Brown Crab will be the focus for a comprehensive examination of policy when the UK’s NFFO Shellfish Committee meets in London on 9 March.
The Committee will examine and respond to recent reports on the state of the fisheries and management. One of these, “Future Management of Brown Crab in UK and Ireland”, is the outcome of work commissioned by the UK and Republic of Ireland Brown Crab Working Group, an industry led group which includes the Federation. The Committee will also examine the results of recent stocks assessment work undertaken by Cefas that has assessed the majority of the fisheries to be overfished.
NFFO Shellfish Committee Chairman, Gary Hodgson said: “In the past shellfish has tended to take a back seat to whitefish in the eyes of fisheries managers but it is clear this is now starting to change. With this in mind, it is important that shellfishermen from all coasts take the lead through their representative bodies in deciding on how the fisheries should be managed in the future. We have always been clear that the regional differences in the fleet mean that whatever approach emerges, it must be one that is tailored to suit these differences.”
The meeting follows in the wake of recent moves by the UK and Republic of Ireland vivier fleet to progress voluntary measures to limit landings in a bid to stem a collapse in market prices as the spring crabbing season gets underway.
The Federation will take forward the results of the review in negotiations with other industry organisations, and in talks with Defra, where it is anticipated a formal government consultation on conservation measures will be forthcoming.
