SAGB2013 Mark Gray (Seafish)

supporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable futuresupporting the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future

Responsible Sourcing and Inshore FisheriesMark Gray

Responsible Sourcing Work Programme Leader


Seafish’s new strategic direction

Purpose: Securing a sustainable and profitable future for the UK seafood industry

Vision: The authority on seafood

High Level Objectives: Protect, Promote, Inform

New Sector Panels: Domestic and Exporters

Importers and Processors

Consumer and Supply Chain


Seafish Workstreams

Consumption Promoting the consumption of seafood in the UK

Regulation Providing guidance and support for the industry

Fishermen’s safety Making sure fishermen are up to date on safety training

Responsible sourcing Ensuring information is available on best practice

International trade Providing export and import companies with the right data

Information Coordinating and responding to industry enquiries

Reputation Increasing awareness of industry standards & operations

Regional support Giving specific support to UK regions


Responsible sourcing

What are the issues?

• Pressure on buyers to source seafood responsibly

• Dealing with data deficient fisheries

• Lack of information and assessment of mixed fisheries

What are we doing to address them?

• Risk Assessment for Sourcing Seafood

• Tailored information and guidance

• Outreach (Common Language Group, Discard Action Group, Aquaculture Common Issues Group)

Responsible Sourcing Guides

• Why are they needed?

• What information do they provide?

• Who uses them?

• Are they successful?

• What species do they cover?

• What does Seafish plan to do with them?


Responsible Fishing Scheme

• Why was it established?

• How does it benefit fishermen and the rest of the supply chain?

• How successful has it been in terms of

– Membership?

– Recognition?

– Meeting the demands of responsible sourcing?

– Dealing with transgressions?


Responsible Fishing

Underpins responsible sourcing & features heavily in our work, for example under:

• Risk Assessment for Sourcing Seafood

• Responsible Fishing Scheme

• Gear technology

• Media work

There are wider benefits associated with responsible fishing, such as:

• Securing markets

• Reducing regulatory burden

• Securing access to MPAs

• Influencing fisheries management

• Helping to maintain a healthy and productive sea

Responsible Fishing within MPAs

• Determining fishing / MPA feature interaction

• Assessing damage and / or disturbance caused by fishing

• Modification of fishing gear

• Other mitigation measures


Defra Generic Matrix

Fishing gear typeGeneric sub-features

Subtidal sand (high

energy)

Subtidal gravel

and sand

Subtidal muddy sand

Seagrass (SACs)

Maerl

Intertidal and

subtidal chalk reef

Subtidal bedrock

reef

Subtidal boulder

and cobble

reef

Sabellaria spp reef

Subtidal mussel bed on rock

Kelp forest

communities

Towed (demersal) Beam trawl (whitefish)

Beam trawl (shrimp)

Light otter trawl

Dredges (towed) Scallops

Mussels, clams, oysters

Pump scoop (cockles, clams)

Static - pots/traps Pots/creels (crustacea/gastropods)

Cuttle pots

Red Fishing will be prohibited

Amber Fishing will be subject to AA

Green No restrictions on current effort

Blue Fishing does not occur

Sites with ‘red’ fishery/feature interaction


Fishermen mapping marine features

• Improve the accuracy of feature distribution and boundaries

• Up to date information on mobile features

• Utilise fishermen’s knowledge/ability

• feature location

• environmental conditions

• boat skills


Fishermen collaborating with the IFCAs & Natural England


Selsey Fishermen’s seabed survey work


Participating in Fisheries Governance

What are the benefits of engaging in management & establishing industry measures?• Utilising evidence & data provided by industry

• Influencing management decisions

• Collaborating on research

• Saving time and money

• Agreeing workable solutions

• Creating trust

• Securing support and compliance

Some examples…


Welsh Fishermen’s AssociationWelsh Waters Scallop Strategy

• Fishing intensity experiment

• Stock assessment

• Gear improvement

• Gear conflict resolution

An ecosystem-based approach for MCZ management in Wales


The importance of industry engagement in MPA designation and management

Level of

engagement

from

fishermen

Cost

Reliance on

the

precautionary

principle

Influence on

management

Risk of

fishing

closures

inside

MPAs

Inactive Zero High Low High

Reactive Low Medium Medium Medium

Proactive Medium Low High Low

SAGB2013 Mark Gray (Seafish)

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