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The FisherMap protocol has been revised in order to map out commercial fishing grounds, main target species and gear contribution to fishermen’s livelihood. The initial version developed by Finding Sanctuary, the Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) project for the South-west of England, used a questionnaire and mapping survey followed by validation meetings to describe the extent of fishing grounds. The revised protocol, used by the three new MCZ regional projects, links individual grounds to percentage gross earnings. Using data from the Seafish annual fisheries economic survey data by fleet segment, it will now be possible to convert individual percentage values into a common currency across fisheries, in a way similar to the 100 pennies approach pioneered by Ecotrust in California. The revised protocol also uses a simplified and standardised gear description directly compatible with the codes used by the Marine and Fisheries and other Agencies. This will make it easier to cross-validate data from various sources. However, the coarse time scale (overall average over last 5 years) and precise local spatial definition used in FisherMap provide unique and rich information that are not collected elsewhere. With the revised FisherMap, the validation group meetings will also have to discuss and finalise the overall economic value of composite maps of local fishing grounds. The same, or subsequent, group meetings presenting the regional conservation priorities will ask fishermen to share their expert local knowledge of essential fish habitats, features and species targeted by the conservation objectives. Local knowledge will be essential to obtain meaningful estimates of both economic and environmental impacts (positive and negative) that the MCZ regional projects need to estimate for their Impact Assessment (IA) of each proposed network and associated management regime. MCZ regional projects would greatly benefit from using Seafish species guides and information on basic fishing methods, and from collaborative work with Seafish, especially Seafish economists to devise a sampling strategy for fishing vessels along the coast and use the best economics data available to conduct their Impact Assessments.

Shellfish waste currently has few, if any readily available recycling outlets. Application of the waste to agricultural land as an organic manure has been identified as the lowest cost disposal route available to the majority of the seafood industry. An in-depth review of landspreading shellfish waste was carried out in 2006 to identify the possible benefits of using shellfish on land. This included an in-depth literature review, contacting people with experience of using shellfish waste on land, analysing some shellfish samples to assess their composition etc. The study found that shellfish could have benefit in land application for agricultural purposes and that it remained a viable outlet for shellfish waste providing compliance with legal constraints such as animal by-product legislation and waste management licensing is demonstrated. This report provides an overview of the information collected, including summarising shellfish properties and beneficial properties to land. It also provides an overview of how permission for the land application of shellfish by-products can be obtained.

These are Seafish's comments on the Welsh Assembly Government's draft Strategy for Marine Protected Areas in Wales. The original consultation is available from http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/environmentandcountryside/marineprotectedareas/?lang=en.

This lists the references to fishing by country in the 2024 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report (U.S. Government report on human trafficking). This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Please request an accessible format.

Aquaculture is already playing a major part in supplying seafood into the European market - some 420,000 tonnes per annum out of a fleet landing total of c.6,700,000 tonnes, or 6-7% of the total by weight. If all the member states of the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers are included, the tonnage rises to some 1,000,000 tonnes per annum, with a total value of £1,984 million in 1999 - compared, for example, with a combined total first sale value of fisheries landings of some $452 million in the UK and Ireland.

The report reviews, synthesizes and summarises reports and studies regarding GHG emissions from seafood supply chains in the period 2000-2012. Published case studies or carbon footprint assessments taking a life cycle approach are considered.

Meeting minutes for the 3rd meeting of the Shellfish Industry Advisory Group (SIAG) which took place on 22nd July 2020.

The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report is the U.S. Government’s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking. This document lists the references to fishing by country in the 2022 report.

This report describes an assessment of the ecological effects of commercial fishing in waters off Southwest England (ICES Divisions VII e,f,g & h).

The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report is the U.S. Government’s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking. This document lists the references to fishing by country in the 2021 report.

Annual Review of the feed grade fish stocks used to produce fishmeal and fish oil for the UK market This review focuses on recent independent documentary assessments of these stocks. These are predominantly published by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). It covers sandeel, sprat, capelin, herring, blue whiting, Norway pout, anchovy, jack mackerel, sardine and menhaden.

Monthly aquaculture e-alert highlighting news items, legislation and reports.