 9 Heol Y Garreg, Pant Garreg, Llandysul, Ceredigion were each conditionally discharged for 1 year in respect of their involvement; they were each ordered to pay £50 costs.

PRESS RELEASE 06/09 – 28th April 2009
UNDERSIZED MUSSELS TAKEN FROM SENSITIVE AREA
Ammanford Magistrates fined 2 Llanelli men a total of £225 and additional penalties of £130 for removing undersized mussels from the Burry Inlet contrary to South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee Byelaws.

Sitting on 27 April, the court heard how Fishery Officers had come upon the pair near Penrhyngwyn where they had a 4x4 vehicle and numerous sacks filled with mussel. An inspection of the sack contents revealed they had not been sorted at all and contained 57% below the minimum size of 45mm.

The defendants contended that they were only collecting a sample, although they conceded that at 250kg it was a large one, and that they had previously obtained permission to operate the vehicle in the intertidal zone.

The Prosecution explained to the Magistrates that following a period of successful authorised fishing in the Inlet on mussels over previous months it was imperative that as stocks reduced, minimum sizes were observed to ensure mussels for future years. As they grow, mussels are an important source of food for wading birds for which the Burry Inlet has numerous nature conservation designations.

Nathan Jenkins, of Halfway, Llanelli was fined £175 and ordered to pay £50 costs and £15 victim surcharge in his absence. Marcus Morgan who appeared was fined £50 and ordered pay £50 costs and £15 victim surcharge.  A number of rakes, riddles and sacks used in the commission of the offence were ordered forfeit for destruction.