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This report presents stage 3 of Project Inshore where findings of stage 1’s data gathering on fisheries within each IFCA and the results of stage 2’s MSC pre-assessment conducted for fisheries around England’s coast (involving over 400 different species, stock and gear combinations) are considered to provide a Strategic Sustainability Review tailored to the North Eastern IFCA.

This consultation concerned PROPOSED measures to protect Fal and Helford Special area of Conservation (SAC) from the impacts of fishing with scallop dredges and other bottomtrawls. To read the consultation go to: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/fal-helford/index.htm

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) will revolutionise the way that the water environment is managed and protected. It replaces today’s piecemeal legislation with integrated management of water quality, quantity, physical habitat and ecology. The WFD has far-reaching implications for fisheries managers and the industry. Its main effect will be an improvement in environmental quality – but it may also result in new controls on fishing and new duties for regulators. This technical briefing summarises the key feature of the WFD, highlights key issues, and gives the background information to help industry find out more about it.

The evidence and data requirements for the designation and subsequent monitoring of MPAs place significant logistical and economic burden for official bodies. This report demonstrates how the fishing industry can play an integral role in marine monitoring and evidence collection using underwater video surveys as a model. Collaborative surveys are shown to have mutual benefits in terms of cost and efficiency savings, knowledge transfer and relationship building.

South West Abalone Growers Association (SWAGA) aims to promote the sustainable development of abalone culture in the South West of the UK. In 2003 SWAGA undertook a FIFG Networking Project (FitzGerald 2003) to establish the limitations to the development of the industry of which legislative barriers were a significant feature.This legislative review has been produced as a guidance document for potential operators. Although it signposts the major legislative issues it is not exhaustive and prospective operators will need to establish site specific issues and requirements. It is also notable that there is considerable movement at present in a number of legislative areas and that any opinions provided in this report will be subject to change as interpretations evolve and regulations are updated.

Areas of potential alternative Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) sites representing mud habitat within the UK Irish Sea regional sea were selected at a stakeholder engagement meeting in October 2014. In order to assess the suitability of these sites within the Irish Sea regional area, existing data were examined to assess habitat condition, variation and how well these meet the mud habitat criteria set by the UK government. Nephrops stock assessment video surveys were utilised along with grab sample data, across both eastern and western Irish Sea areas. Macroinvertebrate community analysis was undertaken on the grab infaunal data, along with analysis of sediment parameters. The level of disturbance was also examined through benthic community assessment relating to successional stage.

Update on the latest developments and measures, introduced or trialled in 2014, to reduce the level of fish discarded.

A report which analyses the economic contribution and value of the major aquaculture sub-sectors, and the most important farmed species in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The potential impact of wild Pacific oysters on local biodiversity is being raised as an issue that has to be considered in environmental assessments of both new farms and changes to practices by existing farms where they occur in wildlife protected areas. A FIFG-funded project has been carried out by Seafish which focuses on Pacific oyster cultivation in and around European Marine Sites. Working closely with industry and statutory nature conservation agencies, relevant background information was collated (Development of a Pacific oyster aquaculture protocol for the UK - Technical Report and a protocol proposed (Development of a Pacific oyster aquaculture protocol for the UK - Protocol template. Where there could be an impact on protected wildlife and/or marine habitats, husbandry and management techniques have been proposed to mitigate or eliminate any potential impacts. The project complements the ‘Memorandum of Understanding for Appropriate Assessments in European Marine Sites’ that was agreed between the SAGB and Natural England.

The native oyster (Ostrea edulis) is a European Biodiversity Action Plan species. The UK has a responsibility to enhance natural (and ultimately fishable) stocks under the Native Oyster Species Action Plan - NOSAP). In this FIFG-funded project, the extensive pond production of spat at a commercial oyster hatchery in Kent was investigated from summer 2006 to autumn 2008. Although disappointing in that no viable spat were produced, the project did deliver a low-cost technology that is transferrable to other areas, for example sites along the east coast of England where managed realignment is being considered. (The partners in the project were Seasalter Shellfish (Whitstable) Ltd. [FIFG applicant], SAGB & Seafish [in kind support]).

This report presents stage 3 of Project Inshore where findings of stage 1’s data gathering on fisheries within each IFCA and the results of stage 2’s MSC pre-assessment conducted for fisheries around England’s coast (involving over 400 different species, stock and gear combinations) are considered to provide a Strategic Sustainability Review tailored to the Southern IFCA.

The aim of this document is to provide an overview of the activities concerned with improving information on fishstocks defined as data limited stocks (DLS.)