Time for a plan B?

COAST urges its many supporters to attend a public meeting tonight about the latest development in the mixed fortunes of the Clyde.

The Clyde Inshore Fisheries Group (IFG) has devised a draft management plan for the Firth of Clyde - a document that should coordinate and balance the interests of all Clyde marine stakeholders. Instead it is unfortunately a blueprint for the commercial status quo.

The Clyde IFG is a new body, one of six pilot local management organisations first mooted in 1999, but only formally set up in 2009. The structure of the IFGs has always been problematic and the draft plan for the Clyde makes clear that these problems are still at the heart of the process. They can best be explained by a few simple questions:

1. How can the Clyde IFG produce a feasible management plan when anglers, creelers and local community interests are not represented on the Executive Steering Committee?

2. How does the constitution of the IFG reflect wider public accountability for the management of a public resource?

3. The Arran No Take Zone is not listed on the plan's legislation list. Why?

4. The IFG Steering Committee comprises only mobile fishing membership organisations. And the management measures seem to regulate everyone but the members of the Executive. Why?

If you would like to know the answer to these questions, then please come to tonight's meeting - it is an important opportunity to record your views and ask questions of this current attempt to manage the Clyde fishery. The meeting is in the Glencloy Suite of the Auchrannie Hotel in Brodick at 6pm.

For anyone looking for a bit of context, please read COAST's perspective on the Clyde IFG here. 

Members of the Clyde IFG Executive Steering Committee:
- Anglo-Scottish Fishermen's Association
- Clyde Fishermen's Association
- Galloway Static Gear Fishermen's - Association
- Isle of Man Fishermen's Association
- Mallaig and North West Fishermen's Association
- Northern Ireland Fishermen's Federation
- Scallop Association
- Scottish White Fish Producers Association Limited

This contrasts markedly to the approach in England where the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities actively seek the views of a wide cross-section of marine stakeholders.


Underwater video reveals NTZ beneath the waves

Scientists Leigh Howarth and Tim Cross from York University have deployed a baited underwater camera to monitor the populations of mobile species within the Lamlash Bay No Take Zone. The resulting HD video footage supplies invaluable data that diving effort would otherwise struggle to gather and shows encouraging signs of life beneath the waves. A fellow researcher, Ross Greig, is studying the abundance of crustacean species in the Clyde and undertaking a survey of sea angling on the island. Click here to watch some edited highlights of the video and read an update of the research so far...

Clyde trawl research concludes 'additional local measures will be necessary'
A new study of the historic trawl data in the Clyde has identified the beginning of a major decline in the Clyde fishery following the onset of bottom trawling in 1962. The research also finds that the average size of fish has declined during the same period and the lead authors from Strathclyde University suggest that more data on species interactions will help to inform management measures. "Our results show that management measures developed at the regional scale (e.g. the whole of the west of Scotland) are not guaranteed to protect locally distinct communities such as in the Clyde, and that additional local measures will be necessary." Hopefully, these "measures" won't simply be another raft of research, but will be complemented with concrete action to restore the health of the fishery.

Plans afoot for Firth of Clyde biosecurity plan
The Firth of Clyde Forum is hosting a meeting on September 20th to tackle the growing issue of the invasive non-native species (INNS) which threaten the Clyde ecosystem. The event will draw together organisations interested in monitoring and preventing the spread of species such as wireweed and carpet sea squirt. Click here more details.

Tall ships visit Lamlash Bay

As part of a series of Tall Ship races around the Scottish coast, Lamlash Bay hosted the first Arran Maritime Festival and was visited by over 10 tall ships from the fleet. View the gallery of pictures from the event here.

COAST takes part in Clyde Marine Week
Arran is at the centre of all-things marine this August. The island is laying on a wide range of activities – from coastal boat trips and seashore safaris to rockpool surveys and a marine film night - as part of the inaugural Clyde Marine Week. There is literally something for all who want to dip their toes into the world beneath our local waters. Download the programme of events here.
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....NATIONAL NEWS....

Fishing leaders must act now to avoid "full blown scandal"
Long-time COAST supporter Tom Appleby has recently responded to the European Commission's consultation on Fishing Opportunities and CFP reform.  As a campaigning legal academic exploring the regulatory foundations of UK and EU fisheries policy, he succinctly points out that "coastal states are not permitted to allocate fishing quota beyond maximum sustainable yield under United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea." Such illegality is currently routine within Europe as politicians ignore scientific advice and he urges the Commission to take action before it develops into a "full-blown scandal." Read the consultation response here.

Tom Appleby is not alone. Top marine ecologist Raine Froese has voiced a powerful critique of the lobbyist system that he claims has subverted the Common Fisheries Policy and led to the decline of European fish stocks.

Industry support for MPAs grows
Whilst some Scottish fishermen remain skeptical of Marine Protected Areas, there are growing signs south of the border that the industry is embracing the mutual benefits of no fishing zones. The Manx Fish Producers Organisation has agreed to a closure of 40km2, which includes Ramsey Bay and prevents scallop and queenie trawling. Demonstrating enviable leadership quality, Tom Bryan-Brown, from MFPO, said: "It is for the greater good of the industry."

Seasearch annual report

Seasearch has released its findings from 2010, which summarises all the marine species recorded during Seasearch monitoring during last year. To view the findings you can download the report here.

Location, location, location

Research funded by the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum has found that when it comes to the 'environmental efficiency' of aquaculture, location is more important than size. The study seems to conclude that there are a whole host of factors, such as the seabed's geomorphology, resident organisms and tidal flows, which affect the environmental impact of a fish farm. A mathematical model has been devised to establish the "optimum size for any proposed location" so it's doubly important to put the right figures in then...!

Meanwhile a planning application has been lodged to double the peak biomass of salmon (to 2500 tonnes) at the existing salmon farm at Ardmaddy, near Oban and close to the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation. Local conservationists fear that this will increase the scope for the transfer of sea lice to the migratory salmon and sea trout which pass through the narrow channel. Objections to the application are being received until 4th August.

Sea Shepherd appeal to 'Save our Ship'

http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2011/07/19/emergency-sos-from-captain-paul-watson-save-our-ship-1263
Sea Shepherd http://www.seashepherd.org/ is appealing for funds to release their flagship vessel, currently detained in Shetland. The marine conservation organisation, which takes direct action against illegal fishing activity, has been subject to a lawsuit by a Maltese bluefin tuna fish farming company. Watch the video.
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....OVERSEAS NEWS.....

Filet-o-sustainable-fish?

It's a bit of a mouthful, but the Marine Stewardship Council's breathless excitement about MacDonalds Europe's commitment to source blue-label certified fish has been roundly echoed by the global media. On one level it has to be applauded as a step in the right direction and a major boost to consumer awareness of marine sustainability issues. But there are a few cautionary reasons to slow down with the lavish praise. Firstly, it was only MacDonalds Europe that signed up for it - a sorry sign that such issues are not so high up the company's global agenda. Alongside the broader market concerns with eco-labelling, some potentially 'problematic certifications' described in this newsletter and in peer-reviewed journals still threaten to undermine the credibility of the blue-label. If consumers get a whiff of 'bluewash' then the MSC will become just another value-added branding exercise for consumers who can afford to eat ethically.

COAST warns of fish farm scramble to avoid new standards
COAST has recently responded to the WWF's Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue - a consultation exercise designed to develop social and environmental standards to reduce the impacts of global salmon farming. Amongst many comments about the future regulation of the industry, COAST expressed disappointment that the resulting standards will not be enforceable for fish farms currently in operation. Read the COAST response in full here.

A cautionary tale of the cod revival
Good news from Eastern Canada, where the famously collapsed cod fishery seems to be experiencing a tentative revival. Cod and haddock numbers are on the up again, although they are a lot smaller than they used to be (a five year old haddock actually weighs half the size now than it did in the "boom time"). The BBC journalist reporting on the trend describes how curbs on fishing wouldn't restore the fishery without 'nature's ecosystem spring.' True perhaps, although the key message is surely: don't let the collapse happen in the first place....

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A few fishy facts folks should know
3 - the number of places in the world where Serpulid worms are known to form reefs
82% - the percentage of known fish stocks in the Mediterranean Sea that are overfished
$1,400,000 - the bond required to release the Sea Shepherd's vessel, the 'Steve Irwin'

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SPECIES OF THE MONTH

This month’s species is a marine tubeworm. Although it is common animal around the oceans, Serpulid vermicularis is special in Scottish waters, because it is the best known example in the world of the worms forming reef-like structures. In Loch Creran, reefs comprising of hundreds of Serpulid worms can be found, like brightly-coloured bushes on the seabed. (Such reefs are known to occur in only two other locations: the Bay of Naples and in Galway). The fragile habitat is a haven for marine biodiversity, with over 70 species being counted on a single reef. Extremely vulnerable to mechanical disturbance - such as mobile and static fishing gear - the Loch Creran reefs are protected by a Special Area of Conservation.


Latin name: Serpula vermicularis
Size: individuals grow to 150mm in length and 4-5mm wide, and form reefs up to 75cm high
Diet: Serpulids use their radioles to filter plankton from the water column
Habitat: muddy substrate with rocks at depths of 6m-10m
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THANKS
If you have enjoyed reading this newsletter and feel supportive of COAST, please get in touch. Our work to date has been made possible by charitable funding, government grants, individual donations and a lot of voluntary time and effort. If you would like to offer any financial support, you can donate via the website. Alternatively feel free to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thank you for reading COAST’s 16th newsletter. We hope you are looking forward to the next month’s edition already.

Coming in the next newsletter....
- follow-up from the Clyde IFG meeting
- Ross Greig's Arran sea angling survey