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North Sea Cod Recovery Plan – Survey of Fishing Vessels
John PowellCountryside and Community Research Institute
• Describe effects of the Cod Recovery Plan on different fleet sectors
• Identify specific measures of the plan that concern the vessel
• Consequences for the vessel and business decisions taken by vessel operator
• What is expected to happen if the plan does not change
Aims of the survey
Sample characteristics
• 19 useable responses• 27 vessels• Main target species: Cod,
Haddock, Whiting, Saithe• Respondents located in
Scotland, England, France, Netherlands
• Range of fishing areas • Mostly demersal trawlers• Crew size 3 – 14• Most selling at harbourside
auction
Changes in activity as a result of the Cod Recovery Plan
Changes in activity Number of Vessels
Switch gear 4Switch target species 10Invest in new gear 2Spend more time in port 11Other changes 7(e.g. More selective in where and when fishing takes place, new nets, changing zones/changing nets, changing fishing areas to avoid Cod)
Cod avoidance measures
Measure EffectivenessSquare mesh panels – no differenceNew nets – possibly having impact
- but also avoiding Cod areasNot targeting cod – you still catch some even if trying to
avoidChange zones/areas – Increase expenditure,
- more travel time- more time for finding other species- everyone now goes to same zones
Cameras – we stay away from areas with lot of cod
Avoidance activities
“I have left productive prawn areas to avoid cod”
“I avoid areas where we find cod because I cannot afford to buy more quota”
“I have left areas where we were dumping by-catch including cod because it is immoral...”
“We have relocated where we fish... stocks increasing..at times we have up to 30% by-catch so dumping has increased”
“Don’t target cod any more – target whiting – switched gear”
Impacts of the plan
Impact of decrease in TAC•We must discard•We cannot keep marketable by-catch•Loss of revenue as we are discarding •We have to fish harder as we are high grading•Have to leave productive areas because we were dumping cod
Impact of effort restrictions•We have had to buy in days•We land somewhere different•Reduced days – no money to be made•Harder to keep a crew as they need to be paid•Must optimise time at sea – take more risks•Need to maximise catch each trip•Fearful of seeing cod in our nets
TAC
Effort limits
Set too low - Causes discards
Put in more time because more discarding
More time in port
Harder to keep crewChanged fishing pattern don’t go as far/avoid Cod areas
Reduced crew size
Purchase quota from inactive boats (‘slipper skippers’)
Buy days at sea from other boats
Diversify to utilise more species
Impacts of the plan
More selective on which days we go to sea and how far we go
“We can’t land everything we catch. We are catching more whiting but also dumping more.”
Financial impacts of the Plan
Impacts on business Numberdecisions of VesselsRecruit crew 7New equipment 7Buy supplies 3Sell your catch 4Think about the future 8Planning fishing activity 3
Perceptions of the impact of the plan on Cod StocksItem Yes NoAre there parts of the CRP that have HELPED Rebuild Cod stocks? 7 3Are there parts of the CRP that have DAMAGED Cod stocks? 10 1
Effect on other species 8 2Have the measures under the CRPled you to discard Cod? 14 2
Do the measures in the plan cause you to discard other fish? 9 4
Views of fishers
Cod stocks are increasing
Stocks are underestimated
Landings/discards data is accurate
We need rules/restrictions
We need TAC but should increase quotas and reduce fleet size
You will catch cod whether you want to or notYou can reduce
discards by increasing quota to ‘realistic’ levels
Discarding because high grading – quotas so low we are only keeping the best fish
People don’t want to go into the industry because no long-term plan
Fleet is being destroyed by cod recovery plan
Perceived effects if plan remains unchanged• Leave the industry• Employ foreign crew• Less profit• It will destroy us• Struggle then give up• Go into prawns or
under-10s• Harder to find/keep a
crew• Increased stress• Major business threat
Improving the plan
• Make the system less complex• Enable sufficient effort related to season and
target species• Need to link to markets – increase value• Think in terms of productivity of each fishing trip• A de-commissioning scheme to help fishermen
leave• Pay to stay ashore rather than discards (e.g. like
set-aside)• Issue each vessel with a realistic quota
Reducing discards
• Increase quota but control days at sea• Realist, workable quota• Small quotas cause high grading• Install CCTV systems• Vessel specific TAC – let vessel decide
when to fish• Land what you catch• Land what will make boat pay for itself
• Reluctance to invest – no long term guarantees
• Increasing discards • If plan continues unchanged – more
business failures
• Higher costs• Decreasing profit
(??)• More days in port• More part-time
work
Overall impacts