sagb2013 mark gray (seafish)
TRANSCRIPT
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Responsible Sourcing and Inshore FisheriesMark Gray
Responsible Sourcing Work Programme Leader
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Seafish’s new strategic direction
Purpose: Securing a sustainable and profitable future for the UK seafood industry
Vision: The authority on seafood
High Level Objectives: Protect, Promote, Inform
New Sector Panels: Domestic and Exporters
Importers and Processors
Consumer and Supply Chain
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Seafish Workstreams
Consumption Promoting the consumption of seafood in the UK
Regulation Providing guidance and support for the industry
Fishermen’s safety Making sure fishermen are up to date on safety training
Responsible sourcing Ensuring information is available on best practice
International trade Providing export and import companies with the right data
Information Coordinating and responding to industry enquiries
Reputation Increasing awareness of industry standards & operations
Regional support Giving specific support to UK regions
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Responsible sourcing
What are the issues?
• Pressure on buyers to source seafood responsibly
• Dealing with data deficient fisheries
• Lack of information and assessment of mixed fisheries
What are we doing to address them?
• Risk Assessment for Sourcing Seafood
• Tailored information and guidance
• Outreach (Common Language Group, Discard Action Group, Aquaculture Common Issues Group)
Responsible Sourcing Guides
• Why are they needed?
• What information do they provide?
• Who uses them?
• Are they successful?
• What species do they cover?
• What does Seafish plan to do with them?
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Responsible Fishing Scheme
• Why was it established?
• How does it benefit fishermen and the rest of the supply chain?
• How successful has it been in terms of
– Membership?
– Recognition?
– Meeting the demands of responsible sourcing?
– Dealing with transgressions?
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Responsible Fishing
Underpins responsible sourcing & features heavily in our work, for example under:
• Risk Assessment for Sourcing Seafood
• Responsible Fishing Scheme
• Gear technology
• Media work
There are wider benefits associated with responsible fishing, such as:
• Securing markets
• Reducing regulatory burden
• Securing access to MPAs
• Influencing fisheries management
• Helping to maintain a healthy and productive sea
Responsible Fishing within MPAs
• Determining fishing / MPA feature interaction
• Assessing damage and / or disturbance caused by fishing
• Modification of fishing gear
• Other mitigation measures
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Defra Generic Matrix
Fishing gear typeGeneric sub-features
Subtidal sand (high
energy)
Subtidal gravel
and sand
Subtidal muddy sand
Seagrass (SACs)
Maerl
Intertidal and
subtidal chalk reef
Subtidal bedrock
reef
Subtidal boulder
and cobble
reef
Sabellaria spp reef
Subtidal mussel bed on rock
Kelp forest
communities
Towed (demersal) Beam trawl (whitefish)
Beam trawl (shrimp)
Light otter trawl
Dredges (towed) Scallops
Mussels, clams, oysters
Pump scoop (cockles, clams)
Static - pots/traps Pots/creels (crustacea/gastropods)
Cuttle pots
Red Fishing will be prohibited
Amber Fishing will be subject to AA
Green No restrictions on current effort
Blue Fishing does not occur
Sites with ‘red’ fishery/feature interaction
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Fishermen mapping marine features
• Improve the accuracy of feature distribution and boundaries
• Up to date information on mobile features
• Utilise fishermen’s knowledge/ability
• feature location
• environmental conditions
• boat skills
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Fishermen collaborating with the IFCAs & Natural England
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Selsey Fishermen’s seabed survey work
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Participating in Fisheries Governance
What are the benefits of engaging in management & establishing industry measures?• Utilising evidence & data provided by industry
• Influencing management decisions
• Collaborating on research
• Saving time and money
• Agreeing workable solutions
• Creating trust
• Securing support and compliance
Some examples…
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
Welsh Fishermen’s AssociationWelsh Waters Scallop Strategy
• Fishing intensity experiment
• Stock assessment
• Gear improvement
• Gear conflict resolution
An ecosystem-based approach for MCZ management in Wales
supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future
The importance of industry engagement in MPA designation and management
Level of
engagement
from
fishermen
Cost
Reliance on
the
precautionary
principle
Influence on
management
Risk of
fishing
closures
inside
MPAs
Inactive Zero High Low High
Reactive Low Medium Medium Medium
Proactive Medium Low High Low