The Future of Sea Fisheries in Dumfries and Galloway:

Transcription

1 The Future of Sea Fisheries in Dumfries and Galloway: Final Report September 2013 prepared by Nautilus Consultants for Dumfries & Galloway Council i

2 Nautilus Consultants Ltd 6 Crossland Crescent Peebles EH45 8LF Scottish Borders Tel: crick@nautilus-consultants.co.uk ii

3 Preface This report was commissioned on behalf of the Dumfries and Galloway FLAG with funding support from the European Fisheries Fund Axis V funding stream in order to ascertain baseline information on the commercial fisheries sector within the region. This baseline information would enhance the knowledge and understanding of the breadth of the commercial fishery and the economic impact that this sector has locally and would be used to support the future development of sector. The report was completed in September 2013 by Nautilus consulting and reflects an accurate picture of the commercial sector within Dumfries and Galloway at that time, it should be noted that the commercial fisheries sector is dynamic and responsive to positive and negative changes. This report should be viewed as an indicative outline of the sector to support and inform future activities, but further assessment of the sector may be required to support any detailed work or assumptions. Changes within the commercial fisheries sector, impacts directly on the productivity and employment within the sector but also has an effect on the support services offered locally around the region. iii

4 Contents Executive Summary... v 1 Introduction Physical, biological and economic geography Sector organisation / representation Fishery / seafood businesses Economic contribution Strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats SWOT summary Strategic opportunities Appendix A Study requirements Appendix B - Interviews Appendix C Estimation of economic scale and contribution Appendix D - Regional funding programmes iv

5 Executive Summary Introduction This study presents a socio-economic profile of the fisheries and seafood sector in Dumfries and Galloway intended to provide a better understanding of the socioeconomic value of commercial sea fisheries and related processing and ancillary services in Dumfries and Galloway. Whilst the image of the region as a whole is closely allied with the sea and the Solway coast which might be expected to link to visions of fish, fishing and seafood in practice a visitor or resident would be hard pressed to find much evidence of the area s current significant harvesting of local marine resources. This has two repercussions a key component of the region s tourism economy is under-exploited; and in terms of economic development and the application of development funding, the fishery sector is easily over-looked. Accordingly there remains need to further promote the bigger picture of what is and what could be the local seafood sector targeting politicians and decision-makers, and including local interest groups that may only have a partial understanding of the regional situation and be unaware of the many opportunities for synergies across the sector as a whole. Another area of concern relates more specifically to the technical issues of fisheries management notably scallop fishing and cockle fishing and the issue of achieving a reasonable balance between commercial fishery interests and marine conservation interests. These are being actively addressed, but more needs to be done at a national as well as a regional level. Fishery / seafood overview The Dumfries and Galloway fishing and seafood sector (including employment and earnings from charter angling, but excluding all other angling values 1 ) is estimated to make an economic contribution to the region of some 20M each year, and to provide employment for about 1,000 people. In terms of scale, the main centres of fishery related economic activity are Kirkcudbright (king and queen scallop fishing and processing), Annan (scampi, smoked salmon and fish-based meal processing) and Newton Stewart (scampi processing). In terms of the small-scale and rural economy, the main contributions come from: a local crab and lobster creel fleet operating from small harbours across the region (notably Kirkcudbright, Isle of Whithorn, Garlieston, Port William, Drummore, Portpatrick), and fishermen operating traditional stake nets and haaf net fishing at various points along the coast catching wild salmon and various whitefish species; 1 Excluded because these are not typically valued on the same basis one focused on economic output, and the other on local expenditure on goods and services v

6 a variety of small businesses involved in adding value to seafood (smokehouses, van sales, retail sales, fish filleting and preparation), operating from locations such as Carsluith, Bargrennan, Lochmaben, Kirkcudbright, Newton Stewart, Borgue, Castle Douglas; recreational fishing interests, mainly focused around sea angling charter boat operations based at Portpatrick, Drummore, and Stranraer; other sea angling from shore and from private boats, and salmon and trout sports fishing in most of the rivers flowing into the Solway notably the Annan, Nith, Urr, Fleet, Cree and Bladnoch make an economic contribution, but mainly through expenditure on local purchases of goods and services; the region supports a range of shallow water mollusc fisheries that are amenable to harvesting at low tide, or by shallow water diving for example periwinkles, surf clams, and razor clams; no intensive marine aquaculture is practiced in the region, but various shellfish resources are subject to local husbandry native oysters in Lough Ryan (small-scale), mussel lays along some parts of the Solway coast (small-scale), and cockle beds in the inner Solway and other localised areas along the coast (currently limited, but formerly of significant scale thought to be capable of supporting a fishery at its best of some ½M per year 2 ); Development issues From a policy and planning perspective three imperatives may be derived from this study: (i) (ii) (iii) the need to retain the large seafood processors (responsible for employing around 600 people) within the region; the need to ensure that any future changes within the scallop sector (responsible for employing over 400 people locally) work in support of rather than against local interests; and to more actively support smaller-scale fishing, seafood processing and fish distribution businesses, by making them more central to the branding of tourism within the region. Large processors: There are four main seafood processors located in the region two scampi processing businesses, one large salmon smoking and seafood recipe dish processor, and one large queen and king scallop processor. The nephrops / scampi sector and the salmon / smoked salmon sector have been the subject of long-run consolidation pressures across the UK and Ireland, and in the wider context of western Europe. The driving forces behind this have been the pursuit of scale and logistical efficiencies, the need to remain internationally competitive, and the pursuit of new areas of profit by large private equity companies through aggressive mergers and acquisitions programmes. There are many examples where regions have suddenly lost large local processors such as these. The region needs to constantly monitor this 2 It should be noted that the cockle fishery is currently closed, though illegal harvesting takes place on a regular basis. No-one is in any doubt that the cockle resource should be commercially exploited, but, as with other cockle fisheries across the UK, finding a practical and equitable means of managing this fishery is proving difficult if not also elusive. vi

7 situation and deploy a determined and more aggressive strategy to ensure that where closures take place, they take place outside the area. Kirkcudbright: The large scallop processor is based in Kirkcudbright. Its premises are located alongside the river Dee in the centre of Kirkcudbright, and just along from the quay where most of the region s scallops are landed. The factory takes centre stage in a line of seafood, food, and marine related businesses along Dee Walk, providing employment for upwards of 300 people, and supporting the employment of a further 200 people. This is a major employment centre, but whilst there are opportunities for expansion and growth in all or most of these businesses (witness major recent and planned multi-million pound investments) the area is becoming congested. More could and should be done to ensure that this major employment centre is more actively supported most notably in the context of long-term physical and economic planning (room for expansion, and necessary and appropriate support infrastructures provided), but also in ensuring that the best technologies, systems, and workforce skills are available and in-place. Scallop sector: The scallop sector cannot be realistically viewed as just a local Kirkcudbright issue its fishing activities take place right around the British Isles, and raw material is transported from one end of the country to the other reflecting long established links between fishing vessels and processors, and strong competition between processors for raw material supplies. Nonetheless, Kirkcudbright, and Dumfries and Galloway as a whole, play central roles in this industry. Not only was modern UK scallop dredging started by locals operating nearby in the Firth of Clyde, but local individuals and businesses are considered to own up to half of the current UK scallop fleet (excluding the Isle of Man fleet), even where these vessels are not based in the area. All of these vessels source at least some of their crew from the Dumfries and Galloway region, and most draw some degree of engineering support from within the region. Such owners are mainly located in and around Annan, Dumfries, and Kirkcudbright. The fleet divides into: smaller vessels that tend to operate locally, exploiting offshore grounds during the summer months, and closer inshore grounds during winter months; and larger vessels that shift between fisheries around the UK, and which can operate offshore under most weather conditions. In addition, there is a division between vessels targeting king scallops, and vessels targeting queen scallops fisheries that require different gear and gear setup, and different on-board handling arrangements and equipment. Two inter-linked problems face this fleet. Vessels of 15m and over are subject to effort limitations by the Western Waters Area VII regime, which affects fishing activities in the whole of the Irish Sea and around to the English Channel. As currently applied, many vessels are struggling to operate profitably under current effort (kilowatt days) allocations, and are having to shift effort to other areas of the UK (west coast Scotland, Moray Firth). At one and the same time, the industry as a whole is coming under increased pressure from consumers, the general public, and environmental interests to apply best international practice in reducing the impact of these fishing methods on the seabed. Changes in practice would necessarily mean modification of the gear that is vii

8 used, how it is used, and where it is used. Plus a key component of best practice involves restricting the areas that are fished, and leaving at least some scallop areas unfished for conservation purposes, as a breeding reserve, and to allow more systematic assessment of the actual impact of scallop dredging on seabed communities. On top of this, however, the areas that can be fished are likely to be further restricted through the establishment of a network of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), and through the consenting of offshore windfarms both of which are expected to close off valuable scallop grounds to the fleet. As matters stand, current conditions are likely to force contraction of the scallop fleet, with knock-on impacts on local employment on the vessels, in support industries, and in scallop processing and distribution. Some contraction may be inevitable, but where and to what extent it takes place is subject to influence. Notwithstanding the efforts being made at a national level to argue the case of the scallop sector, Kirkcudbright and Dumfries and Galloway need to take a more strategic approach to this issue establishing in greater detail the economic extent of the sector, and the economic impact of change on the different fleet segments, support services and processors. Crucially, local planners need to get a better grip on the likely impact of expanded offshore windfarms and expansion of the MPA network on the scallop economy. This applies to developments in the Solway Firth, but also elsewhere (given that the local fleet, and the locally owned fleet, fishes areas right around the UK). Tourism and small-scale fisheries: Whilst there is limited opportunity (with the clear exception of cockles) to increase the volume of fish and shellfish landed to the region, there is opportunity to add value to fish and shellfish that is caught and/or brought into the region from elsewhere, to potentially return higher prices to local fishermen, and to grow a range of businesses and increase the volume and quality of sales. The key actors and beneficiaries of such increased activity are small-scale fishermen, small-scale processors (smokehouses, other added value processes, fish mongers, van salesmen), and the catering and hospitality industry (pubs, cafés and restaurants, and hotels, guest houses and B&Bs). Further, by increasing the visibility of seafood, fishing and the traditions of the sea within the tourism sector as a whole, it should be possible to both increase footfall in the coastal towns and villages and increase tourism spend. The coastal communities of Dumfries and Galloway are becoming more and more separated from the sea and their maritime heritage, and as use of the small harbours, jetties and landing points diminishes, so the economies of these communities become ever more marginalised. These communities need to reconnect to the sea and its traditions. For three out of the four large seafood processing companies in the region, their raw materials come from outside the region. For the scallop sector it is likely that overall UK supplies will show some decline, and thus raw material sourcing needs to be acute and flexible. But there is no reason why an initiative to increase seafood consumption within the region should not also be supported by product brought into the region, but used to re-enforce the connections between the region and the sea. Accordingly, the focus of this initiative should be the provision of further support to the existing small-scale seafood processors and distributors. In a parallel move, an initiative to encourage wider use of seafood in the catering and hospitality industry, sourcing product where possible from the processors and distributors within the region, should be established and rolled out. In this way one viii

9 would hope to see wider use of locally smoked seafood (salmon, kippers, mackerel, white fish, scallops, tuna), wider use of cooked and dressed crab and lobster, cockles and mussels, prawns (nephrops, Dublin Bay prawn, scampi, Norwegian lobster) sourced from nearby waters (the Clyde and west coast of Scotland), and various fresh and processed fin fish. It should be stressed that this local market is small by national standards, and servicing it remains a particular point of commercial interest for the small locally based wholesale / retail distributors. The initiative is more tourism and coastal community than simply seafood focused, but with the advantage of promoting growth in the region s small seafood businesses, as well as providing a local outlet for a larger proportion of local catches and landings. This can be further supported by the establishment of local seafood festivals or seafood weeks in several of the coastal towns and villages, offering low cost and not so low cost town square seafood, as well as café and restaurant, fare. There may also be mileage for one or two niche businesses operating mobile kitchens serving novel seafood dishes at the various events taking place across the year around the region fairs, music festivals, walking festivals, etc.. Completing the line-up of sea / seafood focused initiatives, there should also be an effort to rekindle and communicate the rich maritime heritage of the coastal communities of Dumfries and Galloway. In part this can look towards the established leisure activities of angling, yachting and other small-boat use. In part this can look to focused local projects to capture this heritage through art, story-telling, schools projects, theatre. In part this can deal with the issue of physically re-connecting these communities to the sea through improved footpaths, boardwalks, signage, parking, nature trails, nature watching (on land and at sea), conservation programmes, and through increased use of the stake nets and haaf net fisheries of the region. Overall, we would suggest a programme of activities as illustrated below. ix

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11 1 Introduction This study presents a socio-economic profile of the fisheries sector in Dumfries and Galloway. It incorporates details of: - the marine resource, - support industries to the fishing industry, - seafood distribution, - sea angling, and - commercial sea fishing, - seafood processing (whether or not raw material is sourced from within the region), - trade structures (raw material supply, processing, wholesale, retail, and catering), - tourism-related fishing / seafood activities. The study is to inform Dumfries and Galloway Council and other bodies of the extent of regional development needs and opportunities on which strategic planning decisions may be based. Study requirements are shown at Appendix A. The list of those consulted during the undertaking of this study is shown at Appendix B. The study is of particular importance given existing and future fishery sector development funding opportunities available through the main European Structural funds notably the European Fisheries Fund (EFF ), and its successor, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF ). In addition, it is of note that as a means of directing funds to support and strengthen coastal communities and small scale fisheries a component (Axis 4) of the EFF programme was allocated for distribution through Fishery Local Action Groups (FLAGs). One such group is the Dumfries and Galloway FLAG, which has been allocated a total of 1.1M EFF funding. Whilst much of this fund is now allocated to specific projects, there is every expectation that the FLAGs will be continued and will attract future funding as part of the EMFF programme. This study has particular significance for the Dumfries and Galloway region, where the important contribution of fisheries and seafood processing to the local economy can go largely unrecognised by those not associated with the sector. Of particular note, upwards of fifty per cent of the UK king scallop 3 fleet is owned by companies and 3 Two species of scallops are harvested in UK waters, the king scallop (Pecten maximus) and the queen scallop or queenie (Aequipecten opercularis). The king scallop is significantly larger than the queenie, and lies on the seabed with is upper flat shell level with the seabed. To raise this animal from the seabed typically requires the use of tines to flip them into the dredge pocket. Queenies tend to lie on the surface of the seabed, and will tend to jump when disturbed, the more so at higher ambient water temperatures evident in late summer. It is much easier to raise these from the seabed, and so lighter trawl gear or tineless or short-tine dredges are most commonly used in this fishery. The term scallop fleet is normally used to refer to vessels fishing king scallop and/or queenies. And in this context many vessels will periodically switch gear to fish both species at different times of the year. Where scallop fleet refers specifically to vessels fishing king scallop, effort is made to make this clear within the text. 1

12 individuals located in the Dumfries and Galloway region (the UK king scallop fishery is the third most important fishery by landed value), Kirkcudbright is one of the main scallop landing harbours in the UK, and there are four large seafood processors located within the region that together employ upwards of 500 local residents. 2

13 2 Physical, biological and economic geography The region extends from Gretna in the east to Cairnryan in the west, and north to the likes of Sanquhar and Moffat and the Langholm valley. Its coastline covers the whole of the northern side of the Solway Firth, extending out to Wigtown Bay and the large Luce Bay (divided by the Wigtown Machars), and the hammerhead structure to the west of Stranraer, the Rhinns of Galloway. Key geographic features are the shallow water mudflats along much of the Solway Firth coastline transitioning to an extensive shallow water system at the apex of the Solway Firth, a number of salmon rivers running north to south into the Solway Firth (notably the Esk, Annan, Nith, Dee, Fleet and Cree, Bladnoch), an upland watershed that marks the northern boundary of the region, and much of the ancient woodland that is the Galloway Forest Park. The region supports a relatively small, and largely rural, population, with the main settlements located on or close to the mouths of the area s main rivers (Annan, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse of Fleet, Newton Stewart) or to the rear of fertile coastal plains (Dalbeattie and Castle Douglas), or a key seaport linking to Ireland (Stranraer, and latterly Cairnryan). In terms of the marine environment, key features are that the region lies at the north of the main body of the Irish Sea and more particularly Liverpool Bay. The Isle of Man lies in close proximity to the western parts of the region directly south of the Wigtown peninsula and Luce Bay. The bathymetry along the Solway Firth is essentially shallow, extending at its deepest to no more than 60m. To the west of the Rhinns of Galloway is a deep water channel separating Scotland from Ireland. To the north of Stranraer and Loch Ryan is the Firth of Clyde. The main fishing harbours are Kirkcudbright (scallops), Isle of Whithorn (scallops, crab and lobster) and Stranraer (occasional landings from visiting prawn and whitefish trawlers). A few smaller inshore boats also operate from these ports. Smaller facilities, primarily serving the small-boat inshore fleet, include Annan, Dumfries, Garlieston, Port William, Drummore and Portpatrick. The significant tidal range on the Solway means that most ports and harbours are tidal (the exceptions being Stranraer and Cairnryan). Combined with the extensive areas of mud and sand bank this means that boats are also operated from a large number of creeks drawn up on the mud, or using floating jetties. From the fisheries / seafood perspective, key features are the proximity of the region to the scallop grounds of the Isle of Man and the northern Irish Sea, the scallop grounds of the southern Inner Hebrides and the Clyde, crab and lobster fisheries right round the coast, the cockle and brown shrimp fisheries of the inner Solway, and traditional commercial salmon fishing associated with the Annan and Nith (and sports fishing associated with most of the rivers). In this context there are also Manx and Clyde scallop vessels that fish local waters and land, when appropriate, to local ports. These boats make an important contribution to the local economy in places like the Isle of Whithorn through re-fuelling, purchase of grocery supplies, etc., as well as providing raw material to D & G based processors. 3

14 Vessels based in English ports, including Maryport, Silloth and Whitehaven, also fish Solway waters on the Scottish side, including fisheries for brown shrimp in the inner Solway and nephrops in Wigtown Bay. All of this contributes to the complexity of local fishery management. For the rest, the key features are economic and geographical: The main north-south motorway (A/M74) runs along the eastern side of the region taking the lion s share of Scottish seafood (raw material and processed) to UK and European markets. Just to the north of the Dumfries and Galloway region is the main Scottish seafood transport hub of Bellshill, Motherwell (where various seafood processors are also located), which sits astride the M74 on the outskirts of Glasgow (handles salmon, trout, whitefish, pelagics, prawns, mussels, etc). Similarly the ferry link between Stranraer / Cairnryan and Northern Ireland is a major route for seafood being shipped from Ireland from Northern Ireland fisheries (Kilkeel, Portavogie, Analong), particularly for prawns, crabs and lobsters, and from Donegal (Killybegs, Greencastle, etc.) mainly whitefish, pelagics, crabs and lobsters, and farmed salmon. The roads linking Ayr and Girvan to the Solway coast also provide an additional routing for the channelling of prawns landed to the fishing ports of the Firth of Clyde to processors in Dumfries and Galloway. These road links to the north, east and west are also used as a conduit for the transport of live lobster and crab to shellfish wholesale traders. Big boat fishing is based out of Kirkcudbright (scallop dredgers) and Stranraer (occasional whitefish and prawn trawlers). Some queenie scallop dredgers normally based outside the region regularly land to the local harbour of Isle of Whithorn. Smaller vessels potters, inshore line and net fishing vessels operate from estuarine harbours and jetties right along the coast. When the cockle fishery has been open this has been prosecuted from a wide range of bases in the inner Solway mainly from the north coast. A few boats exploit the brown shrimp fishery in the inner Solway using small beam trawls (<7m beam length), but mainly from Silloth on the south (English) coast of the Solway. The region also supports a modest but buoyant tourism trade, servicing demand for places to visit, things to do, and places to stay and eat each of which has its fishery / seafood / natural heritage inter-connections. Marine related wild life tourism includes bird-watching, dolphins watching, diving, snorkelling, heritage salmon netting, etc.. The area is also a popular sea angling and sports fishing venue. The Solway supports a significant yachting sector, with local marinas including Kirkcudbright, the picturesque settlements of Rockcliffe and Kippford (both south of Dalbeattie), and the likes of Portpatrick and Stranraer (currently planning new investment). Fishing and the local marine environment Large scale features The underlying structure of the nearby marine environment is relatively straightforward. Overall the Solway Firth is comparatively shallow throughout, with estuarine conditions at its apex to the east, and moving towards deeper and more open water to the west 4

15 and south. The inner Solway (say east of a line from Kirkcudbright to Whitehaven) is largely estuarine, displaying a mixed and low salinity water column and fine sediment substrate. A large area of mud substrate is located in the southerly part of this area, close to the southern Cumbria coastline. Large areas of shallow sand and gravel banks are found in the apex of the Solway (say east of line between Southerness and Silloth), significant parts of which are exposed at low tide. To the west and south, water column mixing is greater and salinity higher. The substrate is predominantly coarser sediment and gravel, but once again is largely flat and obstacle free. The coarseness and complexity of the substrate increases towards the south and west. Fig 1 - The D&G Fishery Local Action Group (FLAG) & the main coastal population centres The North Channel, lying between the Rhinns of Galloway and Ireland, is a deep and narrow channel, with much greater water movement and accompanying currents. This has rocky outcrops and a more sediment free substrate. To its immediate north east is the Firth of Clyde, transitioning into a shallower and more varied substrate of coarse sediment and gravel. Conservation designations The inner Solway is designated an SPA with marine components, an OSPAR MPA, and an SAC with marine components. The area supports cockle (currently closed) and brown shrimp fisheries, and traditional salmon and sea trout fisheries. 5

16 The top of Luce Bay is designated an SPA with marine components whilst the whole of Luce Bay is designated an OSPAR MPA and an SAC with marine components. Luce Bay is used as a military firing range and training area, with parts of the bay closed to fishing. There are, however, commercial fisheries for lobster, crab and scallop in the Bay. For the rest, the bay is particularly diverse and supports a wide range of habitats and species, mostly of minor commercial interest (though of interest to anglers). Wigtown Bay also supports a diverse ecosystem, but it is its mud and salt flats that come in for most focused protection, with a designated Local Nature Reserve (LNR) at the very top end of the Bay. This is the biggest LNR in the British Isles, and includes the estuaries of the Rivers Cree and Bladnoch. Its mudflat and salt marsh habitats are home to several thousand geese in winter months. Commercial fisheries By far the biggest commercial fishery associated with this coastline is the scallop (king scallop) and queenie (queen scallop) dredge fisheries. Whilst there are some queenie and scallop beds relatively close to the Solway coast for example in and at mouth of Luce Bay most beds are further afield. The main local queenie fishery is in the waters of the Isle of Man, and there is a scallop fishery here and further south in Liverpool Bay and along the Welsh coast, and to the north in the Clyde and around the southern islands of the Inner Hebrides. But scallop vessels necessarily have to switch areas because the Irish Sea is closed to scallop fishing from the end of May to the beginning of November. Further, the nature of the economics of scallop fishing, combined with Western Waters effort restrictions, is such that many of the larger vessels necessarily have to switch fishing areas at various times during the year, shifting between the Irish Sea fisheries to as far as the waters off the Moray Firth, and to a summer fishery in the English Channel. To give an indication of the size of this industry, for the year 2011/2012 Kirkcudbright / Isle of Whithorn landed 4.7M of queenies and scallops. At substantially smaller scales, the other main fisheries are those for lobster, crab, and cockles. All of the Solway Firth coastline, from Southerness westwards, supports an inshore creel fishery for lobster and edible crab. Suitable lobster and crab habitat incorporating rocky outcrops and substrate is most evident close inshore, limiting the spatial distribution of creel fishing. Suitable though still limited grounds are in greater abundance around the Rhinns of Galloway, but the outer face of this area is both more exposed and is also subject to faster currents, plus the North Channel is a major marine navigation passage all of which constrain fishing opportunities. The inner Solway supports a significant cockle fishery. For the second half of the 2000s this was managed under a Regulating Order by the Solway Shellfish Management Association (ASSM), with peak annual harvests valued in the order of 500,000. The ASSM was established locally and managed by a board drawn primarily from local interests. The ASSM was not, however, responsible for the allocation or issuing of licenses. Due to a number of years of poor harvests impacting on its revenues (its income was directly linked to harvest volume) the ASSM was 6

17 wound up in Marine Scotland is now seeking to facilitate formation of a successor management structure. The inner Solway also supports a small beam trawl fishery exploiting brown shrimp (Crangon crangon). This is exploited by boats from Silloth, and sometimes from Annan / Dumfries, on a seasonal basis, with fishing dictated primarily by the availability of alternate fishing opportunities, market prices and market access. The Firth of Clyde supports a significant nephrops (often also colloquially referred to as prawns) trawl fishery (the more so the further north), plus lobster and crab creel fisheries. The proximity of the all-weather ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan to both nephrops and whitefish trawling grounds, coupled with good road links, means that these ports are sometimes used to offload catches, though few larger boats are actually based at these ports. Most landings from the Clyde fisheries are made to Troon, Carradale, Campbeltown, Ayr, and Tarbert ports outside the D&G area. Whilst the Solway Firth used to support small-scale whitefish fishing in the past, this is no longer. The whitefish is still present (for example bass, tope, ray, cod, whiting, plaice, Dover sole), but most species of commercial interest are now covered by quota restrictions, and local boats, having previously given up these whitefish entitlements, can now not afford to acquire such entitlements. Some effort to change this situation should be considered, even though the issue is a national rather than simply a local issue 4. The Solway has also been traditionally associated with commercial salmon and sea trout fisheries. A number of stake net (fixed engine) fisheries are licensed at or near the mouths of the Annan, Nith, the Ur Water, and the Cree and Bladnoch. Poke nets (fixed nets) are licensed in the Annan area, and haaf nets (hand held nets) are in use associated with the rivers Ur, Nith and Annan. Husbandry and aquaculture The main marine aquaculture species of relevance to the D&G coast are cockles, mussels and oysters. The cockle fishery takes place on sand / gravel banks mainly in the inner Solway, but with other locations at the heads of bays. For commercial purposes it is widely accepted that the productivity of these grounds is best when the grounds are regularly worked, facilitating the removal of older animals and empty shells and as a result encouraging new growth 5. Management of this fishery is complex, and it has not always been possible to apply such husbandry practices. 4 Some boats (including scallop vessels) still retain small amounts of whitefish quota, but it is simply not economic for most to exploit these resources at this scale; some smaller vessels could exploit these resources profitably, and whilst they should not be rewarded for forfeiting access in the recent past there is a national issue concerning the erosion of individual quota allocations for the under-10m fleet; reallocation of additional quota to this segment of the fleet is a topic of active debate. 5 This is widely reported by commercial harvesters, but also supported to a degree from the scientific literature. The issue is complex competition for food reduces growth rates in high density areas; available shell surface encourages larval settlement / high levels of decayed biological material discourages larval settlement; it is possible that high concentrations of the chemical signals of the material used to make shell hinges discourages larval settlement. From a fishery perspective, growth rates fall off 7

18 There has been some limited experience with bottom cultivation of mussels. This is essentially untested at a commercial scale on the Solway. Growing conditions are expected to be good, but high sediment loading (so de-gritting would be essential) and security of bottom lays remain issues. Oysters (native oysters) are husbanded in Loch Ryan, where they are harvested in a small dredge fishery. There has been at least one previous venture cultivating Pacific oysters on trestles along the Solway coast, but this has not been continued. Recreational sea and sports angling The Solway is a popular destination for sea anglers both shore fishing and boat fishing. A wide range of species can be accessed from the Rhinns of Galloway, and this is where most angling charter activity takes place. There is also an annual tope competition organised from Portpatrick. Good opportunities for tope, ray and bass fishing exist in Luce Bay, and also in Wigtown Bay. In respect of sports fishing, all of the D&G rivers flowing into the Solway support salmon and sea trout fisheries. Management of these fisheries falls under the responsibility of statutory District Salmon Fishery Boards namely the Annan, Nith, Urr, Dee, Fleet, Cree, Bladnoch, and Luce within Dumfries and Galloway, and local Fishery Trusts (charitable bodies) including the River Annan Trust, Nith Catchment Fishery Trust and the Galloway Fishery Trust. sharply after 2 to 3 years (so harvesting young cockles just as they reach minimum legal size provides optimal fishery yields), and, from a practical fishing perspective, having fewer large empty shells on the grounds (the result of natural mortality and wader predation) simplifies harvesting whilst also increasing opportunities for settlement and new growth. A useful summary of cockle biology is provided in Dabouineau, L. & Ponsero, A., Synthesis on biology of Common European Cockle Cerastoderma edule. Second edition Université Catholique de l Ouest - Réserve Naturelle Nationale Baie de St-Brieuc, 23 pages. 8

19 3 Sector organisation / representation The Dumfries and Galloway fishery and seafood sector is represented through a complex of different, and sometimes overlapping, common interest and trade bodies at local, regional and national levels. Broad level representation It is probably easiest to describe representation in terms of layers (national, regional, local) and special interest group (crab fishermen, scallop industry, processors, etc.). For example, at the broadest of levels, local fishery (and tourism and environmental) interests are represented by the Solway Firth Partnership. Specific local interest groups are represented by, for example, the Galloway Static Gear Fishermen s Association, and by the Scallop Association. In somewhat greater detail, the different levels and types of representation are described below. In terms of commercial fishing interests, these are represented from a social, economic and political level through regional fishermen s associations, which are represented nationally by the Scottish Fishermen s Federation (SFF) (and by the NFFO in England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Of some local significance, associations represented include the Clyde Fishermen s Association (takes in the Clyde and the small isles) and the Scallop Association (represents scallop fishermen, processors and gear manufacturers at a UK level). It is worth noting that the SFF has various committees that address issues on a more specific gear, fleet or target fishery basis. Slightly broader sectoral representation including fishing, aquaculture, distributive trades and processing is provided at a Scottish level by Seafood Scotland, and at a UK level by the Seafish Industry Authority Seafish. In terms of supply chain interests (processing, distribution and wholesale / retail), representation is provided by the Scottish Food and Drink Federation (with which Seafood Scotland is affiliated). For seafood processors and frozen food distributors there is also the UK Frozen Foods Federation. Seafish coordinates and provides administrative support to a large number of sub-sectoral committees that discuss and promote more technical issues associated with practice, standards, management and legislation and with the impacts of legislation. The Scottish Government has also set up a number of similar special interest groups and committees to advise on policy and strategy. Input into fisheries management From a fishery management perspective, legal jurisdiction cascades down from international and EU regulations to national and regional regulations, to more local issues expressed in terms of local byelaws and Regulating and Several Orders. The key implementing authorities in fisheries management are Defra as the national competent authority, the MMO as the UK implementing authority, and then the various devolved administrations. 9

20 Interacting and to an extent informing these administrative bodies and instruments are three types of organisation: Whilst overall management of fisheries in the UK rests with central government, in England and Wales the inshore waters, inside the 6 mile limit, are managed by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs). These relatively new structures replace the previously long-standing Sea Fisheries Committees. Thus on the southern English side of the Solway the inshore fisheries are subject to management by the North West IFCA. Until very recently, management of inshore waters in Scotland has been retained by the Scottish government, but new inshore structures are now in place. For the Scottish part of the Solway (and including the Clyde and the small isles) this authority is the South West Inshore Fishery Group. It should be noted that in the early stages of its formation, management plans were developed for the Clyde and for the small isles and Mull but not as yet for the Solway. At a larger scale, the CFP review process undertaken in 2001/2 resulted in the establishment of a number of regional advisory organisations, the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs). The RAC relevant to Solway fisheries, and indeed scallop fisheries, is the North Western Waters RAC (NWWRAC). This covers a very large area including all waters to the west of Scotland and Ireland (west of the 4 degree line), and including the Irish Sea and the English Channel & Western Approaches. This is essentially an industry organisation, and it interacts primarily with the European Commission fishery administrators. The NWWRAC supports various gear, sub-area and fishery subcommittees where specific local knowledge and experience can be brought to bear on discussion of a wide range of management issues. To facilitate the provision of information and advice on horizontal and cross-cutting issues associated with fisheries, aquaculture and their respective supply chains the European Commission seeks input from a specific industry committee that it organises and administers the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA). Representation on this committee is primarily through European and national apex organisations, including environmental NGOs. In this context, fishery interests tend to be represented through the national fishermen s associations the SFF and the NFFO. Aquaculture and seafood processors are represented through their European professional associations. In addition, however, another interest group, the Producer Organisations, is also represented. Producer Organisations The Producer Organisations are an institutional structure established by the European Commission as a part of the Common Fisheries Policy, with a specific remit to represent the commercial interests of producers, and to facilitate improved balancing of production with market requirements. In the UK there are 24 POs, and they perform a significant role in managing the UK fish quota system. These organisations are represented at a UK level by the UKAFPO the UK Association of Fishery Producer Organisations. The greater majority of the over-10m fleet in the UK belongs to one of these POs. Whilst they are not, in most cases, specifically excluded from PO membership, most smaller vessels are not members of POs. 10

21 For a number of international fish stocks (usually referred to as pressure stocks ), management is achieved through the setting of catch limits usually a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for that particular stock and geographical area. These TACs are then subdivided into quotas allocated on a per country basis. Each country is then responsible for the allocation of that quota across its fleets and countries use a variety of mechanisms to achieve this. In the UK such quota tends to be allocated on a per vessel basis against historical catch performance. In terms of quota management, vessels that are in membership of POs are said to belong to the sector, and to hold sector quota. The POs assume an administrative role in monitoring catches and landings of their members against quota whether that quota is held by individual vessels, or is managed for a group or pool of vessels. Vessels that are not members of POs are said to be in the non-sector, and any quota allocation and management is undertaken by central government. There is ongoing concern amongst owners of smaller vessels and the inshore fleet that quota allocations to the non-sector are inadequate (the size of this sector has increased over the years, but with little to no equivalent increase in available quota), and calls for more quota to be transferred from the sector to the non-sector. This initiative is largely spearheaded by the National Under Tens Fishermen s Association (NUTFA). In a parallel development, the owners of these smaller vessels are also being encouraged by some (government and industry) to either join POs, or to establish their own small-vessel POs. In the context of the Solway, crab and scallop stocks are not considered pressure stocks and are not subject to TACs and quotas in the same way indicated in the paragraph above though the same types of management tool (TAC, catch quota, effort quota) may be applied. Whilst none of the local potting vessels are members of POs, the largest potters in the UK fleet the nomadic viviers are discussing this possibility. For the UK scallop fleet, a significant proportion of the large-vessel fleet is not in PO membership, and instead the owners of these vessels have opted for representation through the Scallop Association. A proportion of the fleet, and more particularly the smaller scallop vessels, are members of POs and are not specifically represented by the Scallop Association. In this regard, locally owned vessels are variously represented by the Scottish Fishermen s Organisation, the Northern Producers Organisation, North East of Scotland FO, and South Western FPO (note this latter PO is based in SW England). It should also be noted that most Isle of Man scallopers are members of the Isle of Man PO. Shellfish fishing and farming For shellfish fishing, shellfish committees exist separately under both the SFF and Seafish. The Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB), representing shellfish farming and fisheries, covers the whole of the UK, and has separate committees covering molluscs and crustacea. SAGB covers, for example, crab and lobster fishing, nephrops trawling and creeling, scallop dredging and diving, cockle fisheries, bottom and rope grown mussels, and wild and cultured oysters. Locally the static gear fleet is represented by the Galloway Static Gear Fishermen s Association. Scottish shellfish farming interests are represented by the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers (ASSG). 11

22 Angling Sea anglers are represented through the South West Federation of Sea Anglers and the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers. Management and development of sports rivers is through local River Boards and Trusts. The latter are collectively represented through the RAFTS Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland. Fishery sector training Fishermen training is provided through a network of Group Training Associations (GTAs) coordinated through Seafish. The locally relevant GTA is the South of Scotland Seafish Training Association, the coordinator of which is Douggie White of Kirkcudbright. Aquaculture and training is coordinated through LANTRA (a sector skills council for landbased industries including aquaculture). For shore-based training primarily in fish handling and processing a range of service providers are available, coordinated in part through the Seafish Seafood Training Academy. Various forms of training are delivered through vocational and other academic institutions to a range of qualifications. Tourism Tourism interests are represented through Visit Scotland and its regional focal point Visit Dumfries and Galloway, and through a wide range of regional providers, including public bodies and trusts such as Forestry Commission Scotland, SNH, National Trust Scotland, and local wildlife trusts, and through a range of local events and festivals, including for example the Wigtown Book Festival, the Wickerman Festival and the D&G Spring Fling regional art and craft event. 12

23 The Future of Sea Fisheries in Dumfries & Galloway 4 Fishery / seafood businesses 4.1 The fleet and support infrastructure Fleet The Scottish Solway fishing fleet can be best described in terms of six components: Table 1 D&G fleet 20m+ 15m+ 12m+ <12m local scallop fleet scallop fleet owned locally but based away local queenie fleet local creelers lobster, crab, nephrops cockle dredgers Totals Source: consultants estimates As should be clear from the above it is the scallop and queenie fleets that not only dominate local fishing activity and landings, but reach well beyond the Solway to encompass fisheries in the north east of Scotland, the west of Scotland, along the west coast of Scotland, the Irish Sea fisheries (Solway Firth, Isle of Man, Liverpool Bay, north west Wales), and the English Channel fisheries. Many vessels that are owned locally are actually based elsewhere notably along the south coast of England (e.g. Shoreham) and in the north east of Scotland (Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Wick). These vessels may never or rarely visit Solway ports, but at least some of their inputs (dredge gear, heavy equipment, engineering) will come from the region, a proportion of their production will be handled and processed within the region, and some of the repair and maintenance services for these vessels may be provided from businesses in the region, with some vessels periodically returning to the area for major overhauls and upgrades. A second significant fleet component is the local potting vessels. Most of these are small, but a couple are larger at over 10m in size. Harbours The relatively limited scale of the local fleet and fishing activities means that the fisheryrelated requirements for harbour support are limited, with the clear exception of Kirkcudbright harbour. Kirkcudbright is a tidal port, but has a fully manned harbour office (harbour master and assistant). Its commercial quay is almost exclusively used for landing scallops and queenies. Facilities are relatively limited water, electricity (from generator), and small slip. Fuel is delivered by lorry. Heavy lifting is typically undertaken using onboard lifting gear, supplemented where necessary by hired crane. The largest ports in the region are Stranraer and Cairnryan, which are laid out primarily for the Irish ferry operations. These operations are now being concentrated at 13