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FISHERIES

Fisheries Group

NORTH SEA COMMISSION FISHERIES GROUP REPORT - JUNE 2004

1. Background

1.1 The aim of the North Sea Commission Fisheries Group (NSCFG) is to improve the situation in fishing dependent communities around the North Sea in relation to the citizens as well as to the fishing industry, fish stocks and the marine environment.  

1.2 The North Sea Commission Fisheries Group initiated the formation of the North Sea Commission Fisheries Partnership (NSCFP), which was set in place to overcome the conflict between scientists and fishers, includes representatives from the major fishing industry associations and the scientific institutes from the nine countries surrounding the North Sea

1.3 The NSCFP works very closely with the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and has jointly formed the NSCFP/ICES Study Group, which is working towards making use of the valuable information and knowledge held by fisher within the stock assessment process. 

2. NSCFG Work Activities in 2003/2004

2.1 24 October 2003  - Molde, Norway.  Hosted by More og Romsdal Kommune.

The main topics discussed during the Molde meeting were:

  • Coastal Planning - including protected areas for lobsters, clams and sea urchins, fish farming and sea ranching licences, Local Authorities role in coastal planning and how it differs from country to  country.
  • "Interaction between Fishers and Aquaculture" in Highland Region, Scotland. Examples were given about the different problems and successes within the Highland region.
  • Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) - Asmund Bjordal, Research Director, Institute of Marine Research, Bergen and Chairman of NCM, Working Group on Fisheries, gave a very interesting presentation on their work and the importance of  working in Partnership as we do in NSCFG and NSCFP. Information on the work of the NCM can be found on www.norden.org/fisk.
  •  "Development and reorganisation/reconverting of fishery dependent areas" - a Danish Government initiative, which will cover ten peripheral regions and four harbours in Denmark.
  • Quality Index Method (QIM) & Silver seal Quality Awards - two fish quality initiatives in Netherlands and Holland.
  • The Group agreed "Women Working in Partnership in Europe" project application.
  •  "Fishing for Facts " conference proposal was discussed and it was agreed that  the NSCFG would support it, when and if it was finalised.

2.2 23 January 2004 - Haarlem, Netherlands.  Hosted by the Province of Noord Holland

The main topics of the meeting were:

  • The report of the Tjarno conference "Who Owns the Sea".   It was very disappointing that the report was not completed, however we did have copies of all the presentations, which enabled discussion to take place on the importance of inshore fisheries to local communities and the necessity for local management.
  • The Shetland Islands shellfish management system was highlighted as was the English Seafisheries Committees.   It was agreed that at the next meeting of the NSCFG, Shetland Islands and National Federation of Fishermen's Organisation would provide speakers, to discuss both systems in more depth.
  • Future Conference - Tommy Mostrup, Ringkjøbing Amt, gave a presentation to the joint NSCFG/NSCEG meeting, regarding pollution in the North Sea.  The presentation highlighted the need for ensuring that the environment of the North Sea was kept high on the political agenda. Presentation available on www.northsea.org
  • It was agreed that the NSCFG would support such a conference and would seek the support of the NSCEG. The NSCFG looked at why it was important the have a clean North Sea - for the benefit of the coastal communities, the fishing industry and the marine environment. The following issues were highlighted:

  1. Political status of North Sea environment
  2. Ecological Status of North Sea
  3. Changes in the ecosystem
  4. Fish stocks
  5. Coastal Communities

  •  "Women Working in Partnership in Europe" project had been successful in accessing funding from the EU Commission. 
  • The conference is to held in Peterhead, in June 2004. The 2004 NSCFG Action Plan will include:

  1. Inshore Fisheries Management - the formation of a North Sea Inshore Fisher Partnership, which can feed into the North Sea Regional Advisory Council when it is formed.
  2.  Joint Conference - Pollution in the North Sea , led by Ringkobjing Amt

These topics would form the basis for the next meeting the NSCFG, which will take in Aberdeenshire in June 2004.

2.3 The NSCFG and the NSC Environment Group held their second joint meeting  in  Haarlem on 22 January 2004. Report of the meeting is available on www.northsea.org

3. North Sea Commission Fisheries Partnership (NSCFP activities 2003 - 2004.

3.1 The Partnership met at the Headquarter of ICES for the 3rd joint NSCFP/ICES Consultation meeting.  The NSCFP independent scientific experts reviewed the assessment process for haddock, plaice cod and herring stocks. A full report of the meeting can be found on www.northsea.org/nscfisheriespartnership

3.2 As  a result of the joint NSCFP/ICES meeting it was agreed that the NSCFP Regional Advisory Council (RAC) Working Group would meet in Brussels in November 2003 to simulate how a RAC could operate. The topic for the meeting was decoupling haddock and plaice from the pressure stocks e.g cod. The Trial RAC reach consensus after much debate, the report was sent to EU Commission and North Sea Member States. Full report on www.northsea.org/nscfisheriespartnership

3.3 The NSCFP/ICES Study Group (NISG) met in The Hague on 3 - 4 February 2004. Results of the Group on www.northsea.org/nscfisheriespartnership. The NISG recommended that the ICES Methods Working Group should address the problem of how real time qualitative data on fishing success could be incorporated into fish stock assessments.  It was felt important that all types of information were evaluated and used.

3.4 The NSCFP had its first meeting of  2004 in The Hague during this meeting the conclusions of the NSCFP/ICES Study Group on Fishers Information was presented.  Speakers from both Canada and Iceland gave examples of fisher's involvement in fish stock surveys and fish stocks assessment, as a result a NSCFP/ICES Working Group on fishers involvement in fish surveys in the North Sea is to be set in place.  Report of meeting on www.northsea.org/nscfisheriespartnership

3.5 The EU Commission proposed the establishment of Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) to ensure the greater involvement of stakeholders at regional and local level. The NSCFP has been used as the model for the development of RACs.

The NSCFP has been working closely with the North Sea Member States, EU Commission and EU Parliament Fisheries Committee to prepare a proposal for a North Sea Regional Advisory Council. We have been working closely with Atlantic Arc and Baltic Sea areas to assist with the preparation of their RAC proposals. The draft proposal has been approved by all the North Sea Member States and awaits the decision of the EU Council of Ministers on 24 May, before we can move forward with the first meeting of the North Sea RAC partners.

3.6 The next meeting of the NSCFP will take place in Aberdeenshire on 14 June 2004.  The NSCFP RAC Working Group will meet on 15 June 2004, this will be the first meeting of all the partners of  the North Sea RAC.

4. Women Working in Partnership in Europe - an EU funded project which  aims to:

  • Consider the changing role of Women in fishing and rural communities, how they have had to adjust to the changes with the fishing industry, how they see their roles in the future and what training and education they will require to meet the changes.
  • Develop a North Sea Women's Network
  • Link with other Networks to form a European Federation of Women in Fishing
  • Develop a North Sea Women's Network
  • Have a NSWN representative on the North Sea RAC.

4.1 The project will commence with a conference in the Waterside Inn, Peterhead, Scotland. The theme of the conference will be "The Changing Role of Women in Fishing and Rural Communities".  The keynote speaker will be Madame Lea Verstraete, Director of Structural Policy, Directorate Generale Fisheries, EU Commission. The conference will have four workshops:

  1. Managing Change - the community dimension
  2. Education and Training needs - addressing changes
  3. Fishing and Farming - Common problems, Common solutions.
  4. Networks - community benefits/business opportunities.

The second phase will be a seminar in Brussels in September 2004, which will bring forward the actions from the conference.

5. North Sea Commission 2005 Conference - Coast Zone Management - a focus for tomorrow.

5.1 At it's meeting on 23 January the NSC Fisheries Group agreed to seek support from the NSC Executive Committee and the NSC Environment Group to organise a major conference which would look at Coastal Zone Manage - a focus for the future.

5.2 The conference topics will include:       

  • Environmental status of coastal areas
  • Development of coastal zone management
  • Future environmental policy

Workshops at the conference will include:

  • Regional/spatial planning
  • Fisheries
  • Environment

6. Future activities -  

June 22/23 "Changing Role of Women in Fishing and Rural Communities" Conference - led by Aberdeenshire Council         

June 24/25 NSCFG meeting in St. Combs, Aberdeenshire

2005 North Sea Commission Conference - Coastal Zone Management - a focus for tomorrow led by Ringkjøbing Amt.  Conference topics will include, Environmental Status of Coastal Areas, Development of Coastal Zone Management and Future Environmental Policy.

January 2005 - NSCFG meeting in Shetland

7. Recommendations

It is recommended that:

  • 7.1 The North Sea Commission General Assembly note the report.
  • 7.2 The North Sea Commission General Assembly continue to support the work of the North Sea Commission Fisheries Group and North Sea Commission Fisheries Partnership.

Cllr. Harry Jensen

Chair NSCFG

Ann Bell Report Author