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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.

This dataset contains financial, economic and operational performance indicators for approximately 30 UK fleet segments for the period 2005-2012. Seafish produces the dataset by combining costs and earnings information from vessel accounts provide by vessel owners to the annual Seafish UK Fleet Survey with official effort, landings and capacity data for all active UK fishing vessels provided by the UK Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The outputs for all years are produced using a consistent methodology and fleet segmentation criteria so that trends in key indicators can be observed over time. Note that vessels can be in different segments in different years if they change their gear, area or target species.

Seafish does not possess the local data required to provide an accurate response to both the scientific case and the socio-economic impacts for each of the proposed European marine sites (EMS). We have therefore provided a general response that is applicable to all 10 sites because it addresses shortcomings that seem to be common to all or most. As a first and very general observation the means by which the current consultation has been conducted reveals a possible lack of understanding of the structure of the catching sector, the functions of its representative bodies, and the likelihood that individual fishermen will respond to documents of this nature. Our canvassing of individual operatives shows an extremely low level of awareness of the exercise, an even lower level of those who have even looked at the documents and a pretty infinitesimal number who have read, understood and responded. The original conssultation can be viewed at: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/marine/sacconsultation/default.aspx

January news alert sent to ACIG subscribers on 13 January 2022.

The report is part of the series of Covid-19 impact analyses produced by Seafish. It presents results of the annual fleet survey, conducted by post (rather than in ports and harbours), during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

The report presents economic estimates at UK, home nation and fleet segment level for the UK fishing fleet. The estimates are calculated based on samples of fishing costs and earnings gathered by Seafish as part of the 2019 Annual Fleet Economic Survey

July news alert sent to ACIG subscribers on 19 July 2022.

A report describing the methods used to collect and produce seafood processing industry performance statistics (6th Edition).

The Seafish Fleet Economic Performance Estimates provide a detailed insight into the financial and operational performance of the fleet from 2005 to 2012 along with estimates for 2013. The dataset includes data for approximately 30 UK fleet segments, and has been produced by combining costs and earnings information collected from vessel accounts with transversal data provided by the Marine Management Organisation. The information presented in this publication is a comprehensive and accurate reflection of the financial performance of the UK fishing fleet and is used by a wide range of people across industry, government and academia. We hope that availability of accurate economic data and expert analysis of fleet performance will be used to enhance fisheries management and benefit the UK fleet in the long-run especially now as we move toward the Landings Obligation.

February news alert sent to ACIG subscribers on 8 February 2022.