UK Quota rights–A tricky question
Quota in the fishing sector is a thorny issue – the following has been extracted from an article by academic lawyer Tom Appleby – highlighting some of the issues he sees with the muddy mismanagement of a public resource. Recently, Tory backbencher Amber Rudd asked the UK Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon whether there would be [...]
The Scottish Government has complained that land-locked countries are being given the chance to discuss EU fisheries policy whilst his request to Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki was turned down and the UK Government is "unwilling" to let him go. Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead wanted to outline efforts in Scotland to cut the wasteful practice, known [...]
The North Sea Regional Advisory Council (NSRAC) has stated its position on discards ahead of a high-level political summit convened by European Commissioner for maritime affairs and fisheries Maria Damanaki. The RAC’s Demersal Working Group met to discuss the issue in Edinburgh and said afterwards that the NSRAC is totally committed to reducing discards. It [...]
The Scottish Government has just published guidelines for the selection of Marine Protected Areas. Background The Marine (Scotland) Act and the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act include new powers and duties to designate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to protect features of importance to Scotland. The Marine (Scotland) Act includes provisions to designate MPAs for [...]
The EU might lose the right to catch bluefin tuna this year. EU fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki has written to Spain, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Greece, telling them that the European fleet runs the risk of not being allowed to catch its quota for 2011 if they do not submit their plans for recovery of tuna [...]
The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) of the European Commission compiles data on landings and discards of the main commercial species by fishing gear type. The following estimates of landings and discards by trawlers are based on the STECF data. The estimates cover the three most recent years for which data have [...]
Defra propose to collect angling data
Defra has asked the Angling Trust to comment on a recent draft proposal to collect data on catches from recreational sea anglers. This is being done under the guise of a need to conform to EU requirements under the EU Control Regulations and the EU Data Collection Framework – parts of the Common Fisheries Policy [...]
Marine Plan–Statement of public participation
SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL MARINE PLAN Statement of Public Participation (SPP) – The 2010 Act states that a SPP must be published. The Government’s SPP gives the process and participation timetable involved in creating the National Marine Plan and as the National Marine Plan process develops, the SPP will be updated to give details on future [...]
Denis Kelly, SSACN’s Secretary is visiting to the prestigious Scuola Lingue Estere dell’Esercito (Army Foreign Language School) in Perugia Italy to deliver talks on marine conservation, shark tagging and the highly emotive issue of shark finning. On the first day Denis had a meeting with Brigadier General De Lutzio who said that the basis of [...]
The TACS and Quotas for 2011 have brought in the first EU wide protection for the tope. The document states, “Catches taken with longlines of tope shark (Galeorhinusgaleus) shall be promptly released unharmed to the extent practicable.” This doesn’t apply to trawls but is hopefully the first step towards a management plan. Note: England and [...]
SSACN’s Give Fish A Chance (GFAC) initiative reflects the fact that many anglers are keen to do what they can to ensure the minimal impact to the environment and to the fish themselves.
Fish sustainably, only take fish for the table which have had a chance to reproduce and have respect for those you do catch.
Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content.
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 [...]
A charity registered in Scotland - No SC039015
