Project Studies Inshore Trawlers’ Environmental Impact

Fisheries minister Jonathan Shaw has announced a 12-month study, starting this summer, into the environmental impact of England’s inshore fishing industry, with pounds280,000 earmarked for the Fisheries Science Partnership project.

It is aimed at under-10m vessels and will involve around 30 inshore trawlers from Hartlepool, Lowestoft and the Thames Estuary. The boats will be able to land and sell everything they catch above the minimum landing size, but they will be limited to 15 days’ fishing a month to prevent any increase in fishing effort.

The aim is to measure the “environmental footprint” of commercial fishing vessels and charter angling boats targeting fish like cod, Dover sole and nephrops in inshore waters off England.

Defra plans to limit the project to commercial fishing vessels at first, but will consider extending it to charter sea angling vessels after a review by CEFAS – the UK’s fisheries science department – after six months.

Vessels will fish normally but will be fitted with automatic monitoring systems to record information such as course, speed and position. Skippers will be asked to log comprehensive data, including gear used, length of time it is in the water, catches, and discards.

They will also be asked to provide information on fuel consumption and the market for their catch.

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