lynn gilmore (2011)
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supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
An industry-led strategy for brown crab management in Northern Ireland
Lynn Gilmore (Seafish), Dick James (NIFPO) and Rod Cappell (Poseidon ARM Ltd.)
SAGB Conference, Fishmongers Hall London, 18th
May 2011
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
OverviewBackgroundGetting startedAims of the project- ToRThe brown crab fishery in NI
landings, fleet, marketsConsulting the expertsProposed management measuresConsulting the experts part 2Other information
ResearchMarketing
Proposed organisationNext steps
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
BackgroundSignificant brown crab (Cancer pagurus) fishery in the inshore waters of Northern Ireland.Fleet of small vessels targeting crab from July to December and targeting a variety of other species outside this season- velvets, lobster, Palaemon, buckie whelks. Estimated that this industry is worth in the region of £1 million annually.Taken together all inshore fishery landings are approaching the value of NI Nephrops landings- very significant. Report produced by Nautilus consultants in 2009 (engaged by the Transnational Brown Crab Working Group) on the Future Management of Brown Crab in the UK and Ireland confirmed that the Northern Ireland brown crab fishery is discreet with no overlap in inshore and offshore areas. It is worked on an inshore basis due to the ground topography around the NI coast and is unique in its self containment. Opportunity for this to be local management BUT . It s a tight squeeze!
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futureSource: AFBI
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Getting started
NIFPO were awarded funding from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) with a grant from the European Fisheries Fund to develop a management strategy. Opportunity for local management using a bottom-up approachNIFPO set up a steering group- industry representation from catching and processing sectors from around the coast as well as cross border representation. Group facilitated by Seafish. Steering group developed Terms of Reference and appointed Poseidon ARM Ltd. to carry out research.
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Aims of project (ToR)Assess the relative merits & impacts of key management measures for the Northern Ireland brown crab fishery. Examine the potential for development of a voluntary code of practice to manage crab stocks. Define quality standards required by processors and look at the potential for sorting catch at sea to reduce mortality of crabs which are unsuitable for the market. Define the size and area of crab fisheries around Northern Ireland e.g. plotting of information on GIS to include areas fished, gear used and key spawning grounds. Assess the framework for enabling local management of brown crab resourcesLook at marketing of crab and lobster in NI & recommend a strategy.
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
First stepsPreliminary research was carried out on the fleet, the NI industry, markets.Desk based and one-to-one consultation with industry, Department, fisheries scientists.
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
The Brown Crab fishery in Northern Ireland
landingsfleetmarket
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Brown crab landings-by location
10% landed on North coast & growing
30% from Ards peninsula / Strangford
60% crab from south Down ports
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Landings-Over time
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
95- 05: 22% increase in <10m fleet & 34% drop in over 10 s
05-now: increases in both (9% in <10m & 3% in over 10 s)
184 <10m vessels (86%) hold a shellfish entitlement.
23 >10m vessels (16%) hold a shellfish entitlement
NI Fleet-all sectors
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Most going to Co. Down & Donegal processors, some live.
Price has dropped due to over-supply
No payment/ poor payment for low quality crab supplied
BUTno clear disincentive to land it.
800t of NI crab landed in 2009 (3% of the UKs 24,400t)
NI crab operators are price-takers
Small volume + added transport = difficult market position.
The NI Brown Crab market
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Consulting the expertsFirst round of stakeholder meetings in November/ December 2010-Annalong, Bangor and Cushendall. Key element of the project. Main aim of meetings- narrowing down potential management tools.
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Cushendall
Bangor
Annalong
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Proposed management measures
These were categorised into 4 areas:INPUTSOUTPUTSQUALITYCONSERVATION
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
INPUTS
Stakeholders considered:Limit on shellfish licenses- sunset clause to remove unused shellfish licences (latent capacity)/ permit
Maximum vessel size in inshore waters
Pot Limits
Gear measures - permit certain types or sizes
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
OUTPUTSIntroduce TACs and quotas
Increase MLS
Further restriction on hobby fishermen
Curfews
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
QUALITY
Ban the landing of cripple crabs
Landing of crab claws
Landing of white crab
Landing of diseased crab
Ban on landing berried crab
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
CONSERVATION
Stock conservationClosed seasons to protect spawning or soft-shelled crab
Wider conservationClosed areasEscapement
Biodegradable clipsEscape gaps
MSC Certification??
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Assessment of measures
Industry consulted at meetings
Given opportunity to give views afterwards by:Contacting the team directlyCompleting a simple questionnaire
Analysis of costs/ benefits and practicality of measures carried out by consultants
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Management measure Sub-optionsChange in legislation
Code of conduct
a Permitc. Crab permit based on track record
x
b Limit type of vessels permitted inshore a. size of vessel x
c Increase Minimum Landing Size
d Limit on hobby fishermen xe Prevent the landing of white crab x
f Ban landing crab claws
g Ban on landing berried crab
h Escapementa. Escape gap
i Eco-labelling e.g. MSCx
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Consulting the experts part 2
This table of proposed management measures was proposed to industry- April 11. Aim- to ensure we were on the right lines. Wide support for all the measures proposed but divided opinion on whether these should be parcelled up in a permit.
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
ResearchTo better understand the NI crab fishery and inform its management:
1. Improve the knowledge and resolution of inshore potting activity by introducing GPS/VMS for inshore vessels (link to improved catch reporting as below);
2. Develop a monitoring programme that collects individual log book records from volunteer skippers whole fleet or sentinel fleet?
3. Gain a better understanding of stock dynamics and status through larval surveys and a tagging & recapture project.
4. Develop a long-term stock assessment programme assessment methods require size and sex ratio information could work with processors may have some historic information on grades & sexes
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Marketing Overall Northern Ireland crab remains in a difficult market position as it is:
highly dependent on an export market; logistically more remote than competing suppliers; with a comparatively low volume of landings; and no clear market distinction of Northern Irish product
So the marketing strategy should: 1.Focus on the catching sector. Promote the positive actions and buyers can then incorporate as they see fit.
2. Establish quality assurances: adopting an industry-wide code of conduct including landing of white and diseased crab.
3. Highlight sustainable credentials: low impact, small scale, improved management. Further support this with MSC labelling (pending pre-assessment result).
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Northern Ireland
Shellfish Management
Plan
North Coast Shellfish Assoc.
Strangford Lough Shellfish Assoc.
South Down Shellfish Assoc.
North Down Shellfish Assoc.
local code
local code
local code
local code
4 area associations feed into the plan.Each represented on the main council delivering the plan.
Proposed Organisation
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
NI Shellfish Management Plan
Scientists (AFBI & Unis) & industry:
data collection & applied research
DARD:legislation & enforcement
NI Shellfish Council:Chair (?)Seafish (sec & liaison)North Coast Assoc. (2)North Down Assoc. (2)Strangford Assoc. (2)South Down Assoc. (2)DARDAFBIIrish link (BIM rep?)Others?
Delivering the plan
Proposed Organisation 2
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Next steps
Review feedback from these 3 meetings- permit accepted in 2 of 4 areas
Draft a final report by end of May
Steering group will review and when approved, will submit to DARD as a proposal.
Present to industry at a workshop in June
Meeting with DARD to agree process likely to be more formal sector consultation on the management plan
Revise where necessary and look to implement the final management plan
So realistically could see management in place from next year (2012) onwards.
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Thank you for your attention
And thanks to project team:NIFPODr Rod Cappell (Poseidon) Dr Colin Bannister Steering Group members
Contact details:Lynn [email protected]
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