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Mixed fish stocks essential

Overfishing has reduced fish populations and biodiversity across much of the world’s oceans. In response, fisheries are increasingly reliant on a handful of highly valuable shellfish. However, new research by the University of York shows this approach to be extremely risky. The research, published today in the journal Fish and Fisheries, shows that traditional fisheries [...]

Opportunity to influence management of NWIFCA

People interested in influencing the management of inshore fisheries around the North West of England are being encouraged to apply to join the regions’ inshore fisheries and conservation authority (IFCA). The IFCAs, of which there are 10 around the English coastline, are responsible for the sustainable management of sea fisheries within 6 nautical miles from [...]

Europe 2020

You may be interested to note that on 29 April, the Scottish Government published a report ‘Europe 2020: Scottish National Reform Programme 2013’ which sets out the actions that are being taken forward across Scotland to support the delivery of the ambitions set out in Europe 2020 – the European Union’s strategy for delivering smart, [...]

Waitrose to source from certified stocks

Waitrose has  pledged  to source all its seafood from independently certified sources, with an industry leading deadline of the end of 2016. Jeremy Langley, fish buyer  for the retail chain said:  “For us, this pledge feels like a natural evolution of our long-standing responsible fishing policy. We started to have concerns over stocks of some [...]

Tidal turbines in the River Esk refused

Marine Scotland (MS) has turned down a licence application from GlaxoSmithKline to install 15 turbines at the mouth of Montrose Basin. MS said it would not issue a marine licence due to the site being designated as a special protection area, a site of special scientific interest and a special area of conservation. In a [...]

Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation website

The Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation (SCFF), the national trade association for the creel fishing industry has launched a website. According to the home page, creel fishing is  a traditional and sustainable form of coastal fishing for shell fish that supports more jobs around the coastline of Scotland than any other type of fishery. Creel fishing [...]

EU Fisheries reform to be blocked ?

Thirty-eight members of the European Parliament from 18 member states, including four UK MEPS, have called for each EU government to play a ‘constructive role’ in fisheries reform. In a statement released on April 30th 2013, the MEPs warned that if a minority blocked the reforms ahead of the May 2 meeting, when the Irish [...]

UK Association of Fish Producers want to own all fish

Are fish a private commodity or a ‘public good’ held in trust by the government on behalf of all citizens.? A landmark case which could answer that question is about to get underway. Commercial fishermen, represented by the UK Association of Fish Producer Organisations (UKAFPO), have taken Defra to court arguing that reallocating part of [...]

Sealife off Scottish coast facing extinction threat

The Marine Conservation Society in Scotland (MCS) has urged the Scottish Government to push forward with 33 proposed marine protected areas (MPAs) to safeguard internationally significant populations of creatures from the threat caused by fishing and other human activity. Calum Duncan, MCS programme manager, is to present the minister with a near-4,000 signature petition from [...]

Costing the Earth — Blackfish

Tom Heap from the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘Costing the Earth’ interviews ‘The Black Fish’  activists hoping to bring an end to illegal fishing by tackling the problem head on: by getting in the way of pirate fishermen. The interview may be downloaded here (13MB).