Electrofishing for razor clams trial: update - February 2021 to January 2022

4. Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

In November 2021, following consultation, the revised Commercial Shellfish Diving In Inshore Water guidance (HSE, 2021) was published. This included a number of amendments and clarifications, with the addition of guidance points specific to electrofishing under the trial. HSE had sought to phase out the recognition of certain previously accepted recreational diving qualifications (to undertake commercial shellfish diving) for many years. Consequently, from November 2021, divers were able to apply to HSE for approval to continue working with their existing qualifications with the intention that from the 1 November 2022 qualifications aimed at recreational divers will cease to be recognised by HSE. It is also intended that from 2022, new divers wishing to work in commercial shellfish diving will be required to hold the minimum diving qualification of HSE SCUBA or approved equivalent.

HSE reviewed previous inspection records for razor clam dive contractors participating in the trial. It is noted that the majority of vessels were inspected during period of May 2018 to November 2019. With the introduction of the revised shellfish diving guidance document and the intervening time frame since initial inspections, HSE intend to undertake another round of dive contractor inspections of all participating razor clam fishing vessels.

Work also continued in the HSE Science Division and reported that the electrofishing research project has proceeded well and is now nearing completion. This scientific work is an analysis of the electrical hazards and risk to divers using electrofishing techniques to harvest razor clams. It is envisaged that the results and analysis of this work will be ready to be presented in 2023.