Bass statistics in offshore waters

7/27/2019 Bass statistics in offshore waters

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Irish Bass Group

[email protected]

Bass Discards

What We Know

A brief study of sea bass catch and

research statistics in the seas around

Ireland
http://www.irishbass.org/http://www.irishbass.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.irishbass.org/


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Irish Bass Group

This is an investigation into the claim that large quantities of European Sea bass

(Dicentrarchus labrax)are being discarded by Irish vessels while fishing inoffshore waters(particularly Celtic and Irish sea) The suggestion is that while

Irish boats are precluded from landing these bass, vessels from other countries

are landing bass from these areas in large quantities. It has even been claimed

that much of the wild sea bass for sale on mainland Europe comes from areas

not far from the Irish 12 mile limit.

This report does not suggest that the claims made by Irish skippers that they are discarding sea bass are

untrue. Without evidence to the contrary we are in no position to do so.

What it aims to do is bring together evidence that shows that sea bass are rare in these areas and

unlikely to be caught in large numbers.

(Case 1)

The Marine Institute has two modern research vessels at its disposal. These are modern trawlers that

are used to carry out research on the species and location of fish stocks in Irish waters and beyond. Theyare in regular use and manned by personnel with considerable experience in this field.

Given that these vessels have regularly carried out fisheries research over many years in those areas

that some claim to be discarding bass, it seemed appropriate to investigate the frequency that they

encountered bass in waters outside our 12 mile limit. An enquiry was made to the Marine Institute and

the results are contained in the graph below.

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96-99 2000 O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O8 O9 1O

No of bass

No of bass


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Irish Bass Group

From the previous graph you can see that a total of 60 bass were recorded in offshore waters aboard

two research vessels over a 15 year period. During the same period over 2,000,000 million other fish

were logged and recorded. Sea bass made up a miniscule amount of the catch, only .003%.

These research vessels works all around the Irish coast. They use the same or similar methods to

commercial fishermen. And yet catch virtually no sea bass in these offshore waters.

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(Case 2)

Another source of information would be from recorded catches of bass by vessels from other countries

working in the same area as Irish Boats.

Contacts were made with CEFAS and ICES to find out statistics from the EU and UK fleet.

All fishing vessels over 15 meters now carry VMS (vessel monitoring system) which constantly monitors

their location while they are away from port. All EU vessels are required to log their catches and the

location these catches come from. The VMS system is used to verify the location.

EU vessels have no reason not to record catches of bass in offshore waters around Ireland. Unlike Irish

vessels they are perfectly entitled to target, catch and record sea bass in these waters.

The landings of bass for 2009 are shown on the following map for all the ICES sea areas around Ireland:

Figures taken from ICES landing statistics 2009

For a vast area to the south and west of Ireland (shaded in red) the total recorded bass catch for all EU

vessels was a mere 4 tonnes for 2009.


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Irish Bass Group

The catch for the Irish and Celtic seas (shaded in yellow) is slightly more substantial at 165 tonnes for all

EU countries. In fact the bass catch in this area is divided between the UK and France with the UK

taking the lions share at 139 tonnes. The UK figure however does include catches from inside their 12

mile limit where other EU countries may not fish.

We are further able to break down the UK figures using comprehensive CEFAS statistics (see below).

This chart may appear slightly complex but if you check the third section which is a total of the two

above and then look at the first vertical line of figures you will see that the total UK catch of bass by all

methods in the Celtic and Irish seas is 17 tonnes. Looking at the other data will show you that none

(0)of this catch came from trawlers (gill net and hook and line only)

In fact it is apparent that UK vessels, working in the areas where certain Irish vessels claim to be

discarding large quantities of bass, are catching none at all. This is in spite of the fact that unlike the Irish

vessels the UK boats are legally entitled to target and land any bass they find.

Chart taken from CEFAS bass report 2010

To put these figures into context the total recorded sea bass catch for the NW Atlantic is 6,800

tonnes. These bass are mainly caught in the southern North Sea, to the south of England and along the

French and Spanish coasts. In most cases they are caught inside each countries territorial waters.


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Irish Bass Group

CONCLUSION

While it is possible that some Irish vessels may catch bass in these offshore waters it seems strange that

other countries and our own Irish research vessels seem unable to do so in any numbers. This situation

is all the more unusual when you consider the high price of wild bass. This would make it very likely that

vessels from other countries would target bass if they were available in these areas.

It would be a grave mistake to change Irelands much praised Bass Protection Legislation without taking

into account all the information available that shows that sea bass are very rare in these offshore

waters. Any change to the Irish bass laws would seriously undermine the view that our bass stock is in a

healthy state and being well protected.

Bass statistics in offshore waters

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