Fisheries Group

North Sea Commission Fisheries Group
Annual Report
June 2002 

1.                   Background

1.1                 Over the past twelve months the NSCFG  has continued  with its long term aim of working towards the “Sustainable management of the North Sea and ensuring the survival of the communities depending upon it”

1.2                 The following are the initiatives in which it has been involved over the past year:.

2.0                 Conference – Predation and Technical Interaction on North Sea Stocks

2.1.                The Conference was held between 12th and 14th September 2001 and was hosted by Ringkobjing Amt at Vederso Klit. Denmark.

2.2                 The NSC considered it very important to address the question of predators (natural predators) and fisheries, both direct interactions (the effect of natural predators on fish stocks and fisheries) and the technical interactions between predators and fishing gears. These interactions are subject to scientific research and a matter of concern to stakeholders in many areas around the North Sea.  There is, however, at present little consensus about how predators affect fisheries, how fisheries affect predators or on the need for intervention to protect predators or prey either now or in the future.

2.3                 The aim of the conference was to:

• Gather and present the current knowledge of the interactions between predators and fisheries in the North Sea and to stimulate an informed and open discussion of information presented and issues raised.

2.3                 Conference conclusions - In discussion, participants agreed that the exchange of information and views had been very useful. The aim of the conference had been achieved. The conference had enabled participants to review current estimates of consumption of fish by different predator species and other sources of mortality on fish stocks in the North Sea.

2.4                 As the EU Commissions Green Paper on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) acknowledges, fisheries management is failing. Many commercially important stocks in the North Sea are outside safe biological limits.  Better understanding of species interactions and the effect of fisheries on the ecosystem function are required if resource management is to be sustainable and biodiversity conserved.  Research into species interactions and multi-species modelling has not been well supported in recent years.  This needs to be addressed if progress is to be made.

2.5                 Stakeholders of the North Sea, including Local and Regional Authorities, should be involved in objective setting and the decision making /advisory process in order to ensure that regional issues are taken into account and that there is regional compliance with the rules.

2.6                 The open discussion needs to continue electronically. The NSC Fisheries Group will provide an open forum on its homepage, where the stakeholders will be able to post and share information and local experiences. A further conference, looking at other factors, which effect on North Sea, stocks e.g. climate change, pollution, and wind power.

3.                   CONSSO – Ministerial Declaration – Bergen

3.1                 The NSCFG, NSCEG and NSC Executive Secretary represented the NSC at the CONSSO meetings and participated in the drafting of the Bergen Ministerial Declaration.  It was very important to the NSCFG that the views of the NSC Fisheries Partnership were included in the Declaration and that the socio-economic effects of fisheries management decisions were also considered.  We also highlighted the necessity of involving all stakeholders (micro level) in the decision making/advisory process.

3.2                 Consideration also needed to be given to other elements which could be effecting the sustainability of the stocks in the North Sea e.g. climate change, pollution, perdition, oil/gas industry.

3.3                 In the main the NSC achieved its aims with many of the issues highlighted by the NSC being included in the Declaration. In particular that the progress made by the NSC Fisheries Partnership was recognised within the Declaration.

3.4                 As a result of our involvement with CONSSO, Alan Simcock of OSPAR is to participate in the work of the NSC Fisheries Partnership and will give a presentation at the next meeting on 8/9 July.

4.                        NSCFG Meeting – Shetland  28/29 January 2002

4.1                 The NSCFG  meeting was hosted by Shetland Islands Council in Lerwick and included:

4.2                 A presentation by Inveig Holand Wahl and Lena Soderholm regarding a possible Interreg IIIb project which could include the following ideas:

• Mapping of biological potential of shellfish
• Seabed ranching
• 3 dimentional aspects of planning – exploiting polycuture
• Marine biotoxins
• North Sea shellfish network
• Competence development

4.3                 Review of Predators Conference -  Jorgen Jorgenson gave a review of the conference and then led the discussion about the follow up conference planned for January 2003 in Tjarno, Sweden

We also discussed the North Sea Zone – the Regions role.

• What are the expectations
• Stakeholders, Government, NGOs, scientists, Local Government
• What are the possibilities
•  What decision can be made at what level

4.4                 Cllr. Drew Ratter, Chairman CPMR Fisheries Inter Commission Group talked mainly about the process which follows the EYU Commission Green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and the role of the CPMR Fisheries Group.

4.5                 Ann Bell asked members if they would nominate  substitutes for her  on the CPMR Fisheries Group and the NSC Fisheries Partnership.   It was agreed that Ake Linden would be substitute on the NSC Fisheries Group and Inveig Holand Wahl would be substitute on the CPMR Fisheries Group.

4.6                 Tavish Scott MSP gave a “Politicians View of Fisheries”- the way forward. He explained how Scottish Devolution had given Scottish Politicians a stronger influence on fisheries politics.  He said that he saw problems in specific cases:

• Closed areas
• Prawn quotas
• Decisions not based on science

He also highlighted the following challenges in Scotland:

• That the Scottish Parliament ensures that fishing should have profile and influence. They should put fishing interests in the forefront of the economic debate
• Fisheries have to compete with the knowledge industry.

4.7                 John Goodlad, President of European Producers Organisation based his presentation on Fisheries Partnership being essential in securing maximum return from fisheries.  Fisheries is now International, the North. Sea is only one ecosystem.

4.8                 There are three main areas for co-operation:

• Partnership between fishermen
• Between fishermen and scientists
• Between Fishermen and Government

Fishermen are not always fully aware of the existence of many of the organisations, which exist, and the possibilities for access.

5.                   North Sea Commission Fisheries Partnership (NSCFP)

5.1                 The NSCFP has met twice since the last General Assembly the first meeting took place at the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) at their invitation.  This was major step forward for the Partnership, as it was the first time the fishing industry had been invited into ICES and to be given access to stock assessments and more importantly to be given the opportunity to respond to the assessments. 

5.2                 The information provided by the fishing industry was then passes to the Advisory Council for Fisheries Management (ACFM) to assist in their assessment of certain stocks.

5.3                 As a result of this meeting a working group was set up to formulate a questionnaire which could be used by all the fishing industry Associations around the North Sea to gather information in a more uniform manner more acceptable to the scientist.  

5.4                 The working group met in December to enable the questionnaire to be considered by the full Partnership at their next meeting.

5.5                 The second meeting was held in Brussels and included representatives from the EU Commission and ICES.  It was agreed that the questionnaire/survey be sent out and the information collated and passed to ACFM for their assessments in October.  It was agreed that that the NSC Partnership would organise a pilot review of stock assessments. Which would be carried out, in Partnership with ICES, in August.  This Review Panel would include Scientists, Independent Review Scientists and Fishing Representatives.

5.6                 The Review will take place at ICES headquarters and would be followed by a plenary session. Which will make the whole assessment process transparent.

5.7                 The NSCFP has been successful in accessing funding from the Interreg IIIb North Sea Programme to develop its work over the next three years. The funding will help the Partnership grow in strength.  Highlighting the important role the regional and local authorities have in supporting and facilitating such initiatives.

5.8                 The next meeting of the Partnership will be Goteborg on 8/9 July 2002. The meeting will include presentations by OSPAR, WWF and the EU Commission. ICES will also participate in the meeting.   This meeting will lay the foundations for the future work of the NSC Fisheries Partnership.

6.                        Action Plan for the Future

6.1                 The NSCFG intends to consider the following topics at its next meeting in Autumn:

• Wind Power – benefits and disadvantages
• CFP Reform – White Paper
• Holistic Management
• The changing role of women in fishing and rural communities
• Developing closer working relationship with Brussels at both Technical and Political level.

6.2                 The NSC Fisheries Group has a new Vice-Chairman Cllr. Sandy Clunes, who has a great deal of experience in the fishing industry and its political and economic implications. With two experienced politicians now at the helm of the Group, we will be able to raise the political profile to a higher level at this is a very critical time for the fishing industry of the North Sea.

6.3                 As with many of the Thematic Groups we still face the problem of increasing our membership participation.  The strength of the Group continues to grow, as does the burden on the active members of the Group.  However we will continue with our work.

7.                   Recommendations

It is recommended that the North Sea Commission General:

1)                   Note the report

2)                   Continue to support the work of the NSC Fisheries Group

3)                   Continue to support the work of the NSC Fisheries Partnership

4)                   Continue to support the participation of the NSC Fisheries Group in the work of the CPMR Inter Commission Fisheries Work.

Cllr. Harry Jensen
Chairman NSC Fisheries Group
Report author Ann Bell