Publication - Consultation paper

Management Proposals of Inshore Fisheries Groups

Published: 15 August 2013
Topic: Marine and fisheries
ISBN: 9781782568322

Consultation on the initiatives developed by Inshore Fisheries Groups with the potential for environmental impact.

2.0 The Inshore Fisheries Groups' Management Proposals

2.1 Introduction

2.1.1 As part of the Inshore Fisheries Strategy 2012 ³, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, committed to support the IFG initiative and to focus on the priorities identified in the Inshore Fisheries Groups' Management Plans.

2.2 Background on Inshore Fisheries Groups

2.2.1 Since 1984, inshore fisheries in Scotland (between 0- 6 nautical miles offshore) have been regulated primarily through the Inshore Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1984 and the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967.

2.2.2 A strategic review of inshore fisheries began in 2002 and culminated in the publication of the Strategic Framework for Scottish Inshore Fisheries ⁴ in 2005. This framework set out a strategy for the management of inshore fisheries, including the establishment of Inshore Fisheries Groups ( IFGs) to plan the management of inshore fisheries at the local level. Included in the framework were five high-level objectives for the management of inshore fisheries (Table 1), which were intended to form the basis for local-level objectives.

Table 1. High-level objectives for the management of inshore fisheries

Topic	Objective
biological	to conserve, enhance and restore commercial stocks in the inshore and its supporting ecosystem.
economic	to optimise long-term and sustained economic return to communities dependent on inshore fisheries, and to promote quality initiatives.
environmental	to maintain and restore the quality of the inshore marine environment for fisheries and for wildlife.
social	to recognise historical fishing practices and traditional ways of life in managing inshore fisheries, to manage change, and to interact proactively with other activities in the marine environment.
governance	to develop and implement a transparent, accountable and flexible management structure that places fishermen at the centre of the decision-making process, and that is underpinned by adequate information, legislation and enforcement.

2.2.3 IFGs are designed to provide those with interests in inshore fishing, ranging from commercial fishermen to wider stakeholders, the opportunity to shape the management of local fisheries. Six pilot IFGs were established in Scotland in 2009, and were charged with the preparation of Management Plans for their areas. These were:

Outer Hebrides IFG,
Clyde IFG,
South East IFG
North West IFG,
Small Isles and Mull IFG
Moray Firth IFG. ⁵

2.2.4 Management Plans were prepared and submitted to Marine Scotland. In general the plans cover the following areas of activity:

activities to support the opening of new and/or closed fisheries, including the collection of baseline information.
fisheries management measures e.g. permit control, increases in minimum landing sizes, restrictions on gear, reduction of discards/bycatch
conflict resolution mechanisms e.g. codes of conduct
economic activities e.g. marketing, labelling, sustainable fisheries accreditation, measures to support economic diversification

2.2.5 Some of these measures are considered to have no or minimal environmental effects, for example, measures relating to marketing. These are summarised in Table 2 and will be implemented locally by the IFGs.

2.2.6 The remainder of the measures have the potential to give rise to significant environmental effects and have been subject to SEA. These measures are summarised in Tables 3a and 3b.

2.2.7 The policy context for the preparation of the IFG Management Plans is discussed in Section 2.3.

2.2.8 Key facts are summarised in Table 4.

Table 2. Strategic actions predicted to have no or minimal environmental effects

Item	Area						Focus of Action
Item	Clyde	Small Isles & Mull	Outer Hebrides	Moray Firth	South East	North West	Focus of Action
Engagement with other marine stakeholders	√	√	√	√	√		engagement
Establish code of conduct &/or conflict resolution mechanism	√	√	√	√	√		operational procedures
Marketing/labelling of local produce		√	√	√	√	√	branding/provenance
Funding and training for new entrants/existing	√	√		√	√		funding/training
Marketing- establish an area wide sustainable fisheries system for all appropriate stocks				√			sustainability accreditation
Map fishing activity	√	√				√	mapping baseline information
Develop website for IFG	√		√		√	√	website
Review & report progress of Management Plans	√		√		√		progress reports
Gear Marking -marking buoys to show ownership	√				√	√	operational procedures
Identification of creels					√		operational procedures
IFG membership of Scottish Marine Regions	√		√		√		marine planning partnership
Review all existing fishing prohibitions			√	√			review process ⁶
Develop log book/local reporting of catches	√	√	√	√		√	operational procedures
Promoting IFGs' work		√					marketing
Ensure levels of access to credit for fisheries sector			√				economic issue
Develop Outer Hebrides fisheries support scheme & community quota scheme			√				economic issue
Economic impact study of individual fisheries						√	economic issue
Support for fishing communities - identify opportunities for fishermen to diversify to economic activities within the marine environment				√	√		economic issue
Processing for new species					√		operational procedures
return and v-notch crippled lobsters	√	√	√			√	fisheries management
return crippled Crab	√	√			√		fisheries management

Table 3a. Strategic actions, covering more than one Inshore Fishery Group management area, with potential for significant environmental effects

Item	Area						Focus of Action	Potential Effect?
Item	Clyde	Small Isles & Mull	Outer Hebrides	Moray Firth	South East	North West	Focus of Action	Potential Effect?
Fisheries accreditation	√		√	√	√	√	sustainability accreditation	benefit
Increase minimum landing size
Brown Crab	√		√		√		population management	benefit
Velvet Crab	√	√	√					benefit
Lobster	√		√			√		benefit
Nephrops			√			√		benefit
Crawfish (Est best practice max landing size)		* √	√					benefit
Razor fish (from 110mm to 175mm)	√							benefit
return and v-notch berried lobsters	√		√			√		benefit
Return berried creel caught Nephrops	√		√			√		benefit
Crawfish - no landing of berried females		√	√					benefit
Lobsters - reduce maximum landing size for females			√					benefit
Velvet Crab - return berried females	√							benefit
Evaluate effects of increased creel mesh size & escape panels			√		√	√		benefit
Develop Mackerel and/or Herring Fishery		√	√	√	√	√	new fishery	adverse
Establish a small scale sprat fishery				√	√		new fishery	adverse
Investigate whether existing fisheries can be developed based on sound management (Squid, Cockles)				√	√		fishery development	mix: potential adverse and beneficial effects on biodiversity and fish stocks
Razorfish - In addition to local reporting wider scientific research programme and investigate the potential for specialised gear to be developed and used in razor fishery				√	√		fishery development	mix: potential adverse and beneficial effects on biodiversity and fish stocks
Clam fishery - Investigate whether existing fishery can be developed based on sound management					√	√	fishery development	mix: potential adverse and beneficial effects on biodiversity and fish stocks
Participate in national and regional management of Nephrops					√	√	fisheries management
Investigate separate management of Moray Firth functional unit					√	√	fisheries management
Investigate static gear only zones for Nephrops in areas with multiple resource use					√	√	fisheries management
Hobby fishermen - controlling or monitoring of activity 1. Creel limits need clear signage and/or quota restrictions 2. Monitor activity and ensure clear creel marking 3. Lobster/Crabs/ Scallops	√ (1)				√ (2)	√ (3)	population management	uncertain; may benefit
Access/regulatory measures for licensed fishermen in IFG areas
Cap creel vessel numbers		√					population management	benefit
Nephrops permits; closed areas						√		benefit
Introduce permit for shell fisheries					√			benefit
Effort control within shellfish licensed fleet				√				benefit
Review access arrangements in all fisheries ( e.g. zoning/spatial management & consultation code)	√		√					benefit

Table 3b. Scientific surveys/ development of new fisheries/ management measures with potential for significant environmental effects

Area	Strategic Action	Focus of Action	Potential effect?
Clyde	Data gathering in order to develop fishery with appropriate stock assessment, management systems and measures (Cockles, Mussels, Winkles, Oysters, Scallops, Razorfish) Data gathering in order to develop pilot fisheries with appropriate management measures (Brown shrimp, Paelamon Prawns, Squat lobsters, Otter shell, other Bivalves) Reduce discards - cod recovery	fishery development identification of fisheries management measures	mix: potential adverse and beneficial effects on biodiversity and fish stocks
Moray Firth	Explore funding for new fishing techniques/trials Stock assessments for under-utilised species Sprat fishery - determine and evaluate the economic viability of development of sprat fishery within the area Whelk - Investigate whelk stock in area Lobster - Establish lobster stock's status to establish possible management measures Green Crab - establish importance of commercial fishery Mussel - determine if significant sub tidal mussel beds exist with the MFIFG area establish importance of commercial fishery within area to determine developing opportunities Native Oyster - Investigate whether existing fishery can be developed based on sound management Queen scallop - establish if scallops can be developed as a targeted fishery or form a by-catch from other fishing activity Plaice - establish stocks in local area Clam - identify stocks within the area and determine if existing fishery can be developed Seek to secure appropriate funding and support for the development of sustainable fishing techniques, exploratory fishery trials, stock assessment/dynamic research and market evaluation of market opportunities for under-utilised species Investigate the potential for jigging and squid fishery Monitor by catch discards Explore limiting quota allocation or specifying gear type to reduce by-catch/discards/poor stock quality Haddock - develop reporting system to record discard levels and develop management measures haddock by catch Landing and supporting infrastructure - ensure requirements of fishing fleet are identified	fishery development new fishing techniques identification of fisheries management measures potential infrastructure proposals	mix: potential adverse and beneficial effects on biodiversity and fish stocks
South East	Scientific survey to establish whether a fishery can be established (Bivalve, Sprat, Brown/Pink shrimp, Smelt) New fisheries & unmanaged fisheries - Surveys to collect baseline data which can be used to calculate fishing effort. Investigate winter cod fishery Lobster stock enhancement	fishery development identification of fisheries management measures	mix: potential adverse and beneficial effects on biodiversity and fish stocks
Outer Hebrides	Establish a small scale mackerel and herring fishery Squid - seek review of current prohibitions Brown shrimp - identify vessels to take part in pilot fishery Cockles - Develop cockle fisheries - surveys of cockle beds Razorfish - Stock surveys to develop fishery Support fuel efficiency measures Promote use of eco - dredge; scallop dredgers to work to UK Scallop Code of Conduct Support for new gear for pilot fisheries	fishery development energy management fisheries techniques identification of fisheries management measures	mix: potential adverse and beneficial effects on biodiversity and fish stocks
Small Isles and Mull	Squid and Crawfish - Pilot fisheries with Marine Scotland observers to gather data Velvet crab - establish scientific base for fishery Wrasse fishery - Establish scientific base to identify management requirements in the developing wrasse fishery Catch sampling of crab, lobster, velvet crab and Nephrops Ensure appropriate use of collected fisheries data	fishery development identification of fisheries management measures	mix: potential adverse and beneficial effects on biodiversity and fish stocks
North West	Wrasse - Ensure any potential wrasse fishery is carried out responsibly Determine biological status of stocks (Brown crab, Velvet crab) Scallops - Investigate cause of scallop decline	fishery development identification of fisheries management measures	mix: potential adverse and beneficial effects on biodiversity and fish stocks

Table 4. Key facts about the IFG Management Plan Proposals

Responsible Authority	Marine Scotland
Title of PPS	Management Proposals of Inshore Fisheries Groups
Purpose of PPS	To set out measures from the IFG Management Plans that may be implemented.
What prompted the PPS	Strategic Framework for Scottish Inshore Fisheries
Subject	Inshore Fisheries
Period covered by PPS	Not defined
Frequency of updates	Not specified
Area covered by PPS	Scottish waters (0-6 nautical miles)
Summary of nature/ content of PPS	The IFG Management Plan Proposals set out proposed measures for the management of inshore fisheries in Scotland that may have significant environmental effects.
Are there any proposed PPS objectives?	Yes. The IFG Management Plans focused on biological, economic, environmental, social and governance issues. The plans' objectives include a broad mix, focused on management issues and procedures as well as proposals for further research to improve the evidence base.
Contact	Amanda Chisholm, Environmental Assessment Team 2J South Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ tel. 0131 244 7806 email: amanda.chisholm@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Malcolm MacLeod, Inshore Fisheries Management and Coastal Communities, 1B-South Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ tel: 0131 244 4421 email: Malcolm.macleod@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

2.3 Relationship with Other Plans, Programmes or Strategies ( PPS)

2.3.1 The Act requires that the Environmental Report include an outline of the relationships between the proposals and other relevant PPS. Figure 1 shows the range of policy and legislative drivers at the European, UK and Scottish levels that are of relevance to both the inshore fisheries sector, and to Scotland's wider marine environment.

Figure 1. Policy context for the IFG Management Plan Proposals

Figure 1. Policy context for the IFG Management Plan Proposals

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2.0 The Inshore Fisheries Groups' Management Proposals

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