Archive for March, 2012

Another long distance tope
More than 2000kms away from where she was tagged during Sharkatag 2010 – tope number 3044 was recaptured off the coast of Portugal. As we reported recently, tope have now joined common skate and porbeagle in having the highest levels of protection in Scottish waters; returns like this show it is time for the EU […]

Another long distance tope
More than 2000kms away from where she was tagged during Sharkatag 2010 – tope number 3044 was recaptured off the coast of Portugal. As we reported recently, tope have now joined common skate and porbeagle in having the highest levels of protection in Scottish waters; returns like this show it is time for the EU […]

26 species of shark protected
Great news for Scotland’s sharks. Tope, as the commercial sector are now prohibited from catching them, join common skate and porbeagle in having the highest levels of protection in Scottish waters. In a previous post we reported that the Scottish Government was looking to increase the protection of 26 species of Scottish sharks. The necessary […]

Manx basking shark watch recover tags
Last summer the Manx Basking Shark Watch (MBSW) team on the research vessel Happy Jack deployed 3 satellite tags on basking sharks in Manx waters. These tags have all now popped off the sharks as planned and have streamed their data to the Argos satellite system. Full analysis of the data will take a few […]

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 […]

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 […]

Loch Ryan SAA lead the way
At their recent AGM, Loch Ryan Sea Angling Association (LSAA) took the opportunity to review their match fishing rules. In a move which will help reduce the number of fish retained, the format of roving matches was changed so that an angler can only weigh in one fish of any particular species; all pegged matches […]

The great mackerel grab
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 […]