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Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee Introduction to ESFJC and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee Introduction to ESFJC and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee Introduction to ESFJC and SWEEP Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee to regulate, protect and develop the fisheries within the Joint Committees District in a manner that ensures sustainable viability
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ESFJC District
6nms Lincolnshire Suffolk Norfolk
ESFJC District
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- Key fisheries: cockle, mussel, shrimp, lobster
- Annual first sale value £4-6M
- European and national conservation importance: SAC, SPA, Ramsar
site, SSSI, NNR
- Wash cockle and mussel fisheries managed through the Wash Fishery
Order 1992 and ESFJC Byelaws
Most important area in ESFJC District, for commercial fisheries and for nature conservation
The Wash
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Joint Committee composition
Elected Members (10) Defra Appointees (10) Lincolnshire County Councillors (3) Commercial fishing representatives (6) Norfolk County Councillors (4) Recreational sea angling representatives (2) Suffolk County Councillors (3) Environment Agency representative (1) 2009/2010 levy £1,248,450 Environmental specialist (1)
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Post Number Clerk & Chief Fishery Officer 1 Deputy Clerk & Fishery Officer 1 Skipper/Fishery Officer 2 Mate/Fishery Officer 2 Engineer/Fishery Officer 2 Senior Research Officer/Fishery Officer 1 Research Officer/Fishery Officer 2 Area Fishery Officer 4 Crewman/Fishery Officer 1 Finance Officer 1 Administrative Officer 1 Clerical Officer 1 Marine Environment Officer * 1 European Marine Site Manager * 1 Total personnel 21*
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Enforcement
Enforcement of EU, UK & local (byelaws) legislation Fisheries Protection Vessels = 3*
- ESF Protector III
- Sea Spray
- Pisces III
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Research & Environment
Research Vessels: Three Counties, Runner Dedicated research & environment personnel Increase in environmental legislation Requirement for detailed baseline information
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ESFJC Survey Programme - Cockles
Spring and Autumn surveys 21 beds surveyed 1,314 sample stations in regular grid pattern
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Cockle Data
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Additional data – 2007
- nwards
Map the distribution of sediment types over the survey areas Map the distribution of: Macoma Arenicola Lanice
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ESFJC Survey Programme – Intertidal Mussels
Autumn surveys 20 beds surveyed at low water Measure area, coverage, density and size frequency
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Discard Mortality Research
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Acoustic Ground Discrimination Surveys
Been using Roxann AGDS for approximately 15 years to locate sublittoral mussel beds and Sabellaria spinulosa reefs
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Study of the Wash Embayment Environment and Productivity
- Prompted by unexplained high cockle mortalities in 2008
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Changes to Cockle Stock Biomass 2008-09
Boston Main – 9,000 tonnes Gat Sand – 2,180 tonnes Roger/Toft – 760 tonnes Holbeach – 1,180 tonnes IWMK – 990 tonnes
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Possible Cause of Mortality
- Exceptional 2004 and 2006 settlements covering same
distribution
- Competition between two cohorts results in the loss of the
2004 cohort in 2007 and stress in the 2006 cohort
- Combined stocks of cockles, mussels and Ensis directus
reach historic peak in 2008
- Poor growth rates seen in mussel stocks from several
fishery
- Has carrying capacity been exceeded?
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Combined areas of cockle and mussel
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Wash Productivity Study
- 1. Ascertain whether food limitations may have been
responsible for cockle mortality event?
- 2. Investigate primary productivity and shellfish carrying
capacity in the Wash
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