1 Q4: Human consumption fishery only? Q4: Human consumption fishery - - PDF document

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Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Questionnaire results

Blue whiting FG meeting 12 April 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Questionnaire response

• Total of 14 reponses
• From 7 countries
• Only one non-EU

industry response

• No response from

NGOs

SPFA Herring Buyers Association UK Norwegian Vessel Owners Association Norway Vrolijk Wim van der Zwan NL Western Seaboard Ltd Killybegs Fishing Enterprise Ltd Carmarose Trawling Co Ltd Cavankee Fishing Co Ltd Killybegs Seafoods Ltd KFO Ireland UAPF/FROMNORD France OPP-LUGO Spain DPPO Denmark Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q1: Minimum TAC for a viable fishery?

14% 21% 58% 7%

Other comment <400 400-600 >600

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q2: Stable/low or variable/high TAC?

2 4 6 8 10 12 Lower but stable Higher but more variable

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q3: Market considerations?

50% 29% 21%

Continuity Size & Quality Other

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q3: Market considerations?

Continuity:

• “What happened this year completely ruined our carefully built up

markets.”

• “The alternative low priced species Alaskan Pollack will regain

market dominance in the absence of supply of Blue Whiting.”

Size and Quality:

• Freshness; salt content; oil content

Other remarks:

• Developing local processing facilities
• Supply and prices of other species such as Alaskan Pollock

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Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q4: Human consumption fishery only?

29% 42% 29%

Yes No but conditions should apply No Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q4: Human consumption fishery only?

• Conditions:

– Reward those whose final destination is h.c. – It should be like what was once implemented for herring: first, the need of the human consumption fishery; second, the quotas for fishmeal fishery should be calculated according to what remains available – When at all possible it should be sold to the human consumption market, processors should have the first call on the fish. However, situations may arise where the only feasible option is to sell the catch for fishmeal

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q5: size/weight market preference?

• 7 responses stated that “bigger=better” for h.c.

fisheries, while many included that the market for industrial fisheries was indifferent to size (but rather demanded optimal fat content)

• >20 cm and >25 cm were mentioned as well as

a mesh size used of 50 mm

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q5: size/weight market preference?

• “The yield of fillets is adversely affected by

higher roe contents. Therefore blue whiting has a higher value up to one month before the spawning period and then after the spawning

• period. Within the month prior to spawning the

roe content is high.”

• “Post spawning blue whiting produces the best

quality product and better yields.”

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q6: additional management measures?

“The Blue Whiting Management Plan should be a compendium of measures, which must have a sound scientific basis […] It should not based on assumptions and extrapolations, that are forced to meet demand of some formula for a current environmentalist fisheries policy concept, which aims at meeting a short-term result, regardless of the consequences in sociological and economic terms. […] The risk that it would compromise stability in the TAC should be investigated.”

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q6: additional management measures?

• Seasonally closed area (to protect spawning)

(8x)

– “SPFA proposes the introduction of a closed area to protect the spawning stock. The closed area should be seasonal and begin

• n 1 January and terminate mid March. The proposed closed

area co-ordinates are between 52-56 degrees north and 11-17 degrees west.”

• Increase minimum mesh size: >30 and >50

(1x each)

• Eliminate Icelandic juvenile fisheries (2x)
• Eliminate discards (1x)

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Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q6: additional management measures?

• “The biggest challenge of management is to get

better data […] The situation we had last year when research vessels didn’t show up on planned surveys must be solved in better ways. Our proposal is that there has to be backups […] In our opinion fishing vessels (with necessary equipment) can be an alternative.”

• Food competition among BWH and NEA

mackerel and herring should be considered.

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q7: changes in distribution/catchability?

• Distribution:

– In the last five years, less blue whiting in April north of Wyville Thomson ridge – Higher quantities of small fish in the southern area – Bigger shoals have moved from the edge to deeper water – Not distributed over the large area witnessed several years ago; in recent years the entire fleet can be found concentrated in a single area.

• Catchability:

– Is lower at present than 2/3 years ago (1x) – Has not significantly changed (7x) – More dramatic changes occurred between 5-10 years ago (2x)

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

• Changes in fishing pattern:

– Until 2009 the fishery was mainly for fish meal but as the human consumption market requirements became known the spawning period has been increasingly avoided in 2009 and 2010. – The bigger relative share of fisheries for h.c. make a fishery nearer the locations where the catches are landed. – In EU waters, the average size and weight of the fish in February and March was increasingly bigger in 2009, 2010 and 2011 – Few juveniles were found with exception of the year 2010, when large quantities were encountered

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q8: Change in distribution of juveniles?

• No significant changes observed (6x)
• Change in distribution/local abundance
• bserved (7x of which 3x without explanation)

– More juveniles in the North Sea in 2010 – In 2009 / 2010, high quantities of juveniles in Bay of Biscay – greater amount of juveniles further south along the shelf (100 fathom line) – SPFA: steep decline of abundance of juveniles

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q9: Science reliable in past 5 years?

• No (12 x)
• There have always been uncertainties ... (1x)

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q9: Science reliable in past 5 years?

9.1. We have no doubt on the indication given by the international accoustic survey that

• there is a lack of year classes ages 3 to 5 in the measured spawning stock biomass
• the number of individuals is decreasing in the measured spawning stock biomass

So, the authorised catch on this measured biomass was to be reduced at some level. 9.2. But we think there is uncertainties on the current advices, and may be inappropriate management plan, for following reasons: 9.2.1. The captains of our surimi pelagic trawler, who are working on blue whiting five month a year for twenty years from Gulf of Biscaye to Faero waters, are convinced that there is a boundary around Wyville Thomson ridge between two different stock components (see point 10) . In every attached map, a pencil line WNW – ESE around 60°N marks the approximate position of Wyville Thomson ridge It is likely that the international accoustic survey evaluates a mix of two different components:

• A southern component measured in Porcupine, Hebrides and part of Rockall… which might be (according to the conviction of our fishermen) the most part of

what is measured.

• A northern component (whose age structure is different, condition is different, depth is different) measured in Faroes/Shetlands… which might be only a little

part of what is measured. Southern component spawning time is March west of Ireland and Scotland ; it seems that northern component (which we do not know as precisely) spawning time is late March and April in Faero waters. 9.2.2. What we understand from ICES WGWIDE REPORT 2010 page 48 an 49 “Annual catch 1998-2009 by fishery area” and “Distribution of total landings of blue whiting 2000 – 2009 “ (attached) and from maps of “Total catches of blue whiting by quarter in 2003” and “Total catches of bluewhiting in 2008” (attached) is followings:

• northern component has been strong between 1999 and 2005 so that most of the catch was then in second quarter of the year (Faero/Shetland spawning

area) and in the third quater of the year especially in Norwegian Sea Fishery

• northern component seems to be now rather depleted : the third quarter fishery is now very reduced ; the Norwegian Sea fishery is now also very reduced.

9.2. 3. So, we think that, over the last three or five years, what was measured by the international accoustic survey was possibly mainly the southern component : most of the survey is in West of Ireland and Scotland, and very few in Shetland-Faero area ( see attached map WHB survey 2010); If so, can it lead to an unique advice and a unique mangement plan applied to both components? Quote of the report of the Nordic blue whiting net work meeting 24-26.3.2003: “if stock assesment is based on incorrect understanding of stock structure, it may result in faulty or irrelevant management decision”

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Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q10: Different stock components?

• For detailed argumen-

tation see last slides

• Accept that there may be

separate components, but the stock should be assessed and managed as one, because that is complicated enough. See example NS herring. (1x)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Yes No / unclear No comment

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q11: Can industry contribute with data?

• Scientists should be encouraged to sail on

commercial vessels to witness directly the abundance of fish on the grounds.

• Involvement of the fleet in surveys
• Feed and Roe contents and also length of Tows

It would help determine when the fishery should be closed during spawning

• Distribution of both juveniles and (spawning)

adults, catchability, temperature and weather

• Stock structure

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Q12: any other comments?

• Managers made a huge mistake when too easily

deciding on a 92% cut for 2011, without having a firm basis for that decision

• The issue of stock components should be sorted out

before designing a new management plan

• A re-allocation of quota should be considered (3x)
• “It is very important to look into possible ecologic

interactions between the different pelagic stocks. […] predation from mackerel on blue whiting eggs and larvae could be a contributing factor to the observed collapse in blue whiting recruitment.”

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

The end

“Fishermen instinctively find where the fish are and their knowledge should be utilized. If I were investing in a new vessel I would not put a scientist on the bridge to rely on paying back the loan, but rather a keen eyed fishermen.”

Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Annex 1: Questions

1. What in your view is the minimum annual TAC for a viable blue whiting fishery? 2. Would you prefer a lower but stable TAC or a more variable but higher one, on average? 3. What are the key market considerations? 4. Should the blue whiting fishery be confined to a human consumption fishery? 5. Is there any size/weight/condition of fish which is more valuable for your market? 6. What additional measures if any do you consider should be put in place to manage the blue whiting stock? (eg closed areas, closed seasons, protection juveniles etc) 7. What changes have you experienced in the distribution and catchability of blue whiting over last five years? 8. Has the location and distribution of juvenile blue whiting changed over the last five years? 9. Do you consider that the scientific advice is reliable over past five years? 10. Do you consider that there are different blue whiting stocks or stock components? If so what is your basis for this view? 11. Do you consider that the industry can contribute additional data? If so what type of data? 12. Is there anything else that you would like to suggest should be taken into account? Please feel free to make suggestions of any kind, about the contents of possible future management considerations or about the process of the focus group. Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Stock components

• Yes. If we go back to the first study (‘80s) made by ICES on this specie, it were

clearly showed two separate stocks: the north and the south, placing the boundary between the Porcupine Bank. Finally for years It excludes the southern part due to lack of data in that area. That might be one of the reasons that warranted the union of both stocks, together with the percentage of stock biomass representing the entire

• south. The findings of the ICES Working Group on Methods of Population

Identification, justified an independent management of the southern blue whiting

• population. Once confirmed, it is necessary to re-claim data and studies (and there is

some) in the South, because the type of fishery that takes place in this area and the type of existing population, are clearly different from the North area

• Based on the experience of captains of surimi pelagic trawler operating every year for

twenty years from january to april from Porcupine to Faero waters, we consider that there is at least two main components.- A southern component whose individuals are found - during the spawning season - in Porcupine, Hebrides and part of Rockall. The main spawning place is Porcupine bank. This fish stands in 8°-10° water . After spawning, post-spawners go northwards, moving slower and slower in end of March up to Wyville Thomson ridge and then spread to the East (where grounds are only 100-200 meters deep) and go back southward- A northern component (whose age structure is different, shape and colour are different, water temperature is different, fish moving fast in end of March and april) is found North of Wyville Thomson ridge, in Shetland and Faero areas. This fish stands in 4°-5° water. Its spawning time seems to be in April.

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Blue whiting focus group meeting 12 april 2011 – Bilbao, Spain

Stock components

• Yes I believe there are different stock components to this stock tehre always seemed

to be a stock in the Rockall area and west out to 20 degrees largely fished by the Russian fleet in international waters. This stock moved to the N.E. from February separate to the one that congregated around the N.W. corner of teh Porcupine Bank which was largely fished by EU, Norwegian and Faroes boats. However, I believe there is also a Southern component to the stock which seems to congregate to the south and south west of the Porcupine Bank. we fished this area in 2002 and 2004 and much of the fish appeared to be moving to the south in February with strong marks recorded. Norwegian vessels fishing in the same area at that time reported seeing marks much more to the south while on passage to the North Sea via the English Channel, giving further weight to this argument.

• Yes it appears there are at least two different stocks one north and south of the
• Porcupine. This is based on scientific work carried out by the Institute of Technology,

Galway.