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Conservation research boost of £500,000
10th April 2003
SEAFISH - News release
Research into conservation fishing measures will be boosted with £500,000 in funding from the Sea Fish Industry Authority, announced today at Fishing 2003 (Glasgow).
Seafish confirmed that it had committed the funding in its budget for the year ahead for a range of projects to improve conservation performance and encourage more sustainable practices.
John Rutherford, Chief Executive, said:
"This is a programme which aims to help fishermen continue to do their jobs and make a living but in a way which helps preserve our seas for the future."
Projects include:
* Further development of a prawn trawl design that has significantly reduced the number of unwanted juvenile whitefish caught in nets during trials. The new design increased prawn catch by a fifth but reduced by-catch - haddock by 63 percent, whiting by 65 per cent.
* An innovative pilot study in the Clyde where fishermen are “helping themselves” to manage their fishery in a more conservation-friendly way. This scheme is based around a partnership between fishermen (Clyde Fishermen`s Association), scientists, environmentalists and government.
* A similar initiative in Cornwall to develop new inshore fisheries hand-in-hand with developing new markets for sustainable and lesser-known species.
* Producing conservation performance standards for fishermen and incentives for fishermen to adopt better conservation methods.
* Selective trawls for haddock and saithe fisheries.
Alex Smith, Seafish Board member and Chairman of the Seafish Sustainable Fisheries Advisory Committee, welcomed the initiative: “Seafish has a major role to play in coming up with solutions which can be practically applied by fishermen. It is vital that we also inform industry about the results and the benefits through reports, workshops and at events like Fishing 2003. I`m pleased that all these projects will involve industry either in an advisory capacity or in practical ways through sea trials.”
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