Factual Information
Oxygen levels in oceans
over last 50 years.
2%
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Increasing pace of reduction.
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More areas with oxygen levels lethal to marine life.
GOOD NEWS Worst areas affected aren't the UK - The Equator and the Arctic are worst affected.
BAD NEWS Principal cause is increasing water warmth from global warming which is still increasing.
INTERESTING FACT Increased water warmth affects global ocean circulation.
Acidification in oceans
CO2
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Atmosphere increase, global warming.
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30% enhanced absorption by the sea, making water more acidic.
INTERESTING FACTS
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25% of the CO2 released by burning coal, oil and gas disolves into the ocean.
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CO2 is locked up for hundreds of years once in the ocean.
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Fish cells balance with water in the sea around them and their blood becomes more acidic as the sea does - and burns extra energy trying to excrete excess acid, slowing fish growth, ability to catch food & reproduce.
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Even slightly more acidic water affects fish minds as well as bodies.
Warming of the oceans
Heat trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, accumulating in the oceans. 93% of heat trapped goes into the ocean.
Reduction in zoo plankton in the North Sea. Spawning of zoo plankton in spring is particularly important to the growth and survival of juvenile fish.
INTERESTING FACTS
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Cod and halibut are moving further north as seas around the UK warm up.
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Cod, sole & haddock are some of our worst affected fish.
Fish stocks
North Sea Cod numbers down 31% between 2015 - 2020 but have been increasing again in recent years
Commercial fishing
INTERESTING FACTS
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Cod numbers started to increase in the North Sea in 2022, possibly as a consequence of tighter commercial fishing rules, but a 63% increase in allowable catch has now been provided - which may prove too hopeful
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Commercial fishing for prawns, lobsters and langoustine has a high rate of 'by catch' that can kill a lot of fish; whiting particularly around the UK.
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Denmark catches 70% of the total landings of sand eels from the North Sea and stocks are now significantly diminished, harming the ecosystem - as sandeels help transfer huge amounts of plankton to larger fish.
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The UN suggests that around 90% of global fish stocks are either over-fished or at risk of being over-fished, with industrial fishing fleets principally responsible (and most of these will be a long way offshore, not close to our coast).
Plastic
Plastic endures for 450 years plus.
Average number of plastic pieces on a mile of UK coast is 5,000.
Over 2/3 of global fish stocks are suffering from plastic ingestion.
GOOD NEWS
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Levels in the North Sea are relatively low.
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We can each make a difference by reducing single use plastic packaging from our purchases.
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We can each make a difference by washing synthetic clothing with a microplastics guard.
BAD NEWS
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Ingested plastic into fish reduces reproduction ability, growth and survival rates.
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Plastic kills marine mammals and sea birds.
INTERESTING FACTS
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Biggest cause is sewage related debris, followed by rubbish from the land making its way to the sea and lost/abandoned fishing gear.
Raw Sewage
3,000 discharges onto English and Welsh beaches in 2020.
2020/21 saw a 37% increase in raw sewage discharges in England and Wales.
GOOD NEWS
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Not too damaging to fish directly – shell fish are affected far more badly.
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Surfers against sewage are well organised and monitor over 400 locations around the UK.
BAD NEWS
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Ships can dump untreated sewage 12 nautical miles off the coast.
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80% of the world’s sewage is still untreated.
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Much of the untreated sewage enters our waterways when rainstorms overload combined storm-water and sewage systems so as climate change increases rain deluges so we could experience more water borne sewage if drainage isn’t improved.
INTERESTING FACTS
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Untreated sewage in the sea reduces its oxygen content.
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100,000 cubic metres of sewage is discharged from cruise ship toilets every day around the world.
Conservation of fish stocks
Organisations Review
UK Government Organisations
ENGLISH GOVERNMENT'S MARINE MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION (MMO)
REMIT
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Responsible for marine planning in England’s seas – running a regulatory framework that evolves ‘to support environmental and economic progress’. Clarifies for the commercial fishing industry what requirements exist.
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It confirmed in its 2020 MMO Story document that with the Government’s aim for clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse seas, its purpose is to protect and enhance our precious marine environment, and support UK economic growth by enabling sustainable marine activities and development.
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It has responsibility for responding to and helping to manage marine pollution incidents.
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It is not responsible for inshore fisheries – this goes to the IFCA.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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Produce an annual statistics report.
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Set out technical measures that commercial fishing industry needs to adhere to so as to minimise unwanted catches, reduce impact on the wider ecosystem. Fishing net mesh sizes can only be below a certain base level if specific by-catches of cod, haddock and saithe are less than 20% of a fishing vessel’s catch, for example. Operate a range of inspection activities that include patrols, surveillance and inspections on shore and at sea.
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In 2020 created a 10 year plan. In 2021 they are seeking to complete a full set of ‘marine plans’ that cover all of England’s seas and coasts and also deliver a ‘Control and Capability Programme’ for the fishing industry that helps it become more sustainable.
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Works with Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities to support and implement byelaws that control Marine Proteced Areas around England’s coastline (175 areas in total).
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Administers funds to protect the marine environment through the Maritime and Fisheries Funds. Funds are used for a wide range of initiatives that include collecting fishing and economic data, modernising how we manage sustainable fishing and underpinning the fishing and seafood processing industry’s competitiveness and economic viability. In 2020/21 it designed and delivered 3 support schemes through the government’s Fisheries Response Fund, providing direct emergency funding to over 1,000 fishing vessel owners, about 75 aquaculture businesses and 20 fisheries projects negatively affected by the Covid-19 emergency.
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The MMO operates a range of inspection activities and claims to take proportionate legal enforcement action when necessary.
COMMENTARY
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Impact is dependent on the way in which the MMO monitors use of commercial fishing equipment and catches and applies the rules – with an expectation that it will give industry time to buy in the new equipment and adjust.
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The MMO is involved with regulating development and delivery of renewable energy from the sea as well as regulating the fishing industry, and has responsbilities to the economy, soit has many stakeholder groups to keep happy.
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The MMO states that it wants to move away from ‘monolithic regulation’ and become more dynamic, proportionate and innovative, with more shared ownership and accountability. The advise that they are supported in their work by Natural England, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, the Sea Fish Industry Authority and the Joint Maritime Security Centre.
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT'S MARINE MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION (MMO)
REMIT
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Responsible for marine planning in Scotland’s seas, involving overseeing quota allocations for commercial fishing, monitoring and enforcing marine laws, undertaking scientific research and providing advice to the Scottish government and marine spatial planning.
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The Marine Scotland Act of 2010 provides for them ‘to act in the way best calculated to further the achievement of sustainable development including the protection and, where appropriate, enhancement of the health of that area.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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Undertake assessments ‘from time to time’ to meet their obligations under the Marine Scotland Act and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
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Build a Marine Scotland Map with data collected. See protection of the marine environment of the highest priority. Use Marine Protected Areas initiative to realise this, with Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) commonly referred to as Natura 2000 sites.
COMMENTARY
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The North East Atlantic Nephrops trawl fishery (that will also have boats from other nations fishing it), has very poor by-catch and discard records – as they fish for prawn, lobster, langoustine and scampi fish like cod suffer. Thankfully the Scottish Government and the commercial fishing industry are investigating technical solutions to the problem.
NORTHERN IRELAND GOVERNMENT’S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DAERA)
REMIT
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Responsible for Northern Ireland’s waters, including quota allocations for commercial fishing, monitoring and enforcing marine laws and managing the country’s inshore fisheries through its Inshore and Environment Branch.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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Allocating funds to support Northern Ireland’s fishing fleet reference Covid-19 and its impacts on the markets. In 2021 published a report on the investment needs of the fishing and seafood sector – with major recommendations focused on enhancing capacity for fishing and processing businesses and aquaculture, whilst at the same time reducing the environmental impact of the fishing fleet.
COMMENTARY
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It remains to be seen how the balance between growing the industries associated with the marine environment can be balanced to still reduce the environmental impact of commercial fishing.
WELSH GOVERNMENT
REMIT
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Manages directly the quota allocations for commercial fishing, monitoring and enforcing marine laws and managing the country’s inshore fisheries through the Welsh Marine Fisheries Advisory Group.
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The Wales Marine Action and Advisory group (WMAAG) provides a forum for discussion and debate, and the provision of support and advice to the Welsh Government, on strategic marine and coastal policy. It is the overarching stakeholder group for the work of the Marine and Fisheries Division of the Welsh Government, sitting alongside the Welsh Marine Fisheries Action Group (WMFAG), the lead Welsh Government fisheries industry forum in Wales. It specifically exists to provide support and advice to the Welsh Government on strategic marine and coastal policy in relation to integrated marine governance and delivery of integrated marine management.
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In relation to the fishing sector it has the Welsh Fishermen’s Association, the Welsh Marine Fisheries Action Group Chairman and a representative from the Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers within the Advisory and Action Group membership of 32.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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The WMAAG is comprised of 36 stakeholder leads who represent the interests of all sectors with an interest or investment in the Marine in Wales.
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It has a Marine Transition Programme that includes projects focussed on marine evidence gathering and planning, sustainable fisheries and Marine Protected Areas.
ENGLAND’S INSHORE FISHERIES AND CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES
REMIT
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There are ten authorities, tasked with the sustainable management of inshore sea fisheries resources in their areas using funding from their Local Authorities. They aim to lead, champion and manage a sustainable marine environment and inshore fisheries by successfully securing a balance between social, environmental and economic benefits alongside healthy seas, sustainable fisheries and a viable industry. They have ability to help make byelaws and establish enforcement frameworks.
SCOTTISH REGIONAL INSHORE FISHERIES GROUPS
REMIT
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To improve the management of Scotland’s inshore fisheries, giving commercial inshore fishermen (particularly) a strong voice in wider marine planning initiatives, there is the Inshore Fisheries Management and Conservation Group (IFMAC) that looks after the zone of up to 12 nautical miles from the coast, and five Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups (RIFGs) that have a remit for up to 6 nautical miles other than where there are Marine Planning Partnerships in place to take the distance of engagement to 12 nautical miles.
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For note, Local Working Groups are key to the functioning of the RIFGs and are convened to consider specific issues.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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There is a National Marine Plan and a 2015 Scottish Government Inshore Fisheries Strategy designed to develop sustainable inshore fisheries.
UK GOVERNMENT
REMIT
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Through the EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement the UK Government effectively agrees constraints that apply to EU member states’ fishermen landing on their home turf specific species that are classified as ‘quota sectors’ – for which there are annual quotas per country. For non-quota sectors the UK Government is directly responsible for setting national quotas it may find desirable.
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Responsible for setting environmental, economic and societal goals. So has to balance many agendas.
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DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is the UK Government’s department responsible for the UK fisheries policy and governance, the management of which is carried out by various administrations for each country within the UK – the Marine Management Organisation in England, Marine Scotland in Scotland, DAERA in Northern Ireland and the Welsh Government in Wales.
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CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) is an executive agency of DEFRA and was set up to advise DEFRA on evidence-based policy and legislation. It provides UK-wide advice and assessments on fisheries and aquaculture issues, based on scientific data such as stock assessments. It provides research, consultancy and other expertise for customers in the UK and beyond.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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The UK Government entered into a Trade and Co-operation Agreement with the EU 24.12.20 that provides for 25% of the existing quotas relating to quota sectors for EU countries fishing in UK waters to be transferred over to the UK by 30.6.26 – specifically set through ‘Total Allowable Catches’ (TACs) that apply to the quota sectors. At the same time the UK will reduce its rights to TACs of quota sector fish in European waters. Annual negotiation and agreement is provided for post 30.6.26. The UK Government has agreed with the national administrations of England, Scotland, Wales and Norther Ireland how the UK allocations are divided, through a concordat agreed in 2012.
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The UK and EU have set up a Specialised Committee on Fisheries to develop targets and strategies for managing non-quota stocks.
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UK vessels each hold fishing licences and specific Fishing Quota Allocations (FQAs) that are set by the respective administrations for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to apportion the allocations they each have for quota sectors. For 2021 no limits are to be applied to non-quota stocks in the UK.
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There is provision for exhanges of quota between the UK and EU countries.
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There are a range of technical provisions that apply to commercial fishing equipment so as to minimise unwanted catches of juvenile and vulnerable species. There are additional specific provisions introduced in 2021 to reduce wasteful discarding of seabass (return to the sea of ‘by-catch’ that is often dead).
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In 2018 it created a 25 year Environment Plan that includes plans to secure clean, healthy, productive and biologically diverse seas as well as plans to ‘lead by example in tacking climate change and protecting and improving international biodiversity’.
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The UK government promised to set ‘a gold standard for sustainable fishing around the world’ in the wake of Brexit. In 2020 it passed The Fisheries Act, providing the framework for fisheries management from 31.12.20.
COMMENTARY
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Both the UK and EU will need to work out what a gradual reduction of EU quotas in UK waters will entail, and there is likely to be a ‘balanced’ reduction that means that as EU quotas reduce in UK waters there will be a reduction in UK quotas in EU country waters at the same time.
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In practice what lies ahead is a decision making body called the Fisheries Specialist Committee, co-chaired by a UK minister and an EU Commission equivalent. They will endeavour to agree total annual catch levels (TACs) but if agreement cannot be reached there is provision for the average of the previous 3 years [claimed] catches to be used. And they are to be informed by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) science.
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There is also a policing problem. The EU and the UK is to take all necessary measures to ensure compliance by its vessels with the rules applicable to those vessels in the other party’s waters.
IRISH GOVERNMENT
REMIT
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Has a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine (DAFM) and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) responsible for marine environment control.
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Given that Ireland is part of the European Union Ireland’s ability to create its own rules is limited and the European Commission imposes quite significant control under the Common Fisheries Policy.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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The Irish Government has been falling short of EU regulations in its control over commercial fishing according to the EU and to the point that in August of 2021 the European Commission suspended 25 million euros of EU co-funding because of over-fishing.
EUROPEAN UNION
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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The European Union (EU) set ‘legally binding’ legislation in 2013 to end over fishing by 2020 – so that stocks are only commercially fished at a level that is ‘Maximum Sustainable Yield’ (MSY) compatible. MSY is a model used to calculate how much one can fish from a certain stock without depleting it. This was not realised, principally because Total Allowable Catches (TACs) were not set at levels advised by the scientific community.
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The EU management method for controlling fish stock exploitation is by controlling outputs of the EU fishing fleet – which it does by setting catch quotas known as Total Allowable Catches.
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Total Allowable Catches (TACs) are set by the AGRIFISH Council of the EU during in December of each year, taking account of scientific advice from ICES, European Commission proposals and EU member state’s contributions. ClientEarth have been monitoring TAC levels and advise that in 2020 TACS exceeded the scientific advice in 48% of cases – an improvement on the 2016 level of 73%. The level of ‘overshoot’ has been reducing too, down to 6% in 2020 (13% in 2015) – although for note in 2020 there were a number of zero catch and ‘no targeted fisheries’ recommended for 15 depleted stocks and in all advisory levels were exceeded.
UNITED NATIONS
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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Have been working towards a Global Ocean Treaty.
ANGLING TRUST
NATURE OF ORGANISATION
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Not-for-profit member based organisation representing anglers -fighting for fish, fishing and the environment in the UK.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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Campaigns for healthy waters and halt to pollution, works to try to reduce litter and plastic pollution and runs an Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme through introduction of pipebins. Organise clean up meetings and encourage fishermen to ‘Take 5’ – ie. remove five pieces of litter when you finish fishing in an area.
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The Angling Trust recommend:
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Undulate Ray are classified as endangered and so should be returned alive.
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Shad are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and all fish must be returned.
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Monkfish (also called Angel Shark) are listed under the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act and will be protected against killing, injuring or taking.
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Porbeagle are critically endangered in the North Eastern Atlantic and should be returned alive.
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Spurdog are classified as critically endangered in the North East Atlantic and should be returned alive.
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At the current time the Angling Trust do not seek to restrict retention of catches of the following fish: Angler Fish, Black bream, Gilthead Bream, Brill, Common Skate, Conger Eel, Dab, Flounder, Garfish, Grey Gurnard, Red Gurnard, Tub Gurnard, Halibut, John Dory, Lesser Spotted Dogfish, Monkfish, Grey Mullett, Poor Cod, Pouting, Rays, Rockling, Sharks, Lemon Sole, Trigger Fish, Turbot, Witch, and Ballan Wrasse.
COMMENTARY
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Great movement to help anglers contribute towards better marine environments.
GLOBAL FISHING WATCH
NATURE OF ORGANISATION
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International non-profit organisation set up to advance ocean governance through increased information on human activity at sea.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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Partner with scientists and use technology (such as machine learning and satellite technology) to turn big data into actionable information. Collaborate to produce open-source datasets and analysis that can help identify the most critical challenges facing the oceans.
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Research is undertaken into specific parts of the ocean to investigate human activity and its impact at local and international level.
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In 2020 GFW combined global data on industrial fishing activity, subsidies and stock assessments to show that subsidies prop up commercial fishing activity all across the world and larger subsidies tend to occur in fisheries that are poorly managed. They highlighted the benefits that could come from subsidy reform.
COMMENTARY
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An organisation with significant power to influence change. Its work on fishing subsidies around the world will help the World Trade Organisation to review such subsidies and take action – linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14.6 that seeks to prohibit certain fish subsidies that congtribute to over capacity in the industry and over-fishing.
GREENPEACE
NATURE OF ORGANISATION
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An independent ‘movement’ founded for like minded planet conscious people in 1971.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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They investigate, document and expose causes of environmental destruction, seeking to bring about change by lobbying, consumer pressure and mobilising the general public.
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They advise that decline of UK fish stocks is particularly down to 3 particular factors:
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The Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union allocating quotas based on claimed catches.
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Short termism by parts of the fishing industry.
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Lack of stewardship by the UK government.
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Thay have worked to bring awareness to the fact that from the 1980s EU shipowners were able to purchase vessels in countries and to use national quotas in those countries. An issue that persists today.
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In 2020 they put boulders on the seabed of Dogger Bank, a Marine Protected Area 100km off England’s East Coast where the UK government had been continuing to allow destructive industrial bottom trawling along the sea floor. This was used to bring awareness to data they had collected to show that giant industrial supertrawlers had spend almost 3,000 hours fishing in the MPAs around the UK in 2019, threatening the livelihoods of the UK’s small scale fishing communities.
COMMENTARY
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On a mission to promote radical change and now try to pursue their work through ‘peaceful direct action’.
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Have experience that enables their work to be very effective. The Dogger Bank boulder initiative resulted in a pledge by the UK government in 2021 to ban bottom trawling in the location.
MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
NATURE OF ORGANISATION
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UK based and focussed charity that fight for a cleaner and healthier ocean that is ever better protected.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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Produce a Good Fish Guide each year and use a 5-tier system to rank species from ‘Best Choice’ to ‘Fish to avoid’. For 2020 they guided that the best fish to consume are the following for the UK:
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Cornish Hake – which has bounced back to sustainability in recent years due to a recovery plan being implemented in the 1990s
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Handline caught mackerel – which can be effected using small boats of under 10 metres with little bycatch and no damage to the sea bed
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Dover Sole – healthy populations live along the south-west coast of the UK, in the English Channel and the Irish Sea. However, method of catch varies and some cause unhelpful bycatch, especially in relation to plaice, and damage the seabed.
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Red Mullet and Red Gurnard – although both have size restrictions on catch and are fished by gill netting and ‘otter trawling’ which does less damage than other forms of commercial fishing
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Those fish they recommend are those that we most widely consume in the UK – Cod, salmon, haddock and tuna.
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They encourage divers and others to carry out Seasearch surveys to help monitor locations of interest, often working jointly with local Wildlife Trusts.
COMMENTARY
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This society believes that the ocean is at a tipping point and do a great job in enabling those interested in doing something about it to do so through campaigning, volunteering and donating.
OCEANA EUROPE
NATURE OF ORGANISATION
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International advocacy organisation founded in 2001 and focused on the use of science to deliver ocean conservation. Offices around the world.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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Draw together research to guide that:
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We are taking too many fish out of the water and overfishing is now threatening ocean ecosystems and livelihoods.
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We are polluting our oceans with mercury, antibiotics, oil and climate-changing gases that collectively threaten marine wildlife, habitat and human health.
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We are squandering potential sources of food when the sea could potentially sustain feeding millions.
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We are spoiling marine wildlife and special places through destructive and wasteful fishing practices that threaten animals and damage the sea floor.
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Lobbying through:
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Strategic, directed campaigns to protect and restore oceans.
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Using science to identify not just problems but solutions.
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Employ economists, lawyers, communicators and advocates as well as scientists to deliver tangible results.
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Current campaigns include support to the Blue Manifesto that over 100 organisations created in 2020 to rescue the planets oceans and coastlines by 2030 (led by BirdLife Europe, ClientEarth, Oceana, Seas at Risk, Surfrider Foundation Europe and WWF). This calls for a shift to low-impact fishing, a pollution free ocean and planning of human activity to support restoration of thriving marine ecosystems.
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Another campaign focuses on protecting the North Sea through initiatives in specific marine habitats and highlighting the cod crisis.
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Oceana have drawn attention to a study by Sala and others in 2021 that shows that fishing boats that trawl the ocean floor release as much carbon dioxide into the water column as the entire aviation industry releases into the atmosphere. Oceana are pushing for a total ban on bottom trawling.
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Oceana have provided key data to show that cod stocks off the UK are in critical condition and are being over exploited commercially – showing that ‘Spawning Stock Biomass’ of North Sea Cod was over 250,00 tonnes in the early 1970s, came down to less than 50,000 by 2007, came back up just over 100,000 in 2017 but is now back down to about 50,000 again. They suggest that recovery plans for cod are now urgently needed for UK fisheries and reducing bycatches will help, but climate change is also affecting how long fish live today and a healthier ocean ecosystem is of critical importance.
COMMENTARY
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Oceana believes that wild seafood, when properly managed, can provide a renewable source of protein to millions and indeed sugest that eating more seafood is not only good for our health but can also help save the planet – with research showing that sustainable fishing translates as more food, more fish and more jobs for the UK.
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Oceana want to see more Marine Protected Areas and more sustainable fishing.
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Providing publicity to things such as 44,000 hours of fishing with bottom-towed equipment in Scotland’s Marine Protected Area network in 2020 make it ever more difficult for politicians to put commercial activity beyond environmental issues so recklessly. It puts pressure on politicians to ban particular practices and police the regulations they set more effectively. Exploitive, damaging fishing methods ruin fishing grounds for low-impact fishermen.
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The Scottish Government and the commercial fishing industry are exploring further technical solutions to reduce bycatch impact.
SUSTAINABLE FOOD TRUST
NATURE OF ORGANISATION
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A Bristol based charity set up in 2011 in response to human and environmental crises associated with food and farming
WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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Work to accelerate the transition to more sustainable food at global scale to influence and enhance the work of other organisations. Undertake this by endeavouring to bring objectivity to ‘True Cost Accounting’ and the measuring of sustainability.
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Works to encourage the public to lobby their MPs.
COMMENTARY
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This Trust believes that policy makers, businesses and civil society organisations will be empowered to act when there is sufficient pressure from informed public opinion, so they work to influence everybody from consumers upwards. Whilst their focus is more on land farming than fishing they have successfully brought public awareness to fish stock levels and have probably contributed to an increase in sustainably sourced fish in UK supermarkets and an increased awareness to mislabelling of fish in America.