Category: Commercial
An influential European fisheries technical committee has approved a new Scottish trawl design aimed at reducing discards. The ‘flip-flap’ trawl has been designed for use in the prawn fishery and features a small panel inside the trawl that is able to select target species but reject unwanted sizes and types of fish. Trials have shown [...]
A group of static fishermen are seeking a meeting with the government to try to get scallop dredging banned off the East Yorkshire coast as they say that Scottish and the Isle of Man boats coming to the area are causing damage to their fishing gear. Unlike Scotland, in English waters, scallop dredging is normally [...]
THE National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) has said it is surprised – even shocked - by the latest assessment of North Sea and West of Scotland saithe which indicates all is not well for the stock. The NFFO claim the saithe stock had been consistent with a fishery maximum sustainable yield for four or [...]
Europe’s mackerel fishery is to lose its valuable Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation at the end of this month. Following so soon after the nephrops fishery withdrew it really calls into question the effectiveness of politicians and fisheries management. The MSC took the decision after the European Union (EU), Norway, Iceland and Faroe granted themselves [...]
The North Sea nephrops fishery has been withdrawn from seeking MSC certification. Originally put forward in 2007, it has taken so long to get through the process that the assessment criteria have changed. Provisional results indicated the Fladen grounds would pass the assessment, but none of the other areas of the North Sea would and [...]
Bertie Armstrong, CEO of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) is to tell Richard Lochhead at the ‘Fishing, Aquaculture and Seafood Expo – from Sea to Plate’ event in Glasgow about the acute set of challenges currently facing the industry. Mr Armstrong will be meeting the Scots Fisheries Secretary to underline the fact that the Scottish [...]
Just how far out of step are the commercial fishing sector willing to be ? Efforts to ban the practices of highgrading and discarding edible fish at sea could be thwarted by a group of EU member states which are planning to block reforms aimed at conserving dwindling fish stocks. The EU fisheries chief, Maria [...]
Local fishermen in Cardigan Bay have accused scallop dredgers from Scotland of breaching an exclusion zone off the Welsh coast and of damaging their livelihood by over-intensive dredging of the sea bed. Welsh Government fisheries officials have already boarded several boats suspected of breaking the Welsh Scallop Order and have confirmed they are investigating alleged [...]
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UK Initial Assessment and proposals for Good Environmental Status
Consultation Start: 27 March 2012 – Consultation End: 18 June 2012 This is a joint consultation between Defra, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government and on the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The Directive requires Member States to take measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status [...]
Argyll and the Isles coast and countryside trust
Argyll and Bute Council have formed a partnership steering group with Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, ABSEN, and Argyll & Bute Local Services Initiative to look at the possibility of establishing a new independent trust. The proposed aim of the Trust would be to: ‘work together to sustainably maintain, enhance and promote the coast [...]
Marine Strategy Framework Directive Consultation Event
Defra, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government are planning to launch a joint consultation on the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) on 27 March 2012. You will be able to find the consultation documents on the Defra web site http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/open/ Defra will be hosting a stakeholder event [...]
Argyll & Bute – Coastal Development Strategy
Argyll and Bute Council are preparing a Coastal Development Strategy as part of their new Local Development Plan. One of the key sectors that will be considered in the Strategy is coastal tourism & recreation and therefore the Council is seeking information and views to ensure a relevant, effective and up to date strategy is [...]
EGPS & Renewable Energy Routemap consultations
The Scottish Government has published a Revised Draft Electricity Generation Policy Statement (EGPS) and a draft Renewable Energy Routemap. These draft policies together set out Scottish Government policy for low carbon energy generation. Both policies are now open for public consultation which ends 4 June 2012. A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) under the Environmental Assessment [...]
Marine Social and Economic Data Project 2012
Robust and current data is needed urgently in the marine environment where policy makers are dealing with a number of new legislative requirements such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the development of Marine Spatial Plans and the designation of new Marine Protected Areas. In response to this, EMU Limited in collaboration with the Marine [...]
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