Reports & Documents
| Europe | United
Kingdom | Republic of Ireland | Scotland | Wales
|
- What are fishery implications of Natura 2000?
IEEP has produced a series of five briefings exploring the key provisions of EU nature conservation policy - set out in the habitats and birds Directives - in relation to the UK inshore fishing sector. These are available by clicking here, September 2004.
- Calls for a Marine Act
A report by WWF claims that the UK's seas are in crises with key species in serious decline. WWF has developed a Draft Marine Bill to show how strategic planningwill aid the recovery of declining sea life.
- Report calls for ecosystem and stakeholder regime
in North Sea
A report from scientists led by a team at Newcastle University demonstrates how an ecosystem based approach that recognises the importance of humans and their interaction with marine environment could be introduced to manage North Sea fisheries. The North Sea Fisheries Ecosystem Plan (FEP) proposes the creation of 'stewardship' roles for those living and working in close contact with the sea similar to those adopted by landowners and farmers to maintain the countryside. The FEP is based on an extensive scientific study into how fisheries can be managed within the ecosystem. This study was based on a wide-ranging consultation with North Sea stakeholder, including fishermen, scientists, conservationists and policy makers. A mixture of measures is required to achieve a sustainable fishing industry, which include: · encouraging fishermen to take a 'stewardship' role to protect the marine ecosystem; · increasing the role of stakeholders in developing fisheries policies; · reducing fishing now and permanently to promote long term sustainability; · providing aid for the transition towards an ecosystem approach; · introducing spatial management, including the use of protected areas; and · using incentives to promote the use of more selective and less environmentally damaging fishing gear. The recommendations are in line with the 'new' CFP, which provides for taking the effect of the environment on fish stocks and how fishing affects the ecosystem into account, together with greater stakeholder participation.
- HoC Disappointment with Government reply to Marine
Environment Report
The House of Commons Committee published its report into the Marine Environment on 21 March 2004.1 Because the Committee is extremely disappointed by the Government's response to the report it has invited the Government to reconsider its response, and to provide a more substantive document. House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Marine Environment: Government Reply to the Committee's Report Tenth Report of Session 2003-2004. This is available by clicking here.
- The Irish Sea Pilot Project
The Irish Sea Pilot project has now completed its research and has reported to Defra making 64 recommendations. The UK Government Review of Marine Nature Conservation set up the Irish Sea Pilot project in 2002 to test the potential for an ecosystem approach to managing the marine environment at a regional sea scale. The Final report and other outputs from the Pilot project are now available.
- Inshore sector receives high level recognition as
Strategy Unit Reports
While media coverage of the UK Government's Strategy Unit report was dominated by the recommended cuts in the whitefish fleet, there were important outcomes for the inshore sector. As is already the case in Scotland, it was recommended that Stakeholder Advisory Groups should be established to involve stakeholders in advising inshore managers in each UK nation. Inshore fisheries management should have a focus on development of the sector, including better defining use-rights inside the 12 mile limit. Any reforms to the inshore sector should also fully account for the needs of the recreational sector. MPAs also featured in the report, with a recommendation that devolved administrations should develop MPAs where they benefit a range of users, including commercial fishing, tourism and the environment. Fisheries departments were also recommended to introduce strategic environmental impact assessments of inshore and offshore fisheries. s
- Evidence of the Importance of Angling across the
UK
The Report The Economic Impact of Game and Coarse Angling in Scotland highlights the importance of angling to the Scottish economy. It was prepared in March by Glasgow Caledonian University and Cogentsi Research International for the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. It is estimated that freshwater angling in Scotland contributes over £100m annually to the national economy, supporting around 2,800 jobs and generating nearly £50m in wages and self-employment income to Scottish households. The Environment Agency also published Our nations' fisheries in May 2004. The most comprehensive survey of its kind, it gives details of how valuable recreational fisheries are, their status and what stresses and strains are affecting them. It is estimated that there are almost 4 million anglers in England and Wales, spending over £3 billion a year on the sport. Factors affecting the fisheries include siltation, climate change and water quality. Both coarse and game fish are covered in the report. This was followed in July with a report commissioned by DEFRA to evaluate the contribution of recreational angling to the economy of England and Wales. The report estimated total annual expenditure by sea anglers resident in England and Wales at around £538 million per year. September 2004.