On 16 October, we posted about new legislation which will implement a number of the measures set out in the published Fisheries Management Plans (FMP).
These measures come into force today. Going forwards, fishing gear and/or fishing practices must comply with these new measures.
The measures include:
Channel demersal non-quota species FMP, and Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP
- The introduction of new minimum landing sizes (minimum conservation reference size - MCRS) for lemon sole (250mm), turbot (300mm), and brill (300mm) in the English waters of the Channel Sea (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea areas 7d and 7e)
Crab and Lobster FMP
- An increased MCRS for crawfish to 110mm in all English waters to protect the juveniles of all these stocks from being landed before they have matured.
Channel demersal non-quota species FMP
- The introduction of a restriction on the engine power of vessels (greater than 221 Kw) using flyseining gear (fishing with an encircling and towed net, operated from a boat by means of two long ropes (seine ropes) designed to herd the fish towards the opening of the net) in the English territorial waters of the Channel Sea. This is to help manage fishing effort on demersal non-quota species in inshore fishing grounds.
- A requirement that all vessels using flyseining gear will have to use a larger mesh (100mm minimum) as standard in the English waters of the Channel so that smaller, juvenile fish can escape. This removes a previous derogation allowing 80mm mesh size. The legislation requires a 100mm cod-end mesh size as a minimum and does not change any of the other technical measures. Therefore, twine thickness, circumference, mesh shape, and all other relevant measures in place within 7d and 7e are unchanged.
- Read more: Fishing gear requirements and Landing Obligation exemptions (updated Dec 2024) applicable to demersal towed gears fishing in UK waters of the English Channel (excluding beam trawlers and nephrops trawlers)
Bass FMP
- Commercial catch limits for bass will be updated promptly through fishing licences, so they are in line with evolving evidence. This is instead of having to change legislation, which takes several months.
Keep an eye on the blog for future updates on further measures being introduced.
16 comments
Comment by Greg Purcell posted on
As the Bass population is below agreed safe levels will the bycatch allowance be reduced quickly using this method?
Comment by Nicola posted on
Hi Greg,
Recent negotiations between the UK and EU fixed commercial catch limits for bass for 2025. These catch limits are within ICES advice on removals and mortality. To reduce unnecessary discarding of bass all trawls and seines will see an increase in their bass bycatch per trip limit from 5% to 10%. For more details see Fisheries: consultations between the UK and the EU for 2025 - GOV.UK
The Statutory Instrument covered in this blog post moves the annually set commercial catch limits from secondary legislation into licence conditions which can be updated faster than the previous process of changing legislation.
Future bycatch limits will be considered by the formal Bass Management Group through collaborative stakeholder engagement.
Comment by David posted on
Hi Nicola.
You state, "Future bycatch limits will be considered by the formal Bass Management Group through collaborative stakeholder engagement".
I'm pleased to learn that this will be the case. I am saddened but not surprised that the recent, across the board increase in commercial landings limits was done without any consultation with the BMG or RSA stakeholders. It seems that anglers don't matter.
Comment by Nicola posted on
Hi David, the UK recently concluded annual fisheries negotiations with the EU in which commercial catch limits for bass were set and these are now publicly available at Fisheries: consultations between the UK and the EU for 2025 - GOV.UK on page 15.
Shared bass management measures between the UK and the EU will rollover from 2024 into 2025. These catch limits are within ICES advice on removals and mortality and are in line with the commitment of goal 6 of the bass FMP - “Sustainable harvesting of the bass stock in line with scientific advice”.
We will continue to monitor the current measures and if necessary the Bass Management Group may discuss further proposals to catch limits in future.
Comment by David posted on
It seems bizarre that we have a Bass Management Group who were not consulted about such a major issue as a significant, across the board increase in catch limits.
Trying to avoid discards always seem to be the excuse for increasing catch limits to unsustainable levels. Instead, why not introduce legislation whereby everything caught needs to be landed. Anything above the catch limit can then be sold at market and the proceeds given to charity. The fishermen could be paid a small handling fee. It seems to work very well in other countries which have much healthier fisheries than the UK.
Comment by Nicola posted on
Our SI changed the mechanism through which bass commercial catch limits are updated – it did not change the catch limits themselves. Any changes to the actual catch limits are made following annual EU/UK negotiations.
In preparation for the negotiations in late 2024 both the bass management group and recreational anglers (in the quarterly recreational sea fishing forum) were asked for their views on the proposals for 2025 annual negotiations before negotiations with the EU began.
Comment by Martin W posted on
Regarding the BMP.....the three How's......
How can the catch limits be increased for a stock that has scientific advice advocating a decrease?
How does this deliver 'world class fisheries' - something that was promised when we left the EU?
How has this been allowed to happen when the Bass Management Group has only just had its first inaugural meeting?
Comment by Nicola posted on
Hi Martin,
Defra recently took part in annual fisheries negotiations with the EU in which commercial catch limits for bass were set and these are now publicly available at Fisheries: consultations between the UK and the EU for 2025 - GOV.UK on page 15.
Shared bass management measures between the UK and the EU will rollover from 2024 into 2025. These catch limits are within ICES advice on removals and mortality and are in line with the commitment of goal 6 of the bass FMP - “Sustainable harvesting of the bass stock in line with scientific advice”.
The Bass Management Group has been established to address the short-term measures within the bass FMP and met for the first time in November 2024. This legislative change does not come within the scope of the group, however, may allow proposed changes by the group to be implemented more efficiently in future.
Comment by David posted on
Nicola - you refer to the recent increases for bass as being, “Sustainable harvesting of the bass stock in line with scientific advice”.
The scientists, ICES, tell us that the bass stock has been hovering around Blim for years. It is still well below the Blim trigger. How can, across the board, commercial increases be sustainable when the stock isn't being given the opportunity to recover?
Comment by Nicola posted on
Defra follows scientific advice provided by Cefas and ICES on an annual basis. Commercial catch limits have been allowed to increase in the year 2025 in an effort to reduce current levels of bass discards.
The UK recently concluded annual fisheries negotiations with the EU in which commercial catch limits for bass were set and these are now publicly available at Fisheries: consultations between the UK and the EU for 2025 - GOV.UK on page 15.
Shared bass management measures between the UK and the EU will rollover from 2024 into 2025. These catch limits are within ICES advice on removals and mortality and are in line with the commitment of goal 6 of the bass FMP - “Sustainable harvesting of the bass stock in line with scientific advice”.
Comment by David posted on
I'm sorry Nicola but allowing a stock to hover around Blim cannot be sustainable. Scientific advice states that the stock should be above the Blim trigger. The bass stock hasn't been in that position for years.
Below Blim trigger a precautionary approach should be adopted yet Defra have done the exact opposite and increased catch limits.
Comment by Nicola posted on
Thank you for your views on this, David. This and future comments regarding this have been passed on to the bass FMP policy team as they are going into details of the FMP rather than the blog post.
Please contact them about details of the bass FMP at BassFMP@defra.gov.uk
Comment by Martin W posted on
Many thanks for allowing the post and replying - much appreciated Nicola.
Comment by MichaelB posted on
Hi Nicola you say
"In preparation for the negotiations in late 2024 both the bass management group and recreational anglers (in the quarterly recreational sea fishing forum) were asked for their views on the proposals for 2025 annual negotiations before negotiations with the EU began."
Can you please provide the minutes of these two meetings.
Comment by Nicola posted on
Hi Michael, please contact the following teams for the meeting minutes:
Bass Management Group: bassfmp@defra.gov.uk
Quarterly recreational sea fishing forum: recreational-seafishing@defra.gov.uk
Comment by MichaelB posted on
Thanks for that, emails sent.