North Sea Cod Recovery Plan – Survey of Fishing Vessels

John PowellCountryside and Community Research Institute

• Describe effects of the Cod Recovery Plan on different fleet sectors

• Identify specific measures of the plan that concern the vessel

• Consequences for the vessel and business decisions taken by vessel operator

• What is expected to happen if the plan does not change

Aims of the survey

Sample characteristics

• 19 useable responses• 27 vessels• Main target species: Cod,

Haddock, Whiting, Saithe• Respondents located in

Scotland, England, France, Netherlands

• Range of fishing areas • Mostly demersal trawlers• Crew size 3 – 14• Most selling at harbourside

auction

Changes in activity as a result of the Cod Recovery Plan

Changes in activity Number of Vessels

Switch gear 4Switch target species 10Invest in new gear 2Spend more time in port 11Other changes 7(e.g. More selective in where and when fishing takes place, new nets, changing zones/changing nets, changing fishing areas to avoid Cod)

Cod avoidance measures

Measure EffectivenessSquare mesh panels – no differenceNew nets – possibly having impact

- but also avoiding Cod areasNot targeting cod – you still catch some even if trying to

avoidChange zones/areas – Increase expenditure,

- more travel time- more time for finding other species- everyone now goes to same zones

Cameras – we stay away from areas with lot of cod

Avoidance activities

“I have left productive prawn areas to avoid cod”

“I avoid areas where we find cod because I cannot afford to buy more quota”

“I have left areas where we were dumping by-catch including cod because it is immoral...”

“We have relocated where we fish... stocks increasing..at times we have up to 30% by-catch so dumping has increased”

“Don’t target cod any more – target whiting – switched gear”

Impacts of the plan

Impact of decrease in TAC•We must discard•We cannot keep marketable by-catch•Loss of revenue as we are discarding •We have to fish harder as we are high grading•Have to leave productive areas because we were dumping cod

Impact of effort restrictions•We have had to buy in days•We land somewhere different•Reduced days – no money to be made•Harder to keep a crew as they need to be paid•Must optimise time at sea – take more risks•Need to maximise catch each trip•Fearful of seeing cod in our nets

TAC

Effort limits

Set too low - Causes discards

Put in more time because more discarding

More time in port

Harder to keep crewChanged fishing pattern don’t go as far/avoid Cod areas

Reduced crew size

Purchase quota from inactive boats (‘slipper skippers’)

Buy days at sea from other boats

Diversify to utilise more species

Impacts of the plan

More selective on which days we go to sea and how far we go

“We can’t land everything we catch. We are catching more whiting but also dumping more.”

Financial impacts of the Plan

Impacts on business Numberdecisions of VesselsRecruit crew 7New equipment 7Buy supplies 3Sell your catch 4Think about the future 8Planning fishing activity 3

Perceptions of the impact of the plan on Cod StocksItem Yes NoAre there parts of the CRP that have HELPED Rebuild Cod stocks? 7 3Are there parts of the CRP that have DAMAGED Cod stocks? 10 1

Effect on other species 8 2Have the measures under the CRPled you to discard Cod? 14 2

Do the measures in the plan cause you to discard other fish? 9 4

Views of fishers

Cod stocks are increasing

Stocks are underestimated

Landings/discards data is accurate

We need rules/restrictions

We need TAC but should increase quotas and reduce fleet size

You will catch cod whether you want to or notYou can reduce

discards by increasing quota to ‘realistic’ levels

Discarding because high grading – quotas so low we are only keeping the best fish

People don’t want to go into the industry because no long-term plan

Fleet is being destroyed by cod recovery plan

Perceived effects if plan remains unchanged• Leave the industry• Employ foreign crew• Less profit• It will destroy us• Struggle then give up• Go into prawns or

under-10s• Harder to find/keep a

crew• Increased stress• Major business threat

Improving the plan

• Make the system less complex• Enable sufficient effort related to season and

target species• Need to link to markets – increase value• Think in terms of productivity of each fishing trip• A de-commissioning scheme to help fishermen

leave• Pay to stay ashore rather than discards (e.g. like

set-aside)• Issue each vessel with a realistic quota

Reducing discards

• Increase quota but control days at sea• Realist, workable quota• Small quotas cause high grading• Install CCTV systems• Vessel specific TAC – let vessel decide

when to fish• Land what you catch• Land what will make boat pay for itself

• Reluctance to invest – no long term guarantees

• Increasing discards • If plan continues unchanged – more

business failures

• Higher costs• Decreasing profit

(??)• More days in port• More part-time

work

Overall impacts