Outer Hebrides Inshore Fisheries Group - Consultation on new Management Measures on Crabs and Lobster Landings into the Outer Hebrides

Executive Summary

This consultation seeks views on:

• Increasing the MLS (minimum landing size) for brown crab ( Cancer pagurus) landed into the Outer Hebrides from 140 mm to 150 mm carapace width
• Increasing the MLS of velvet crab ( Necora puber) landed into the Outer Hebrides from 65 mm to 70 mm carapace width
• Increasing the MLS of lobsters ( Homarus gammarus) landed into the Outer Hebrides from 87 mm to 88 mm carapace length for one year and then 90 mm thereafter
• Decreasing the maximum landing size of female lobsters ( Homarus gammarus) landed into the Outer Hebrides from 155 mm to 145 mm carapace length
• Prohibiting the landing of female lobsters ( Homarus gammarus) missing claws - so called 'crippled lobsters'
• Whether there should be carriage restriction around the Outer Hebrides to support these new arrangements

These proposals were developed and proposed by the Outer Hebrides Inshore Fisheries Group and are intended to help improve the sustainability of these fisheries through the regulation of harvesting controls.

Landings of these species were worth £2.7 million to the economy of the Outer Hebrides in 2012 and more when processing and other related activities are included.

Around the Outer Hebrides these stocks are estimated to be fished at levels close to or above the F _MSY proxy (F _MSY is the fishing mortality consistent with the largest average yield that can continuously be taken from a stock under existing environmental conditions). Where stocks are fished above F _MSY, it is advisable that measures be introduced to reduce fishing mortality. The latest assessments show:

Lobster

• Males are currently fished above F _MSY
• Females are currently fished below F _MSY

Brown Crab

• Females are currently fished above F _MSY
• Males are currently fished below F _MSY

Velvet Crab

• Females are currently fished above F _MSY
• Males are currently fished below F _MSY