A local perspective on marine fisheries management in the Southeast: Sussex Sea Fisheries Committee Tim Dapling (Chief Fishery Officer & Clerk) LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION COASTAL ISSUES GROUP: THE MARINE BILL AND COMMON INTERESTS 25 th September 2007

Geographic Area The Fisheries Management Activities

Sussex SFC District 6 miles from territorial baselinesSussex SFC District 6 miles from territorial baselines Sea Area approximately 600 sq nautical milesSea Area approximately 600 sq nautical miles Includes all intertidal waters (excl. Rivers)Includes all intertidal waters (excl. Rivers) Encompasses all coastal watersEncompasses all coastal waters Limit over 10 miles offshore where bay closing lines exist (eastern Solent)Limit over 10 miles offshore where bay closing lines exist (eastern Solent)

Estimated Landings & Fleet (excl. recreational take & unreported landings) (Source; 2005 figures Marine & Fisheries Agency, compiled by Royal Haskoning for ‘SE Fishing Industry Development Plan 2007’) Value (£million) Volume (tonnes) No. > 10mNo. under 10m UK ,000 1,5084,833 England (& Wales) , ,965 South East15.616, As % of E&W8%9%8%29%

Commercial species & value for region (Source; 2005 figures Marine & Fisheries Agency, compiled by Royal Haskoning for ‘SE Fishing Industry Development Plan 2007’)

Ports & Landing points Proportional value per spp type (Source; 2005 figures Marine & Fisheries Agency, compiled by Royal Haskoning for ‘SE Fishing Industry Development Plan 2007’)

Composition of the inshore fleet in England & Wales

Proportion of commercial fleet operating inshore England & Wales (DEFRA 2005) Total registered commercial fleet approx. 3,800 Vessels can be regarded as: Full time, Part time, Inactive Vessels operating within SFC Districts (6nm from baselines) are typically <16 metre (Byelaw dependant 12 – 16 metre limits) South East – vessel numbers (Source; 2005 figures Marine & Fisheries Agency, compiled by Royal Haskoning for ‘SE g Industry Development Plan 2007’)

The diversity of inshore fishing activities Mobile Gears: Trawling (e.g. otter, beam, pelagic, multi rigging) Dredging (scallop, mussel, cockle, oyster etc.) Seining Static Gears: Netting (e.g., trammel, gill) Potting (lobster, crab, whelk, nephrops, prawn/shrimp) Traps (finfish, cuttlefish) LiningGathering: Intertidal fisheries mechanised or by hand Recreational: Angling, potting & netting

Fisheries Seasonality JFMAMJJASOND Sole Plaice Cod Bass Bream Cuttles Huss Oyster Escallop Lobster Crab Spider Whelk Directed FisheriesBycatch/Directed

Range of inshore fishing activity

Distribution of specific activities (relative effort Sussex District) Scallop Dredging Beam Trawling Lobster & Crab potting

The Region’s Fisheries Significance Cumulative sensitivity of fish spawning in E&W Source; CEFAS

Sea Fisheries Committee management inshore Statutory bodies established in 1890’s under Sea Fisheries regulations Act SFC’s established in England and Wales Funded from Local Authorities with coastal jurisdiction. Membership: LA Councillors (50%) DEFRA appointees: fishermen, merchants, vessel owners, recreational interests environmental specialist Environment Agency appointment DEFRA observer

Surveillance & EnforcementSurveillance & Enforcement ResearchResearch RegulationRegulation Dialogue & ConsultationDialogue & Consultation Managing and conserving the Sussex inshore fishery since 1893

Marine fisheries legislation enforced by SFCs inshore European Legislation –Common Fisheries Policy & EU Regulation: Management and Technical Measures – Regulation (EC) 850/98 minimum species sizes, dimensions of nets National Legislation –Statutory Instruments: Minimum sizes on specific species, Bass Nursery Areas Local Legislation (6nm from Territorial baseline points) –Sea Fisheries Committee Byelaws Restricted access to fisheries, limitation on fishing instruments, seasonal restrictions etc. Fishery Orders for Shellfish management Development of Inshore Marine Protected Areas for fisheries needs

Inshore Management of Fisheries with Marine Protected Areas National Bass Nursery Areas A need for well defined areas that can be practically managedA need for well defined areas that can be practically managed Use of : Existing fishery limits 3, 6 mile, Natural Bays/Harbours, Manmade reference pointsUse of : Existing fishery limits 3, 6 mile, Natural Bays/Harbours, Manmade reference points

Local spatial and temporal management of towed gears (trawls & dredges)

Relative beam trawling (2005) and Sussex Marine Sites of Nature Conservation Importance The Future: Increased management which is ecosystem driven, the protection of important fisheries habitats

Further focused area management at sensitive locations (e.g. spawning sites)

Marine Bill Create management structures that can support the development & regulation of quality recreational sea fisheries Establish robust and realistic funding provision for inshore management structures. Continue to promote the development of a sustainable domestic commercial inshore fishing and mariculture sector within UK territorial waters territorial waters Deliver suitably tooled inshore marine management bodies which can ensure marine biodiversity whilst supporting economically viable and diverse inshore fisheries. Enable the introduction of practical domestic conservation mechanisms to protect vulnerable marine species and habitats inshore to protect vulnerable marine species and habitats inshore