As Environment and Conservation Officer, I am representing WFSA in two current Wales Assembly Government initiatives:
The Wales Fisheries Strategy Steering Group and the Stakeholder Advisory Group on the development of a new regime for the management of fisheries in Wales.
There are two new consultations of interest to sea anglers.
Any comments / observation or information can be sent direct to me by e-mail at
caerodyn@hotmail.co.uk.

 

Environment & Conservation Report to the EC 23 January 2010

 

1. Wales Assembly Government Fisheries Meeting

John O’Connor, Helen Pearce, Mike Dixon and I met with Stuart Evans and his colleagues (and briefly too with the head of Fisheries Graham Rees) in Aberystwyth on 20 January.

We discussed the following topics
1. Introductions
 John O'Connor Chair; Mike Dixon Press Officer/ Personal Members Secretary; Helen Pearce National Angling Coaching Coordinator; Roger Cook Environment Officer

2. How we can get suspected overfishing issues dealt with, in general and based on some specific instances of on-going concern viz: flounder in Dee; crab Menai; thornback Cardigan Bay; bass at Cardiff Bay Barrage (and elsewhere); so-called recreational netting from beaches.
 
3. Sale of Fish
Overfishing issues often relate to sale of fish by non-registered commercials to restaurants and also we think via registered commercial.  Improved control of sale of fish an important way to prevent / reduce over-fishing. 
 
3. Wales Fisheries Strategy: progress and discussion on implementation plans
 WFS is a good framework for the above topics too but worth running through both RSA section and Commercial sections to update / kick start both sides on WAG and RSA led actions.

Arising from this, Stuart undertook to send us most appropriate fishery contacts and to keep this updated through the forthcoming changes.  We can also send him written details about the specific issues.  I have about the Cardigan Bay thornbacks and will about the others.

And regarding the Implementation Plan for the Welsh Fisheries Strategy, Helen is going to write a more readable version for us to work on and link it to WFSA strategic plans.  We agreed to meet again with WAG shortly after the WFSA AGM in March.
 

2. WAG New Fisheries Management and Marine Enforcement Regime

Consultation on this closes on 26 February 2010.  Details at http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/environmentandcountryside/091204seafisheriesframework/?lang=en&status=open
There are six specific questions

Q1. What do you think about the proposed Wales Marine Fisheries Advisory
Group and its role in fisheries management?
“The WMFAG will include senior representatives from national organizations with the organization having the seat rather than the individual member.”  “..interact on a National level with the Fisheries Unit, offering advice and recommendation to the Minister”

Proposed Membership
· Nominated representatives from the commercial fishing industry (for
example Welsh Federation of Fishermen’s Associations or Fishermen’s
Associations)
· Welsh Aquaculture Producers Association
· Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers
· Wales Coastal and Maritime Partnership
· Chairs of IFGs
· Sea Fish Industry Authority
· Wales Environment Link
· Countryside Council for Wales
· Environment Agency

· Welsh Local Government Association
· Other fisheries experts as required

I think this provides serious recognition for the WFSA at the top table, and has flexibility if we have to vary our representative.  If we endorse the proposal we should probably say how we will engage other organizations associations representing RSA in Wales: I’d envisage a formal approach to these to be determined at the AGM and then to offer them access via our WMFAG seat though appropriate mechanisms – to optimise exchange of information and experience in everyone’s interests.  

Q2. Do you think this division of boundaries for Inshore Fisheries Groups?
would be appropriate? If not, where do you think the boundaries should fall?

Below the WMFAG three Inshore Fisheries Groups are proposed: south (Bristol Channel), mid Wales (Cardigan Bay), North (north of Llyn)

Q3. What do you think about the roles of the proposed Inshore Fisheries
Groups? Do you think they would be well placed to develop, in consultation?
with WAG, local fisheries management plans including proposals for local
legislation?

These IFGs will represent local standpoints dealing with local issues, including initiating local management plans “The local IFG will be the voice of local fisheries interests to the WMFAG and Fisheries Unit”.

WFSA has four regions: south west and west probably overlapping the likely boundary between the south and mid IFGs

.Q4. What do you think about our proposal for open membership of IFGs via
correspondence with a focused group attending meetings? Do you think a
membership of 20 people would be appropriate?

Proposal is for open membership by correspondence with group of not more than 20
attending meetings.

Proposed membership is local representatives of
· Fishermen’s Associations
· Independent fishermen
· Recreational angling
· Shell fishing
· Aquaculture
· CCW
· Environmental interests
· Local Authorities
· Local land owners

Q5. Do you think quarterly meetings will be sufficient?

I’d think that, with correspondence between meetings, it may not be necessary for the IFGs to meet every quarter. Maybe, four meetings in the first year with the provision for fewer in subsequent years.
 
Q6. What do you think about the suggested membership of the WMFAG and
IFGs?

 

3. Standardising the Science – Fisheries Management in Wales: 26 January 2010

I’ve been invited to attend this WAG meeting with the following three items, about how to get better evidence about fisheries management - and hopefully about dealing with uncertainty

when data is missing or unreliable.  I think WAG also want to use this as a basis for priorities in their support to outside funding bodies like the EFF.
WAG – setting the scene (I guess about the need in the WFS for better information / science
Bangor University – Science to deliver sustainable fisheries in Wales ( BU get a lot of work from WAG on fisheries)
CCW – Fishing Intensity and Habitat Sensitivity  

4. Article 47 Control of Recreational Fisheries
The new control regulation will form the basis for EU Fisheries management, currently being examined in UK so that it can be put into effect.

The contentious Article 47 now reads (my italics)
1. Member States shall ensure that recreational fisheries on their territory, and in Community
waters are conducted in a manner compatible with the objectives and rules of the Common
Fisheries Policy.
2. The marketing of catches from recreational fisheries shall be prohibited.
3. Without prejudice to Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 of 25 February 2008 establishing
a Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries
sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy, Member
States shall monitor, on the basis of a sampling plan, the catches of stocks subject to recovery plans by recreational fisheries practiced from vessels flying their flag and from third country vessels, in waters subject to their sovereignty or jurisdiction. Fishing from shore shall not be included.
4. The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) shall evaluate the
biological impact of recreational fisheries as referred to in paragraph 3. Where a recreational
fishery is found to have a significant impact, the Council may submit it to specific management measures such as fishing authorisations and catch declarations.
5. Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the
procedure referred to in Article 111.

5. England: The Sustainable Access to Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group

Colin sent me this: it’s a consultation on “Steps towards sustainable inshore fisheries” and closes in two months.
It has a good summary of recent changes in fishing management.  It notes that catch from under 10m vessels was seriously underestimated prior to the Buyers and Sellers Regulations giving better recording and therefore emphasizes that this sector will likely be the focus of policy and management as part of sustainable fisheries.  (We have to make sure that it is managed sustainably since we know what a dramatic impact under 10m vessels have on inshore fisheries).

Lots of technical detail in the paper that is interesting and will be helpful in the IFGs.

But no mention of recreational sea angling – even when one proposal is ask “Is there scope for greater social benefits? How might local authorities and other organizations promote inshore fisheries to improve tourist revenues?”

I don’t think we need respond but it is interesting stuff: http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/fisheries/marine/fishman/saif.htm#pp.  
 

Roger Cook
Aberystwyth
22 January 2010


Marine Conservation Zones
Proposals for new highly protected marine conservation zones (MCZs) will be developed in Wales as part of a UK wide network of conservation areas as in the Marine and Coastal Access Bill.
There are two formal consultations to which anglers should respond.

The first closes on 16 December 2009

Consultation on a Strategy for Marine Protected Areas in Wales: Protecting Welsh Seas
www.wales.gov.uk/consultations / www.cymru.gov.uk/ymgynghoriadau (under environment and countryside).

The second closes on 26 February 2009 and is about specific proposals to protect red throated divers, common scoters and overwintering sea birds.

Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl pSPA Draft Conservation Objectives and Advice on Operations

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/LivBay-consobj_tcm6-15189.pdf

 

In addition, the Marine Conservation Society has an open consultation on the areas that might be proposed as MCZs.  You can see and comment on these at www.yourseasyourvoice.com   and think about the issues of no take zones in relation to MCZs.

 

I think the concept of MCZs is clearly sensible and there are potential benefits for fish stocks as part of the overall conservation of biodiversity –there is good evidence too (from New Zealand, the Mediterranean and our own bass nursery areas) that no take zones can contribute very significantly to fish stocks. 

But in these new highly protected areas, the big unknown as far as we are concerned is what levels of restriction may be imposed on recreational angling.  The devil is in the detail but details are lacking. 

I don’t want to be alarmist since at all the meetings and discussions I’ve attended most of the proponents of MCZs accept that recreational angling is a legitimate activity and mostly not regarded as a damaging activity. 

 

But read the general statements in the consultation document such as:

“The intention is that (MCZs) will be protected from the extraction and deposition of living and non-living matters, and all other damaging or disturbing activities

and “One of the benefits of highly protected marine sites is by leaving areas of the seas to function in the absence of significant levels of human activity, ….”

Both these statements may worry us: they could so easily be applied to prevent angling. 

On the other hand, in relation to site selection, the consultation notes that sites should be chosen “to maximize ecological and socio-economic benefits while minimising any conflicts with different uses of the the sea as far as possible.”  This could suggest that areas important for recreational angling could be maintained for that as a socio-economic benefit. 

But look at the consultation on Liverpool Bay.  Here to protect red throated divers, common scoters and overwintering assemblages of sea birds, risks to and vunerabilities of the birds have been made. 

Two of the greatest vulnerabilities are listed as boating and “specific extraction of prey species by commercial and recreational fishing”.  It is unlikely that sea angling impacts directly on prey stocks for these birds but that’s not what the assessment says.  We need to make this point in response to the consultation.  (And anglers should note that the area covered in the proposed conservation area includes the whole of the north Wales coast.)

 

So have a look at the information on these three web links and let them know what you think: you could also send comments to me directly to include in the WFSA responses.

I really don’t think angling is an important damaging activity in relation to the conservation goals of these proposals but I am sure we have got to say so – and in some cases may have to recognize some management or restrictions but these must be specific to particular defined problems and not blanket prohibitions.

 

*** Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Assessment
- Bristol Channel Bass Trawl Fishery ***

I have just received this note about the MSC assessment of the bass fishery in the Bristol Channel: if you follow the links you get information on how they propose to assess the fishery -with a view to deciding if it meets the MSC sustainability criteria.

If you want to comment please do so directly to Jim Andrews or if you have comments you'd like me to send on behalf of WFSA then send them to me, please.  I shall remind them of the arguments made about the need for a 45cm MLS if females are to breed and how important that is to sustainability of the fishery.

The call for comments on this announcement can be found
on the MSC website here.  Full information about this fishery assessment can be
found here.

 

Welsh Fisheries Strategy Implementation Plan
This newly published plan sets out the actions needed to address sustainable fish stock management in Wales.  It is available on the Wales Government website at http://wales.gov.uk/news/latest/090814fisheries/?lang=en


 The WFSA Executive Committee will be considering how we can help deliver on these plans for the benefit of sea anglers in Wales.
New Fisheries Management and Enforcement Regime in Wales
As sea angler stakeholder in the advisory group on the project to deliver a New Fisheries Management and Marine Enforcement Regime, Roger Cook would welcome comments and opinions as the plans develop.  He can then take these on board and try and use them to help in the overall aim of improving fish stocks available to anglers.  The original time-table was for the new regime to take over from sea fisheries committees in April 2010.
 
The New Regime is being developed by professionals in Welsh Assembly Government, Sea Fisheries Committees and so on.  But I am a member of the "Stakeholder Advisory Group" - the formal terms of reference (including members of that group) are and the initial work plan of that group is "Work Plan"
These were approved at the first meeting of the group and a note of that is viewable from this link.

Next meeting (4 September) will decide upon a form for future stakeholder involvement – and, of course, I’ll be seeking to ensure that sea angling continues to be recognised with seats at local and national levels.

 

Environment Agency Consultations

There are three consultation on new fishery byelaws to protect fish stocks relating to eels, trout and salmon and to removal of fish by rod and line; the last one proposes that all eel and shad caught by rod and line in any waters must be returned and that all coarse fish caught by rod and line from rivers, streams, drains and certain named large still waters must be returned with possible exceptions based on (unspecified) species/numbers/sixes and non-natives.


The details are available at
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/consultations
and responses have to be in by 22 September.
As these affect us directly (eels) and indirectly (no-take proposals) we should respond. I’d think that stock conservation as ever should be the yard stick for determining exceptions.  I’d be happy to take members comments in to account in the WFSA submission if you send them to me by the end of August.

Proposals for the scallop fishery in Wales
http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/environmentandcountryside/3256249/;jsessionid=69BCKJGJHK6xhp3y12Lwn2sGJ0HhWpPNc55Jbf4Dpk5mJ8vHhvvq!640458692?lang=en

The Minister has published a consultation document on this – some detailed restrictions and technical proposals that we should consider and submit a response by 25 September.  Again .  I’d be happy to take members comments in to account in the WFSA submission if you send them to me by the 15 September.

Economic value of sea angling
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/07/27115735/0
In Scotland: New and factual evidence from their government confirming the general view we have in Wales.

 

 

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