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Final note on the Seafood Ethics Common Language Group meeting held at Friends House, London on Monday 13 July 2015.

The Profitable Futures for Fishing Report identifies actions which would improve vessel business profit in each major segment of the Scottish fleet. Contains the recommended actions which were considered to be top priority or most worthwhile whilst providing insight into the longer term aims and ambitions of the different fleet segments.

European fisheries control measures were reviewed and consolidated under Commission Regulation 01224/2009 with further implementing measures provided under Regulation 404/2011. This applies minimum labelling and information requirements throughout the supply chain both up to retail and to the consumer. It does not apply to fishery products imported under IUU regulations nor those that fall under the CN16 customs tariff heading. This document provides guidance on the application of these requirements within the seafood sector.

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 study provides a close look at the UK seafood value chain for the species cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Gadus aeglefinus) and nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus). This report treats each value chain separately, and the main findings from each analysis can be found below. In addition, the key points extracted from the interviews held with industry players and the implications of the main findings for the major stakeholders in this study are presented here. When seen as a whole, these observations provide a background for understanding some of the developments that are observed in the seafood industry today for the selected species.

These guidelines have been produced for commercial operatives engaged in handling and storing live crustacea within the United Kingdom. They aim to help businesses achieve high standards of operation by encouraging practices that ensure product safety, product quality, and efficient use of resources.

he Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Seafish and the Northern Ireland (NI) Scallop Association have recently completed a report investigating the optimal areas for scallop reseeding in the Irish Sea. This work was commissioned due to an increase in exploitation of scallops around the NI coastline and a desire by industry to be proactive in enhancing long-term sustainability of stocks. Sites selected through industry engagement as proposed reseeding sites were examined by AFBI scientists to ensure that they met the characteristics required for successful settlement of scallops. Seabed habitat maps were combined to provide information for the full sea area under consideration. Scallop catches from the annual AFBI scallop survey were mapped with the full habitat map to determine the areas where scallops were present and identify the underlying habitat type. This allowed a map to be created which showed the suitable habitat for adult scallops within NI waters. All of the proposed reseeding sites fell within areas of suitable habitat. To examine further characteristics of the proposed sites, a combination of measured and modelled data was used. Salinity, food availability, bed stress (natural physical disturbance of the seabed by wave action and/or tidal currents), particulate inorganic matter, suspended particulate matter, abundance of predators, spawning season, larval dispersal and hydrodynamic models were all considered. The above information was presented to the project steering group, and using the data provided, the steering group selected the most suitable sites for reseeding from the original 13 proposed sites. Three reseeding sites (Whitehead, Drumfad Bay and South Bay) have initially been proposed, with a fourth, Roaring Rock, having potential for any future reseeding plans. The NI Scallop Association will now present the results of this work to DAERA to ask for regulation to assist in the protection of these new areas through a ban on mobile fishing gear.

This report is intended give a preliminary overview of the last five consultation events held for nephrops, crab and lobster, demersal (Shetland) and pelagic sectors of the fleet. Which was then considered together during the final analysis and evaluation phase of the project and the outcomes of that are included in the final report.

This report provides an assessment of the potential for open ocean, offshore finfish aquaculture in UK waters using candidate species which would have similar growth and performance characteristics to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and with due reference to other potential species candidates.

Gear database resource: Final report on technical conservation trials in the Northern Ireland Nephrops Fishery

Following on from a previous study to develop test criteria for defining 'free of flesh' shell, further trials have been undertaken to see whether a leach based test methodology could be used as an alternative. Additional tests were carried out on a range of different processes to identify which may be commercially feasible for producing free of flesh shell. The results of the trials showed that the leach based testing methodology was not reliable as a method. Crushing shell is an important stage in difficult to clean products such as crab. A commercial hybrid shell cleaning system could be suitable for commercial use but further engineering is required to develop a suitable system and the commercial viability will be dependant on any value of the clean shell by-products.