Hans Unkles, who fitted out and skippers the country’s first electric fishing vessel, which he operates out of the small West Highland port of Tayvallich, has received support from Company’s Fisheries Charitable trust that will allow him to share his experiences with working fishermen around the UK coastline.
Hans is able to operate the vessel powered entirely by the solar panels on the boat for much of the lobster season, reverting to charging with shore power when he switches to prawn creeling in the winter months.
As the first vessel of its kind in the UK, the project generated a huge amount of work for Hans when dealing with funders, suppliers and in particular the MCA, which had little previous experience with electric fishing boars and, in Hans’ words, ‘often didn’t quite know how to deal with queries I had’.
Hans has several dates and venues agreed, but is available to add presentations, and is more than happy to be contacted by fishermen or associations wanting him to visit their port.
“The Fishmongers’ Company is keen to support the future of the UK inshore fleet by presenting this concept to fishermen throughout the UK and beyond as a viable way to help support the fishing industry’s decarbonisation journey and promote seafood as the premium low-impact source of animal protein,” he said.
“To help do this, it is sponsoring me to travel to different fishing ports throughout the UK to discuss my hands-on experience of working this boat, covering both its successes and limitations. The evening is aimed solely at those at the sharp end of the fishing industry. It will see a short intro followed by an information film and a chance for discussion and questions, then the documentary about the making of the boat, covering funding and the MCA, and then finishing with a Q&A session – total time about two hours. The emphasis will be on the real-world practicalities and the capabilities of this boat.”
Gavin O’Donnell, Charities Communications Manager at The Fishmongers’ Company, explained: “The Fishmongers’ Company, through its Fisheries Charitable Trust, is committed to supporting a thriving, sustainable fishing industry. We are delighted to support Hans’ work in demonstrating the capabilities of electric vessels, dispelling misconceptions and building support within the industry. Seafood is a sustainable food for the future, and the decarbonisation of the fishing industry is vital in delivering, low-carbon protein for generations to come. We are excited to see the outcomes of Hans’ workshops and to build a community of fishermen interested in taking this vital next step.”
You can learn more about the boat and its technical capacity here.
Tour dates so far
Confirmed dates and ports for Hans’ tour are listed here. If you are interested in attending one of these events – or are in a port not listed here, but would like Hans to set up a presentation – please text/ WhatsApp him on: 07831181185 with your name and port.
Funding from the Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust enabled the The Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation to visit Western Australia last November, helping to ensure that working fishermen were front and centre at a conference sharing global expertise on mitigating conflicts between fisheries and marine mammals. Here Bally Philp, representative for the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation, writes about his experience.
Bally Philp giving his presentation to conference delegates in Perth on lessons from the recent trials in Scotland using sinking rope
It would be a lie to say I didn’t have any misgivings. Australia seemed like a ridiculously distant place for the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation (SCFF) to be heading off to, just to make some presentations and run a workshop. We could only justify this if there was something substantial happening to account for the time, money and of course carbon footprint. That set the bar pretty high.
Off the back of years of hard work in collaborative approaches to reducing conflicts between fisheries and cetaceans, and previous successful knowledge exchanges, the Scottish Entanglement Alliance (SEA), of which SCFF is a member, secured funding from The Fishmongers’ Company and the Jock Clough Marine Foundation to support SCFF’s attendance at the Society of Marine Mammalogy’s 25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Perth, Western Australia last month. Still, it would have to be an impressive workshop, with attendance from all the great and the good working in the world of entanglement reduction, to justify this.
The theme of the conference was ‘Culture and Conservation: Fishing for Change’, focusing on one of the most significant threats to marine mammals –interactions with fisheries. One thousand, six hundred delegates from 80 countries attended, surely constituting one of the largest gatherings ever of expertise in marine mammal and shark bycatch mitigation.
A key message delivered to delegates was the need to involve working fishermen at the very start of efforts to reduce entanglement. Scottish creel fisherman Duncan McAndrew, who fishes his vessel Cordelia KY 70 out of Plockton, emphasised this to the audience in one of a number of remote presentations given by fishermen from different nations.
In a world where top-down legislative approaches have largely been favoured, how many would want to spend a whole day participating in a workshop focused on fisher- led, bottom-up approaches to entanglement mitigation instead? Thankfully, plenty! It became clear very quickly that support for fisher-led approaches was high.
The workshop included presentations on issues surrounding entanglement globally, screening of a short film about our recent successful sinking groundline trial in the Inner Sound off the west coast of Scotland, and video testimonials from fishermen in Scotland, England, Mexico, South Africa and the US. Those featured are eager to reduce entanglement risk in their fishery but are experiencing similar financial, political an legislative obstacles in doing so.
During break-out sessions, non-fishing participants were asked to assume the role of a fisher and contend with both management interventions and other economic challenges, and to see things from fishers’ perspectives. The most important message of the day was when we pointed out to a room full of people who don’t make a living from fishing: “It’s easy to advocate for management measures when it’s not you and your livelihood that will be affected by them.”
In the coming weeks, we’ll produce and share a full workshop report and series of outputs from our time in Perth. But we did a lot more than just host one workshop (albeit a very productive one). Several of our team made presentations to the conference. Tim Awbery from the Scottish Association for Marine Science, another SEA partner, presented on and won two awards for his work on entanglement risk to minke whales in Scottish waters. I delivered a nerve- wracking presentation on the need for practical, incentivised entanglement solutions, and for support for fishers when management decisions impact our livelihoods.
SEA partners from the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme and colleagues from the Mexico Marine Wildlife Rescue Center, who helped facilitate the fishermen earlier this year also presented and co-hosted an exhibition booth for the duration of the conference.
Was it worth the time, money and effort, and of course that all-important carbon footprint? It’s going to take time to see the full impact that our presence had, and if our message about listening to the experiences of working fishermen will influence decision-makers –but early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We widened our network, promoted the positive work of Scotland’s creel fishermen in this area on a world stage, and advanced the narrative that fishermen must be included and supported in the development of entanglement mitigations.
SEA is clearly doing world-leading work. Our collaborative fisher-led approach got nothing but supportive feedback, and SCFF is proud to be a part of this. We’ve been invited to participate in more knowledge exchanges, and we are becoming more confident by the day that the most successful approach to tackling bycatch and entanglement is to put fishermen at the heart of the decision-making process, and leverage their knowledge and expertise every step of the way.
So what’s next? SEA is planning a series of workshops this winter facilitated by Scotland’s Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups. These aim to update our fishing communities on our progress to date, and gather fishers’ opinions and knowledge to assist in mapping out the next steps for Scotland’s creel fisheries. They will ask creel fishermen how the successful trials with negatively buoyant rope might be implemented in Scottish creel fisheries.
From the perspective of the SCFF, the more creel fishers, the more fishing associations and the more expertise we can get at those meetings, the more likely we will all be to identify and progress the best options. For us, the key is ensuring as much as possible that a focus on securing the livelihoods of fishers is at the heart of these decisions. We’d urge all of Scotland’s creel fishers and fishing associations to keep an eye out for the meetings in your area, and wherever possible to bring your knowledge and expertise to the table.
Outstanding acts of bravery at sea and immense dedication by charity volunteers celebrated at the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society’s annual Skill and Gallantry Awards hosted at Fishmongers’ Hall.
Remarkable stories of skill and gallantry at sea, as well as support for local maritime communities, have been recognised and rewarded at the national awards ceremony.
The crew of the Stornoway SAR helicopter, Rescue 948, Lt Daniel Burnett of 847 Naval Air Squadron, and two dedicated volunteers from the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society were among those honoured at the charity’s annual Skill and Gallantry Awards ceremony. Each was celebrated for their significant contributions and exceptional dedication to the maritime community.
A Crew Commendation was awarded to the Stornoway SAR helicopter team, Rescue 948, for their meritorious actions in rescuing two severely injured fishermen from a Spanish fishing vessel. Early on 29th November 2023, the team encountered perilous conditions over 100 miles from Stornoway. Despite the squally weather and heavy seas, the crew’s professionalism and exceptional scene management ensured the survival of both casualties. Their quick, decisive actions, combined with their ability to administer lifesaving first aid whilst overcoming significant language barriers, reflect the highest standards of professionalism and teamwork.
Lieutenant Daniel Burnett received an Individual Commendation for his outstanding airmanship during a critical MEDEVAC mission. On 20th September 2023, Lt Burnett skilfully managed a serious engine malfunction just 30nm into a 100nm flight from HMS Queen Elizabeth to Newcastle Hospital. With three MEDEVAC passengers onboard and a significant risk of catastrophic rotor overspeed, Lt Burnett’s exceptional technical knowledge and composed leadership averted disaster. His remarkable decision-making ensured the safe recovery of the aircraft and the lives of all aboard, exemplifying the finest traditions of the Fleet Air Arm.
Lord Lewin Awards for outstanding service to the charity were also presented to two of the Society’s volunteers. The staff of Queen Victoria Seamen’s Rest (QVSR) in Poplar, London, were honoured for their diligent support to seafarers living both within the “Queen Vic” and the local community. Their exceptional commitment and proactive approach in completing grant applications and beneficiary reviews have made a substantial impact.
James Ryeland, Honorary Agent from Dover, was also recognised for his longstanding dedication over 27 years and exceptional fundraising efforts, including managing the Society’s large collecting mine in Dover, overseeing an extensive restoration project, and facilitating the relocation of several mines.
The honours were presented at the Society’s 185th Annual General Meeting held at Fishmongers’ Hall in London on Tuesday 1 October.
“Our Skill and Gallantry Awards, which we’ve presented for 173 nears, are a testament to the incredible bravery, technical expertise, and steadfast dedication of the maritime community.
“Those being honoured this year have shown remarkable courage, skill and commitment to supporting seafarers in need and these awards are a celebration of their exceptional actions and the profound impact they have on our maritime community.”
The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society offers support to those across the UK that are suffering hardship during, or after fulfilling their life at sea. The charity aims to offer support to seafarers, and their dependants, to make a positive difference to their lives. The charity continues to provide help to thousands of individuals each year by offering financial and practical support to those in need, and last year launched an additional support fund to further help seafarers in need affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
The new All Party Parliamentary Group on Fisheries, the secretariat of which is funded by the Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, met for their inaugural meeting at 1 Parliament Street on Tuesday (15 October 2024), to elect officers and map out a cross-party work programme to promote and support a sustainable and thriving UK fishing industry in Parliament.
New members of the Fisheries APPG, joined by Fishmongers’ Company Fisheries Programme Manager Dr Eleanor Adamson
With the Group, which is currently being formalised, comprising 23 Members across both Houses of Parliament, the well-attended meeting heard MPs and Peers discuss key issues and priorities surrounding UK fisheries – from recruitment and the development of offshore renewable energy to upcoming fisheries negotiations, including the fast-approaching 2026 review of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
All with strong fishing interests within their constituencies, the Officers elected to the APPG were as follows: Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland as Chair of the Group, alongside Labour’s Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes as Co-Chair, Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP and SNP spokesperson on Defra, Seamus Logan as Vice-Chair, and Bridlington and The Wolds Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst as Treasurer.
Recognising the geographically and operationally diverse nature of the UK’s fleets, APPG Members noted the need to ensure representation of the full spectrum of the fishing industry, its various fleet segments and related sectors – from the pelagic, whitefish and inshore fleets to onshore processing, marketing and retail. Several actions were agreed and will be brought forward over the coming months, in support of charting a strategic course for the industry within Parliament.
New members of the APPG on Fisheries from across a range of parties
Following the meeting, APPG Chair Alistair Carmichael said, “I am delighted to take on the role of Chair of the APPG on Fisheries. Over the years the APPG has been a focus for important work in Parliament to support our fishing industry and I intend to build on that momentum in the months and years to come. Between issues surrounding space at sea, the ongoing co-development of Fisheries Management Plans and upcoming negotiations that will shape the future of the UK’s fishing industry and fleets, this is a critical moment for fishing in the UK with both challenges and opportunities. With a new government in place there is a chance to reset the narrative and secure useful policy changes for coastal and island communities. Together the Members of the APPG on Fisheries will work to ensure we are best placed to support this within Parliament.”
APPG Co-Chair Melanie Onn added, “The UK’s fishing industry is diverse, and is crucial to many coastal economies. Supporting livelihoods onshore as well as at sea, the processing industry and associated sectors downstream are a vital piece of this picture. With adequate support, including across each of its related sectors, the UK’s fishing industry holds potential in terms of livelihoods, regeneration, and resilience within coastal communities. More than that, the industry has the potential to play a vital role in supporting the nation’s food security and economy.”
Funding from the Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust has enabled two fishers involved in Clean Catch, a UK Government-funded programme championing collaboration to mitigate bycatch of sensitive marine species, to attend a regional small-scale fisheries symposium in Cyprus alongside programme staff to share their experiences.
Will Shugg and Barry Preston, who both work out of Mevagissey Harbour in Cornwall, travelled to Cyprus to attend a regional small-scale fisheries (SSF) symposium over 1–3 July. They were joined by two staff from the Clean Catch programme, Alessandra Bielli (Cefas) and Chantal Lyons (Mindfully Wired Communications).
Clean Catch champions collaboration to minimise and, where possible, eliminate the bycatch of sensitive marine species – including cetaceans, seals, seabirds, sharks, skates, and rays. The programme also seeks to share knowledge on bycatch mitigation globally. Established in 2019 to support the UK Government’s ambitions on bycatch in its waters, one of the programme’s key activities has been a trial led by Cefas in Southwest England to test measures for preventing the bycatch of common dolphin and harbour porpoise a small-scale gillnet fishery. The trial set out to determine the effectiveness of LED lights and two different models of pinger in reducing cetacean bycatch, as well as how feasible they are for fishers to use on a daily basis. “Pingers” are small devices that attach to nets and emit pulses of sound designed to alert cetaceans to the presence of the nets and so prevent their entanglement; with the lights also intended to make the nets more visible.
Fishers Shugg and Preston have been involved in Clean Catch’s work from the beginning, with their feedback used to make necessary modifications to the trial over time. They spoke about their experiences of taking part in Clean Catch at the first SSF Regional Symposium for Europe, named ‘Hope Spots, Bright Spots’ and organised by IUEM/UBO and TBTI Global. The event brought together researchers, campaigners, lawyers, and others from across Europe to explore ways to support small scale fishers to thrive. Local Cypriot fishermen took part in discussions and, on the second day of the symposium, hosted attendees at the quayside to showcase their catches, including red mullet, scorpionfish, and invasive lionfish, caught using gillnets and trammel nets. The fishers also highlighted the significant challenges they face such as invasive species and competition from illegal recreational fishing.
‘I really felt for the Cypriot fishermen,’ said Shugg. ‘But it was heartwarming that all these people at the symposium were coming together and wanting to help small scale fishers.’
Preston echoed Shugg’s words, saying ‘It’s an experience I’ll never forget. I’m glad I witnessed it.’
Other symposium attendees noted how valuable it was to listen to the Cornish and Cypriot fishermen exchanging their experiences and knowledge, with Shugg and Preston being the only fishers present across the full three days of the event. The fishermen found plenty of common ground, including on the use of pingers to keep dolphins away from nets – even if the motivation in the case of the Cypriots was to prevent their catches being taken, while Shugg and Preston were more focused on preventing dolphins from becoming entangled. As with many other bycatch mitigation measures, there was wide recognition at the symposium that the usefulness of pingers is fishery-dependent.
Shugg and Preston continue to work with Clean Catch on the cetacean bycatch mitigation trial, which was paused to enable an evaluation of the design and is due to resume this summer with an extra seven skippers from across three Cornish ports joining. As part of the redesign, LED lights and one of the models of pinger will not be tested as Shugg and Preston found them to be impractical, preferring Fishtek Marine’s Banana pinger. Clean Catch will also establish a second bycatch monitoring and mitigation trial with a fishery partner elsewhere in England in 2025. The trial will focus on one or more species groups including seabirds, seals, sharks, skates, and rays. Clean Catch is currently seeking expressions of interest from fisheries who wish to be involved in the trial to contribute to efforts to protect marine ecosystems and enhance the sustainability and reputation of UK seafood.
Gavin O’Donnell, The Company’s Charities Communications Manager, commented: “The Fishmongers’ Company is committed to supporting a sustainable future for the UK fishing industry, working collaboratively for solutions that benefit both fishers and the marine environment. We are delighted to have funded this exchange. We look forward to seeing the continued progress of the Clean Catch programme and a healthier future for fisheries in the Southwest and the UK more widely.”
Lorna Jane, the first fully electric vessel on the UK fishing vessel, was designed and built by Hans Unkles, a crab and lobster fisherman from Tayvallich in the West of Scotland. The vessel, which for half of the year runs entirely on solar power, is the first of its kind in the UK.
Hans, winner of the 2024 Fishing News Sustainability Award, was inspired, after 40 years of fishing, to see if he could create a commercially viable, all electric vessel. After two years of hard work, Lorna Jane took to the water, with Hans benefiting from a more sustainable, lower-effort and quieter way of fishing.
Now, with support from the Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, Hans is using a series of short films to spread the word about the vessels capabilities and its technical capacity, in a bid to help convert other fishers to the electric approach. You can watch the films and find out more about Han’s boat on the It’ll Never Work website.
The first of the films watch it work covers the practical capabilities of the boat and helps to tackle some of the misconceptions many hold about electric fishing vessels.
The second, how it works, provides a deeper dive into the technical specifics of the boat, with a walk through of its systems, from the propeller to the kettle.
The aim of these films is to inspire fishers from across the UK to explore the potential of electric vessels as the industry strives towards net-zero. Any fishers who are interested in this are encouraged to email gavin.o’donnell@fishmongers.org.uk.
Support from The Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust (FCFCT) enabled key representatives to attend the first ever Catch Welfare Platform event in Bergen, Norway in November 2023. This kick-off conference aimed to bring the global seafood community together to form working groups that could collaborate on fish and shellfish welfare-related projects.
Members of the steering group: David Jarrad (Shellfish Association of Great Britain), Sophie Bennett (Seafish), Claire Pescod (Macduff Shellfish as Chair of the Crab and Lobster Management Group) and Mike Roach (National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and chair of the SAGB Crustacean Committee).
Welfare of wild capture species is increasingly important, particularly in the UK where recent changes to legislation (recognising crustaceans including brown crab and European lobster as sentient) have potential implications for seafood businesses. The attendees supported by FCFCT were members of the steering group that have been coordinating the development of voluntary codes of best practice for crustacean welfare alongside industry panels. The FCFCT grant enabled the members to build connections with others in the field and increase their awareness of how key players are responding to consumer pressure and changes in public perception.
The Catch Welfare Platform coordinators are working to develop their own codes of best practice for animal welfare in the seafood supply chain, so the event in Bergen was a great opportunity for the steering group members to introduce themselves to these individuals. The group were able to offer support and expertise given that they are somewhat leading the way with their UK-based work on decapod crustaceans – hopefully opening up opportunities for future international collaboration.
The conference provided a valuable opportunity to shine a light on technologies that are being developed to improve catch welfare in the UK:
SafetyNet Technologies have been developing uses for underwater cameras and lights in improving selectivity in demersal fishing trawls to avoid catching non-target species. Avoiding catching non-target species in the first place negates the risk of welfare impacts on fish that could be returned to the sea.
Optimar – a designer of automated fish processing systems – have been collaborating with large UK-based retailers to develop electrical stunning machines for use onboard UK Nephrops trawlers and at warm water shrimp farms that export to the UK. Stunning is conducted prior to killing or tailing to enable humane dispatch before processing.
A key take-home message from the event is that animal welfare is very much on the agenda for the seafood industry, and not just for crustaceans. The knowledge and science represented in the Catch Welfare Platform is likely to play a key role in future innovations around animal welfare in the seafood supply chain, so it was incredibly useful for the group to attend to ensure this is on the radar of key UK organisations!
Information on the Catch welfare platform can be found here. For further news of the launch of the voluntary codes of practice, please keep an eye out on the Seafish website or contact sophie.bennett@seafish.co.uk for more details.
Scientists at the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and Newcastle University have begun trials to progress an active kelp restoration technique for four species of native kelp (Order Laminariales), using test sites in Devon and Teesside. The fundamental goal of the project is to develop a system for restoring degraded kelp forests using a low-cost, scalable, and practical solution, whilst bridging the gap between marine conservation and the fishing and seafood industry. The project has been generously funded by the Marine Management Organisation, Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, Newcastle University, Seafarers Charity, Marshall Wace, Devon Environment Foundation, and the Dixon Foundation.
Kelp forests form vital marine ecosystems, support high levels of biodiversity, primary productivity and underpin a range of core ecosystem services. However, kelp beds are declining across the world, with losses stemming from a variety of physical and biological factors such as climate change, decreases in water quality, coastal development, overgrazing, overharvesting, pollution.
The UK and Ireland represent an important area for kelps, with 7 different species found along ~19,000 km of the UK’s coastline. Kelp habitats support vital important ecosystem services, including fisheries habitats, biogenic coastal protection, nutrient cycling and carbon uptake and storage. Losses or shifts in the structure of kelp forests in the UK could have significant consequences for marine ecosystems and the services they provide to coastal communities. While much research has focused on coral, mangrove and seagrass restoration, far less attention has been given to kelp forests, despite their huge ecological and socioeconomic importance.
This restoration project, which is the first of its kind in the UK, will use controlled laboratory conditions to grow native kelp species using fertile ‘sorus’ material (seed) obtained from local donor plants. Kelp spores will be extracted and seeded onto local gravel substrates. Trials will also assess the feasibility of using scallop shells as a restoration substrate, with the objective of also reducing scallop shell landfill waste. Once juvenile kelp plants have grown large enough (~1cm long), the substrates and kelp will be out-planted at sea. The restoration method is known as the ‘green gravel’, which was pioneered by Fredriksen et al in Norway. The project has been working closely with the fishing communities through the North East Fishing Collective / Whitby Fishing Association and Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association. The ambition is that the fishing fleet will support the out-planting activities on an ongoing, paid basis.
Since November, the MBA and Newcastle University have been doing exploratory cultivation trials of two kelp species, Laminaria digitata and Saccharina latissima. To start the trials, the MBA set up a dedicated controlled temperature room with tanks, pipework, racking, filtered seawater, UV sterilization, and specialist lighting. To optimise seeding methods, tests are comparing the success of seeding with both spores and microscopic gametophyte life stages. A pilot trial at the MBA was also recently started to assess kelp settlement density, growth rate and attachment strength on both sides of scallop shells, using flat, concave and crushed shells. Seeding success and follow-on growth will be monitored for eight weeks and will inform subsequent substrate trials.
As part of the project, the MMO, FCFCT and Newcastle University are also funding a PhD student, Cat Wilding, to develop the ‘green gravel’ research. Cat has worked as a scientist at the MBA for the past 6 years, and will continue her studentship based at the MBA, in partnership with Newcastle University as the host.
Funding from the Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust has supported ground-breaking research into the effectiveness of LED lights on attracting scallops in inshore fisheries. The results could support the development of a new, low-impact scallop fishery for the UK’s inshore fishing fleets.
In 2019 Dr Rob Enever and his team from Fishtek Marine were tinkering with adding small LED lights to traditional crustacean pots. These lights, they hoped, would attract crabs and lobsters to the pots, without the need to use fish as bait. The lights were simply named ‘PotLights’, and the modified traps were handed over to Newlyn fisherman John Ashworth for trial on fishing grounds off the Cornish coast. Strings shot, they waited….
When they hauled the pots a few days later, they found they had accidentally attracted a rather unexpected reveller: king scallops. A number of scallops were in the pots, alongside the expected species of crustacean.
With over 200 eyes, for some time it’s been no secret that scallops are sensitive to light, but it was previously unknown that they could be attracted to it in this way. Speaking to The Guardian, Ashworth stated that “pretty much every pot (with lights) hauled had scallops in them, and yet every pot without lights had no scallops”. John, skipper of the Three Jays, also revealed that from the 35,000 pots he hauls annually, he would generally not expect to see more than five scallops all year. When he began shooting pots with PotLights, the first haul immediately revealed 15 scallops.
This caused so much excitement that Dr Enever, lead author of the study, “could hardly sleep for a couple of nights”. This had potential to be a worldfirst discovery, but further research was needed. Funding was granted from the Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, alongside support from the UK Seafood Innovation Fund, which is part of the £100m UK Seafood Fund. Researchers from the University of York and Exeter got on board, as well as more local fishermen and pot makers.
With this additional support, Fishtek Marine began conducting further trials to investigate the phenomenon. The trials were again conducted in Cornish waters, on grounds traditionally potted for crustaceans. Between December 2020 and February 2021, 77 strings were shot, deploying 1,886 pots of several different designs. Some pots included modifications such as ramps and retainers to help scallops enter pots and make leaving them more difficult.
The results? Scallops are party animals! All treatments with lights were found to retain scallops, and of 518 total scallops recorded, 516 (99.6%) were caught in pots with lights. Modified parlour pots containing PotLights were most effective, with 24 scallops caught in a single pot!
Fittingly, these LED-modified pots are now being referred to as ‘scallop discos’. Not only do these pots particularly attract scallops, they also had no detrimental effect on catches of crab and lobster: scallops were simply being caught alongside them. These exciting findings have introduced the potential for a new, low-impact and low-cost alternative to traditional scallop fishing methods. Currently, scallops are caught primarily using dredges, which, due to their heavy and penetrative design, carry a high impact on the seabed.
The other low-impact alternative currently practised is hand-gathering by divers, but this method can only produce limited quantities. PotLights – small, AA-battery powered LED lights – are an inexpensive, reusable modification for crustacean pots. Further experiments will look to refine pot designs and LED lights to specifically retain attracted scallops, and also investigate the effect of using different light colours.
As of June 2022, Orkney, the Isle of Man and Dartmouth have been identified as further sites to trial PotLights. For now, the research has shown that PotLights work, and could offer a potential to boost inshore fisheries with further development.
This article is adapted from Ain’t No Party Like a Scallop Party – Caitlin Turner, Seafish, Quay Issues, Volume 9 2023
Emma Plotnek, Executive Director at the charity Fishing into the Future, looks back a hugely successful 3 day event, “by fishermen, for fishermen” and funded by the Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust, that is set to be rolled out elsewhere in the UK in 2024.
The Fishing into the Future (FITF) 3-day Fisheries Recourse Education Programme on the south coast, brought together 34 working fishermen and industry representatives with a wide range of those involved in the science and management of British fisheries, including officials from DEFRA and the MMO, and scientists from CEFAS and UK Universities.
Everyone gets involved with the interactive session to design and run a stock assessment on Day 1 (Science). John Balls (fisherman Clovelly Harbour North Devon) and Nick West (Mevagissey. Cornwall) seen here working on their practical research survey designs
The Fisheries Resource Education Programme, or F-Rep, as it is known,aims to break down barriers between people working within industry (connecting fishermen who work along the coast from one another but don’t know each other) and also between fishermen, scientists and managers.
We encourage people to exchange stories and learn from one another, and invite fishermen to facilitate sessions and be actively involved in the planning and delivery of the event.
FITF is a charity that is dedicated to supporting people involved with the fishing industry to work effectively together. We believe that co-management – an approach where key groups work together in decision-making – is the best approach to build sustainable fisheries and a prosperous fishing industry. But the success of co-management depends on having the right conditions for everyone to work together. This event was designed to equip working fishermen with the skills, connections and confidence to further (or to jumpstart) their participation in fisheries science and management.
We want to create the best conditions for co-management, collaborative research and industry led science, where industry, science and government are all participants in research and decision making. F-REP was about encouraging and giving the chance for people from the fishing industry who are not always able to effectively input into these spaces the opportunity to gain the skills and connections to effectively participate. Equally importantly it is also breaking down barriers for people in science and management to understand and reach the industry.
The agenda itself – tells its own story. Day one concentrated on fisheries science and data collection, with a mix of government and academic scientists such as Professor Mike Kaiser from Heriot-Watt university and Rui Viera from CEFAS giving talks tailored to working fishermen, giving participants an insight into the marine environment and ecosystems of their local environment. This was complemented with examples of industry led science, with, for example, Gary Buchan, skipper of the scalloper Evening Star discussing his involvement over several years of collecting and providing data for use in scallop stock assessments.
An informal environment at the Industry/Science mixer allowed rich conversations to develop and connections to be made. Lyme Bay fisherman Aubrey Banfield, chatting to Demet Dinler, an anthropologist from the University of Sussex.
Day two looked at an issue that will occupy a huge amount of the industry’s time and efforts in the next 12 months- Fisheries Management Plans. Whilst consultation on the first round of FMPs concluded this autumn, 2024 will see the process accelerate, with 26 more expected within the year – a hugely ambitious target. The day also looked at how to create, build and strengthen fishing associations, and as importantly, help them deliver their messages on behalf of members. This rolled over into day 3, where social science, anthropology, economics, and marketing were also thrown into the mix.
For myself, highlights were the connections the people in the room made with each other. Despite working different roles we were able to see each other as fellow humans with good intentions, we share a common goal and an interest in supporting fishing communities, fisheries, and healthy seas. This sometimes meant challenging each other and asking difficult questions – but we are all walking away better connected and with a greater understanding an empathy for each other. Ideally we can now pick up the phone to each other when we have an issue – and try and resolve it together!
The recipe for success of F-REP is using a mix of interactive learning and speaker sessions, the activities in the agenda were a big hit – as people get to practice skills and working together. “We ran an activity where groups designed and carried out stock assessment surveys using bags full of thousands of beans to represent fish stocks! People got their mathematical and analytical brain going to comprehend the complexity of fisheries science.”
We also had a great session where groups were given challenging and common scenarios that reflect the reality of the combined issues that affect fisheries management decisions. Groups had to negotiate and agree proposals for a Fisheries Management plan. Working together as fishermen, scientists and government – however we got people to swap roles, so fishermen played the role of NGOs and Government, and government were simulating the role of fishermen, using humour and getting people comfortable with the process of engaging in an FMP. Even the most sceptical and reserved people got involved and were enjoying playing their role, and everyone came out with a better understanding of the process and each other!
Event picture outside the venue of Chilworth Manor – close to Southampton. A further F-REP, in Yorkshire, is planned for February.
Every time I looked around the room people were engaged, listening, asking questions and following each and every session – very little staring at phones, leaving the room or zoning out. People were really present and keen to participate. The number of fishermen we got committed to be with us was a testament to what we do – considering they were willing to commit 4 days out of their week before they even knew what the weather was doing! Understandably, several guys turned up pretty sceptical, so it’s great to see them walk away enthusiastic and reinvigorated in what the future could hold if this level of engagement and enhanced understanding is maintained. “
F-REP- the start of a process, not the end
The event is not a space to resolve specific issues, but instead get everyone into a better place to walk away from it and work together more effectively. It was highlighted in the wrap up of the event that this process of learning and connecting is not additional to the fisheries management process – but a key component to ensuring the success of co-management. This F-REP event was funded by the Fishmongers Company, the Seafarers Charity and FaSS scheme, and there is a similar event being held on the East Coast, near York, in February 2024, with a greater focus on shellfish species. The goal is to roll out more events through 2024 across the UK.
Full details of the event, and how to apply for one of the funded places, will be made available on the FITF website.
This article is an adaptation of a piece published in the Fishing News
