Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

COMMERCIAL FISHING Prepared by: Jack Sewell, Rebecca Jefferson & Judith Oakley Last updated: September 2006 Definition – Fishing can be defined as human activities directed towards the capture of fish or shellfish. These activities can take a variety of forms and the method used is greatly dependent on the type of fish or shellfish targeted. HISTORY Fishing has taken place in Britain and Ireland for thousands of years. However, the more recent status of commercial fisheries is far removed from the small scale, subsistence fisheries that were once common. Many historical developments have helped to shape the industry that exists today. Perhaps the most important has been the transition from wind and manual powered fishing vessels to mechanised steam vessels during the second half of the 19th century. Now vessels powered by combustion engines are dominant in British and Irish fishing fleets. This change has enabled fishing vessels to tow larger, heavier gear, resulting in higher catches but at the risk of greater environmental damage. Other developments, including the use of synthetic fibres for ropes and nets and improved fish finding equipment, have increased the abilities of vessels to find and catch fish. At the same time, improvements in on-boat storage mechanisms such as refrigeration units, allow vessels to travel further for longer periods of time and exploit previously inaccessible stocks (Brina & Pollard, 1999). In more recent history, attempts have been made to control fishing activity both internationally and within British and Irish waters. This has been influenced by the growing recognition that fishing needs to be managed effectively in order for it to become sustainable. International agreements include the development of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 and more recently the Fisheries and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Code of conduct for responsible fisheries signed in 1995. The European Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was originally developed in 1983 with “the fundamental aim of ensuring the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks through conservation and management policies designed to protect resources and reflect the needs of the fishing industry and consumers” (DEFRA, 2002a). In December 2002, the EU Fisheries Council agreed on the new Common Fisheries Policy. The new measures came in to force on 1 January 2003 (EC2371/2002) and replace the previous CFP, which had been in place since 1993 (Hagan, 2003). The main criticisms of the old policy were that many fish stocks were in danger of collapse as they had been pushed beyond safe biological limits. Also, the fishing capacity of the EU fleet far exceeded levels required to harvest fish sustainably (CFP, 2003). The New Common Fisheries Policy introduced four main regulations (Hagan, 2003): •

the incorporation of a more ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management;

•

the abolition of public aid for building new fishing boats after the end of 2004 and tougher conditions for subsidies for the modernisation of boats;

•

increased premiums for the scrapping of vessels in order to achieve additional reductions in fishing effort resulting from recovery plans, and

•

adoption of a number of actions to integrate environmental protection into the new CFP and deal with specific issues such as by-catch and illegal fishing.

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Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

IMPORTANCE On a global scale, fisheries are an important source of food and income. Global consumption of fish has doubled since 1973, and the developing world has been responsible for 90% of this growth (Delgado et al., 2003). Nearly one-third of the world’s wild-caught fish are ‘reduced’ to fishmeal and fish oil, which are then used in feeds for terrestrial livestock and farmed fish (Delgado et al., 2003). Although fisheries are no longer an essential source of animal protein in Britain and Ireland, there is still high consumer demand for fish products. Fish and shellfish in the UK and Ireland are harvested for three main reasons: for human consumption, for use in livestock (cattle and aquaculture) feed and as fertilisers for agriculture (Brina & Pollard 1999). Some species are also collected as bait and for the growing aquarium trade. The UK imports large quantities of fish valued at £1423 million and exports fish and fish products of a further £759 million (Beadman, 2004).

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Value (£ million)

Quantity ('000 tonnes)

In 2005, the UK’s fishing fleet landed a total of 707.8 tonnes of fish, with a value of £571.3 million (Marine Fisheries Agency, 2006) (Figure 1). The fishing industry in Britain and Ireland is therefore of high commercial importance.

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0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

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a) Quantity of fish landings into the UK and abroad by UK vessels: 2001-2005.

b) Value of fish landings into the UK and abroad by UK vessels: 2001-2005.

Figure 1: Landings into the UK and abroad by UK vessels: 2001 to 2005 (Marine Fisheries Agency, 2006)

In Britain and Ireland, with only a few notable exceptions, fishing technology is constantly developing and as a result, fishing pressure and the amount of money invested in fishing fleets is increasing. Yet fish numbers are decreasing and environmental degradation has resulted as fishing activity becomes more widespread (Covey & Laffoley, 2002). Different types of fishing practice pose different specific threats to the environment. These include physical destruction or damage to habitats or organisms, overfishing, by-catch and discards. Due to the large amount of money and resources invested in fisheries, financial returns are currently also very low (0 - 2 % or negative) in Britain and Ireland, despite the high value of the fish caught. As a result of this, fisheries are closing (Covey & Laffoley, 2002). The current level of fishing taking place in the seas around Britain and Ireland and by vessels sailing from these countries is financially and environmentally unsustainable (see Figure 2). However, if fishing activity is managed correctly then fisheries and shellfisheries could be sustainable resources (Brina & Pollard, 1999). In 2005, 35% of reported finfish stocks around the UK were at full capacity and were being sustainably harvested (Defra, 2006). Between 2004 and 2005, there was a decrease of 3% in stocks considered to be sustainable (Figure 2). Approximately two thirds of UK stocks have Visit the ‘Learning Zone’ at http://www.marlin.ac.uk/learningzone

Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

suffered reduced reproductive capacity. This is due to insufficient spawning levels or high levels of exploitation. In order to allow these stocks to recover, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) scientific advice is to substantially reduce the fishing rate (Defra, 2006).

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Figure 2: Percentage of finfish stocks being sustainability harvested in UK waters: 1998-2005 (Defra, 2006)

MAIN CLASSIFICATIONS OF FISHERY TARGETED SPECIES IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND For fisheries management purposes, target species are usually classified based on where they are found in the oceans. The main categories are (Brina & Pollard, 1999): Pelagic species - open water species that live primarily in the upper layers of the sea. Small species such as mackerel, herring and pilchards form large shoals, feeding on plankton. Larger species such as tuna, swordfish and sharks that may feed on smaller fish, are also included in this category. Most pelagic species are migratory and patrol major ocean currents in search of food. Demersal Species - species that live primarily on or near the seabed and include cod, haddock, pollack and a number of flatfish species such as plaice, flounder and halibut. These species are the basis for substantial fisheries in Britain and Ireland. Shellfish - generally live in, on or near the seabed on the continental shelf, shelf slope and abyssal depths. Shellfisheries can be separated into two main groups, crustaceans and molluscs. Crustaceans – include lobsters, crabs and crayfish, which are often targeted by small inshore fisheries. Prawns, shrimps and scampi (Figure 3) may be targeted by trawlers. Molluscs - include scallops (see Figure 4), oysters, mussels, clams, cockles, whelks and snails, which can all be gathered by hand, trapped or dredged. This group also includes squid, cuttlefish and octopus, which may be harvested using nets or hook and line.

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Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

Figure 3: The Norway lobster or scampi Nephrops norvegicus is fished extensively, particularly in the North Sea. Commercial benthic trawls are used to catch this species in large numbers, causing widespread damage to the seabed. The use of pots and creels may cause far less damage. Photographer: Sue Scott

Figure 4: The king scallop Pecten maximus are often dredged, using heavy equipment. This invariably results in extensive damage to the seabed. This method can also result in by-catch of undersized individuals or other benthic species. As an alternative, divers can collect scallops by hand. This method is more selective and far less destructive. Photographer: Sue Scott

The main types of fishing activity in Britain and Ireland are shown in Table 1. PROBLEMS OVERFISHING Overfishing occurs when fishing levels lead to the depletion of fishery target species. “Growth overfishing” (Brina & Pollard, 1999) occurs when larger fish are extracted and the size of individuals in a population becomes smaller overall (eg cod in North Sea). This often results in individuals failing to attain full growth or sexual maturity due their life history. Some species, including the common skate Dipturus batis are vulnerable to capture at all stages of their life cycle (see Figure 5). Landings of skates and rays are not recorded by species and so we are not sure precisely what is being caught (Anderson, 2006). In 2006, pressure from conservation organizations led some supermarkets to stop stocking skate, mainly due to its questionable sustainability (MFA, 2006). To help conserve the most vulnerable species of skates and rays, Cefas has recommended the introduction of a maximum landing size of about 85 cm (Defra, 2006).

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Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

Table 1: Types of commercial fishing activity in Britain and Ireland. Method of Fishing

How it works

Target Species

Non-target Species affected

Types of disturbance and habitats affected

Benthic Trawling

A large net is dragged by a fishing vessel along the seabed. Includes beam trawling and otter trawling.

Fish, crustaceans (prawns, shrimps and scampi) and some cephalopods.

Benthic species, particularly slow growing, long lived, fragile species such as the pink sea fan, sea pens, fan mussels, maerl and horse mussels. Species that use benthic habitats as feeding, breeding or nursery grounds may also be affected.

Substratum loss is the most dramatic disturbance e.g. in soft sediments, biogenic structural habitats such as mussel beds and maerl beds. Suspended sediments can cause smothering and reduce light availability and damage or kill some species

Dredging

Heavy dredges are towed behind fishing vessels. Dredges can vary in size, but multiple dredges are often towed in parallel. Dredges may have large teeth or chains, preceding, which dig into substrate and dislodge target organisms.

Scallops, oysters, clams, scallops and mussels

Similar to benthic trawling. Gears are generally towed at slower speeds and are less likely to capture faster moving species, although preceding teeth are likely to damage buried organisms.

Similar to benthic trawling. Although gears may be heavier and cause proportionately more damage.

Hydraulic dredging

Water jets loosen sediments allowing organisms to be efficiently removed by dredges.

Bivalves such as cockles, razor shells and clams and lugworms.

Fragile, long-lived or slow growing benthic species may be severely damaged or extracted and some may be unable to recover. Wildfowl and waders may be affected by changes in prey availability.

Substratum disturbed, leaving trenches and holes (0.5 – 3.5 m wide and 0.25 – 0.6 m deep). Biogenic habitats such as maerl beds can suffer directly and indirectly. Smothering can occur by suspended sediment over 20 m away from dredged area.

Pelagic Pair Trawling

A net is towed through the Bass, cod, whiting, water column by two boats – pelagic mackerel, pelagic pair trawling. herring.

By-catch of pelagic species such as cetaceans (dolphins & whales), grey seals and occasionally turtles.

Limited habitat disruption due to pelagic nature of fishing.

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Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

Seine netting

A single boat releases a large net in a loop or as a horseshoe shape from the shore and the net is hauled.

Pelagic species that form large shoals e.g. mackerel, blue whiting, and herring.

Varies with scale of seine. Technological advances are leading to less by-catch e.g. using sonar to find fish shoals.

Limited habitat disruption due to pelagic nature of fishing.

Set net Fishing

Includes nets set by fishermen and left for a period of time. These may be fixed or drift nets. Thin, transparent nets are not visible to fish, which swim into the nets and become entangled. Tangle nets are laid on the seabed and trap crustaceans.

Demersal and pelagic finfish. Crustaceans.

Large numbers of harbour porpoises are caught in gill nets. Other marine mammals, elasmobranches (sharks & rays) and invertebrates such as sea fans and crustaceans may also be entangled and killed or damaged. If nets or lines are lost, ghost fishing may be problem.

Animals caught attract large numbers of scavengers e.g. crustaceans. Nets may drag on the seabed causing abrasion and dislodging organisms.

Potting/Creeling

Standard traps left in situ for a long period of time. Traps are baited. Target organisms enter but are unable to escape due to trap design.

Lobsters (blue and Norway), crawfish, crabs and whelks main targets.

Fragile benthic species such as ross coral may be damaged in the deployment of pots. Some marine mammals and fish may be trapped and killed when foraging in the pots.

Disturbance is minimal, and much less damaging than other forms of crustacean fishing. Lost pots may continue to trap and kill animals long after they have been set.

Rod/Line fishing

Use of a (usually baited) hook on a line. Small commercial scale in UK, however angling is very common.

Various fish species. Sustainable mackerel fisheries in Cornwall use line fishing.

Bait species are required and may be Limited damage to habitats although shore collected locally (see ‘collecting’). anglers may cause some disturbance to Relatively low levels of by-catch, breeding or feeding birds. although angling related litter has been responsible for the death of some marine mammals and seabirds, usually due to entanglement. Sustained angling pressure for certain species may result in local population declines.

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Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

Long line fishing

Line fishing on a commercial Tuna, swordfish. scale. Boats set lines up to 100km long with up to 20,000 baited hooks.

Birds – e.g. endangered species of turtles, sharks. Action is being taken to reduce current levels of by-catch.

Target and non-target pelagic species can be removed in large quantities.

Collecting

Collecting by hand, sometimes involves the use of tools. Can include gathering from on and under rocks or digging in mud or sand for food and bait. Also, gathering by divers.

Wading birds and wildfowl disturbed in shallow water habitats and may be affected by reduced abundance of prey species. Raking can reduce biomass of eelgrass beds. Some populations can be severely affected by intensive sustained gathering activities.

Some disturbance to sediments. Digging can significantly alter the sediment structure of mudflats. This can lead to detrimental effects on other sediment dwellers.

Cockles, mussels, winkles, shore crabs, seaweeds and worms for bait e.g. lug worm. Divers collect larger crustaceans and scallops.

Disturbance to birds and competition for food supply. Generally less disturbance than mechanical harvesting methods.

Mariculture

Farming marine species on a large, enclosed scale. This may be done in marine habitats such as pens in lochs for fish or on land in purpose built tanks. Also shellfish beds.

Atlantic Salmon, halibut, turbot, mussels, pacific oyster.

Escapees from farms can become established in local assemblages as alien species. Genetic pollution may occur when farmed species interfere with the natural gene pool. Farms can also be responsible for increasing parasites and diseases which escape into wild populations. Collection of mollusc spat can change the population size of important prey species such as mussels, impacting bird populations.

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Large inputs of organic matter (faeces and uneaten food) onto local benthos and nitrogenous wastes in the water column are a major impact of mariculture.

Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

Figure 5: Graph showing the minimum mesh size for towed mobile trawl nets relative to the sizes of egg cases, juvenile and adult common skate. (Taken from Hiscock et al., 2005)

“Recruitment overfishing” (Brina & Pollard, 1999) occurs when stocks are progressively reduced by fishing, until a point is reached when a population is unable to produce enough offspring to regenerate itself. Overfishing can directly reduce fish numbers and fish stock biomass, by the processes described above. Overfishing can also cause considerable disruption to food chains and food webs, by removing potentially important species. These may be important prey or predator species that control, limit or maintain other species and their removal may result in changes to ecosystem and community dynamics (see Figure 6).

Figure 6: A typical North Sea food web showing the complexity of fish species interactions (Cefas, 2006). Visit the ‘Learning Zone’ at http://www.marlin.ac.uk/learningzone

Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

Fish stocks throughout the UK are at increasing risk of depletion due to over fishing. Many commercial fish stocks have shown a decline since 1972, probably as a result of intensive fishing activities. Figure 7 shows the patterns of this general decline for several commercial species in the North Sea.

Figure 7: Many species have decreased in numbers and biomass over the past 40 years in UK waters. This graph shows how the estimated stock biomass of four commercially important species has declined in the North Sea (Defra, 2006) (no data available for NE Atlantic mackerel before 1980).

DESTRUCTION AND DEGRADATION OF BENTHIC HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS Bottom trawling and dredging for benthic species damages benthic habitats by breaking fragile plants, corals, rocks and other habitat forming structures and species (see Figure 8). Trawls and dredges often have heavy chains or teeth preceding them to force fish or shellfish from sediments (see Figure 9). The nets and can completely destroy benthic habitats and the trenches left can be observed for years after. In some areas, particularly in the North Sea, these trenches are so common that areas of the seabed could be likened to a ploughed field. It is thought that some intensively dredged areas of the North Sea are dredged seven times a year (Brina & Pollard, 1999). Trawling and dredging form a large trench with sculpted ridges of debris. Large boulders are overturned and bottom features are removed. Maerl fragments are broken into small pieces, removed or buried. Large algae, especially sugar kelp Laminaria saccharina are shredded and dislodged by the trawl. File shell (Limaria hians) nests are removed and individuals are left damaged and exposed to predators. Many large echinoderms, bivalves and flat fish are either caught in the dredge or damaged by the dredge.

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Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

Figure 8: Potential effects of scallop dredging on a healthy maerl bed (Sewell & Hiscock, 2005). The illustrations are representations and the species shown are more densely grouped than in real life.

CONSERVATION It is important to protect benthic habitats from fishing activities, not only for environmental reasons but also in order to protect the habitats and nursery areas of commercially important species. In some particularly sensitive areas, benthic trawling has been banned, either by imposing voluntary restrictions or by statutory protection of particularly vulnerable areas. For example, scallop dredging has recently been banned in Strangford Lough, Ireland to prevent further damage to horse mussel beds. A ‘No-Take Zone’ has also been designated around Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel. The Lundy No Take Zone (NTZ), an area of 3.3 km² on the eastern side of Lundy Marine Nature Reserve, off the north coast of Devon, was set up in 2003 to enhance conservation of marine habitats and species (Defra, 2004) (Figure 10).

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Figure 9: A scallop dredger. Photograph: Judith Oakley

The tiny protected area around Lundy is the only The Lundy No Take Zone is the only area in the UK created for the protection of marine wildlife and highlights the fact that at present, only 0.002% of UK seas are protected. No living natural resources, including lobsters, crabs and fish can be taken from the area. The marine life around Lundy is internationally important and supports many rare species such as Sunset cup corals (Leptosammia provoti) and pink sea fans (Eunicella verrucosa). So far, the results have been extremely positive. There has been a threefold increase in the numbers of landable lobsters found within the No Take Zone and they were also found to be bigger than usual (Defra, 2004).

Figure 10: Divers monitor scallops in part of the Lundy No Take Zone. Photograph: Keith Hiscock

However, there are very few areas in British waters protected by law. Many areas that may be at risk from benthic trawling or other destructive fishing techniques have not yet been identified. In the last few years, the threat to deep-water habitats from benthic trawling is being realised and action is being taken to protect these areas. The UK continental margin is home to many areas of deep-water corals e.g. the Darwin Mounds. Here species like Lophelia pertusa (Figure 11) and Solenosmilia variabilis form reefs that create complex habitats with high levels of associated biodiversity. These coral reefs are very slow growing structures, vulnerable to direct trawling and other disturbances such as smothering from disturbed sediments. Some of the reefs are over 4,500 years old. The first permanent measure to protect a habitat from fishing impacts came into effect on 1 August 2004. This was through amendment of Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 regarding the protection of Visit the ‘Learning Zone’ at http://www.marlin.ac.uk/learningzone

Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

deep-water coral reefs from the effects of trawling in an area north-west of Scotland – the Darwin Mounds (Beadman, 2004). The Deep-sea Conservation for the UK (DC-UK) (www.marlin.ac.uk/dc-uk) project has been developed to tackle three central elements; biodiversity, management policy and public awareness of the UK's deep-sea environment.

Figure 11: Polyps of the cold-water reef building coral Lophelia pertusa. Image width ca 15 cm. Photograph: Murray Roberts

BY-CATCH By-catch is the term given to the incidental catching of non-target species. It is estimated that 7.3 million tonnes of non-target species (by-catch) are discarded annually by the world’s fisheries (Kelleher, 2004). Victims of by-catch often include undersize juveniles of commercially important species and non-commercial but potentially important species. Larger animals such as cetaceans, turtles, seals and sea birds are also occasionally caught in fishing gear. Such species often attract high levels of media and public attention due to their size and public profile. The UK Government agreed that there was the need to decrease cetacean by-catch in some fisheries and spent around £1.6 million in cetacean by-catch mitigation research between 2000 and 2005. The results of this research led to bass pair trawling being banned within southwest England waters out to 12 nautical miles in 2004 (Defra, 2006c). The majority of vessels in the pair trawl fishery are French (Defra, 2005). During the 2004/05 season, a preliminary analysis by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) suggests there was a total mortality of 142 common dolphins in the UK pair trawl fishery for bass, compared with 429 in 2003/04 and 114 in 2002/03 (Defra, 2005). No less important for the diversity of marine ecosystems, are the large numbers of benthic invertebrates, such as starfish, sea urchins, and non-target fish, which are regularly caught as by-catch during benthic trawls. By-catch species often have no value, so fishermen throw them back. These are called discards and can also include target species that are not of the required size or where the quota for those species has already been reached. Throwing injured or dead animals back into the sea increases the food available to scavengers, favouring such species over predators. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Resolution No. 6.2 on by-catch was drafted by the UK and adopted by consensus in 1999 at the Sixth Meeting of the Parties. This urges taking stronger measures against by-catch and engaging regional fisheries management organisations. (Defra, 2003). During 2006, Defra has been developing a pilot project in the Irish Sea involving full catch reporting. This project will help provide better information on the nature and causes of discarding and possible forms of adaptive management for addressing this (Defra, 2006). Visit the ‘Learning Zone’ at http://www.marlin.ac.uk/learningzone

Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

In the UK whitefish trawl fishery, over two thirds of the discarded catch consists of commercial species. Undersized fish account for the vast majority of these discards (cod 98%, haddock 87% and whiting 97%) (Cappell, 2001). Tope are coastal sharks that can live for over 50 years. They are currently caught as by-catch and a consultation is now underway looking at measures to prevent unsustainable exploitation of the species (MFA, 2006). The Common Fisheries Policy reform of 2002 states that the European Commission has initiated measures to promote the protection of vulnerable species. Measures have been proposed to ensure the protection of sharks, including the prohibition of "finning" - involving the removal of fins and discarding of carcasses of sharks in EU waters, and to reduce by-catch of shark species (EU, 2004). CONTROL MEASURES Control measures are mainly designed to reduce overfishing of stocks. Some of those measures will also assist in protecting other parts of the marine ecosystem from damage. There are a wide range of control measures used to reduce the impact of fishing on fish stocks in Britain and Ireland. A well managed combination of methods is often most effective in protecting fish stocks and the environment. The main types of control measures are: Temporal controls - control the amount of time a vessel spends fishing at sea to reduce overall fishing effort. This can also include enforcing a ‘closed season’ during which fishing is not permitted. This may be useful to prevent fishing at times when stocks may be vulnerable, for example during breeding and spawning seasons. Spatial controls - involve restrictions on where vessels are allowed to fish. For examples, areas may be closed due to their sensitivity to damage from fishing. In Britain, there are few areas protected in this way by law. However, the Darwin Mounds and the seas around Lundy Island are amongst the few given this type of statutory protection. Spatial controls may also be combined with temporal controls i.e. a known spawning ground for a particular species may be closed seasonally to protect spawning fish. Input controls - are controls on the amount of fishing effort or the type of fishing. This could be by reducing vessel numbers, or placing restrictions on the equipment used. For example by limiting mesh size, mesh type or numbers of nets. Alternatively, vessel size or engine size can be restricted or vessels and licenses decommissioned (removed from the fishing fleet). Output controls - are control methods that limit the amount of fish or shellfish a vessel is allowed to catch and keep. These could be in the form of a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) or quota. Such controls often lead to wastage as lower value species or species for which a quota has already been met are often discarded, particularly in areas where non-quota species are commonly targeted. Some measures that protect marine wildlife are not designed as a part of fisheries controls but restrict fishing activity e.g. areas closed for military reasons, or areas around oil rigs. SEA FISHERIES COMMITTEES There are currently 12 Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs) in England and Wales established under the Sea Fisheries (Regulation) Act 1966. SFCs regulate virtually the entire coast of England and Wales out to 6 miles and are empowered to make by-laws for the management and conservation of their districts’ fisheries (James, 2006). These by-laws can regulate fishing gear and methods, restrict fishing seasons, set minimum size for fish and shellfish, manage shellfish beds or control fishing for environmental reasons. Legislative changes to modernise SFCs will be pursued through the Government’s planned Marine Bill, after consultation in 2006 (Defra, 2006b). Visit the ‘Learning Zone’ at http://www.marlin.ac.uk/learningzone

Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

INVEST IN FISH SOUTH WEST This three year project is the first within a wider initiative, led by WWF-UK, the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and Marks & Spencer, which aims to agree the measures needed to best sustain fish stocks within the region (Celtic Sea, English Channel and Western Approaches), considerate of the regional economy, local communities and the wider marine environment (www.investinfishsw.org.uk). WHAT CAN YOU DO? •

It is important that when buying fish or shellfish you know where it comes from and how it was caught. If this information is not on the label, ask your fishmonger, they should know.

•

Try to only buy products that come from sustainable sources, especially small-scale, selective fisheries (Figure 12).

•

Try to buy products, which have been caught, using methods that are environmentally friendly. For example, where possible buy shellfish that have been hand picked, not dredged and fish that have been caught using hand lines rather than trawling methods.

•

The MSC (Marine Stewardship Council (http://www.msc.org) has a blue eco-label award scheme for fisheries, which represent good environmental choice to consumers. These are usually small scale, sustainable fisheries, such as the Cornish, handline mackerel fishery. Support schemes such as this, by choosing certified products if possible.

•

When choosing fish, use the MCS good fish guide (http://www.fishonline.org/) and download a copy from http://www.fishonline.org/information/MCSPocket_Good_Fish_Guide.pdf

Figure 12: Sustainably caught fish, now on sale in the UK. Photographer: Judith Oakley

References Anderson, R., 2006. Fishing Focus – the DEFRA and MFA marine fisheries newsletter. Summer 2006, Number 3. Available from < http://www.defra.gov.uk/fish/about/index.htm> Beadman, 2004. Sector Analysis: Sea Fisheries. July 2004. Available from < http://www.englishnature.gov.uk/about/sector/pdf/SeaFisheriesAug04.pdf#search=%22beadman%2C%20se ctor%20analysis%3A%20sea%20fisheries%22>

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Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

Brina, G. & Pollard, S., 1999. Marine Conservation the UK Action Guide. Ross-on-Wye: Marine Conservation Society. Cappell, R., Economic aspects of discarding – UK case study: Discarding by North Sea whitefish trawlers. Prepared for Directorate General FISH European Commission and MAFF. Nautilus Consultants, UK. Available from: Cefas, 2006. North sea foodweb factsheet. Available from< www.cefas.co.uk.fishinfo/food_web.htm> Covey. R & Laffoley. D.d’A. 2002. Maritime state of nature report for England: getting onto an even keel. Peterborough: English Nature. Available from: DEFRA, 2006a. Key facts about coastal and marine waters. Available from www.defra.giv.uk/environment/statistics/coastwaters/.htm DEFRA 2006b. News Release Ref: 270/06 20 June 2006. Modernised Sea Fisheries Committees to deliver improved inshore fisheries management in the future. Available from DEFRA, 2006c. UK Government response to Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution 25th report. Turning the Tide. DEFRA, May 2006. Delgado C.L., Wada, N., Rogegrant, M,W., Meijer, S. & Ahmed, M., 2003. Outlook for Fish to 2020 – meeting global demand. International Food Policy research Institute and Worldfish center. EC, 2004. European Commission Common Fisheries Policy. Available from< http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp_en.htm> Hagan, 2003. Europe’s New Common Fisheries Policy. OceanLaw On-Line Paper No. 20. Available from Hiscock, K., Sewell, J. & Oakley, J. 2005. Marine Health Check 2005. A report to gauge the health of the UK’s sea-life. Godalming, WWF-UK. James, E. (ed.), 2006. UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2005. Marine Fisheries Agency/DEFRA. Kelleher, K., 2004. Discards in the world’s marine fisheries. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 470. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome. Marine Fisheries Agency, 2006. Fisheries statistics. Available from< http://www.mfa.gov.uk/statistics/ukseafish05tables.htm>

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Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

Sewell, J. & Hiscock, K., 2005. Effects of fishing within UK European Marine Sites: guidance for nature conservation agencies. Report to the Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature and Scottish Natural Heritage from the Marine Biological Association. Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth. [CCW Contract FC 73-03-214A]. 195 pp. Available from LINKS Marine Life Information Network www.marlin.ac.uk (MarLIN) DC-UK

www.marlin.ac.uk/dc-uk

EC Common Fisheries Policy

http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp_en.htm

Defra

www.defra.gov.uk

Good Fish Guide

http://www.fishonline.org/

UK Biodiversity Action Plans

www.ukbap.org.uk

Lundy Island

http://www.englishnature.gov.uk/virtualtours/Lundy/Lundy_Home.htm

Marine Climate Change and Biodiversity programme

www.mba.ac.uk/marclim

Marine Fisheries Agency

www.mfa.gov.uk

UK Climate Impact Programme www.ukcip.org.uk BioMARE (European marine biodiversity project)

www.biomareweb.org

Invest in fish South-west

www.investinfishsw.org.uk

Marine Bill

www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/marine/uk/policy/ marine-bill/index.htm

Sea Fisheries Committees

http://www.defra.gov.uk/fish/sea/others/sfc.htm

UK National Biodiversity Network

www.searchnbn.net

Environmental Action Fund (Defra)

www.areyoudoingyourbit.org.uk

CITATION Sewell, J., Jefferson, R., & Oakley, J.A., 2006. Marine Life Topic Note. Commercial Fishing. Marine Life Information Network [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Available from:

Visit the ‘Learning Zone’ at http://www.marlin.ac.uk/learningzone

Marine Life Topic Note – Commercial Fishing

Funded by the Environmental Action Fund of Defra

Visit the ‘Learning Zone’ at http://www.marlin.ac.uk/learningzone