Consultation on the proposed Channel Demersal Non-Quota Species Fisheries Management Plan

Overview

The purpose of this consultation is to seek your views on the proposed Channel Demersal Non Quota Species Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) and the policies and proposed measures it contains.  We are also seeking your views on the likely environmental impacts of the FMP set out in the environmental report. 

Nineteen demersal non quota species (NQS) were prioritised for an FMP due to their vulnerability to over-exploitation, the economic value of the fisheries and a lack of evidence to properly assess and monitor the state of the stocks. The English Channel Demersal Non-Quota Species FMP covers the following 19 species within International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) areas 7.e. and 7.d. (eastern and western English Channel respectively):   

Bony fish   

• Bib / pouting / pout (Trisopterus luscus)   

• Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus)    

• Lemon sole (Microstomus kitt)    

• Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)    

• John dory (Zeus faber)    

• Red mullet / striped red mullet / surmullet (Mullus surmuletus)    

• Grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus)    

• Red gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus)   

• Tub gurnard (Chelidonichthys lucerna)    

Elasmobranchs

• Lesser spotted dogfish / lesser spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula)     

• Starry smoothhound (Mustelus asterias) 

• Common smoothhound (Mustelus mustelus)  

 Cephalopods   

• Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)   

• Elegant cuttlefish (Sepia elegans)   

• Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)    

• Curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa)   

• Veined squid / Long-finned squid (Loligo forbesii)    

• European Common squid (Alloteuthis subulata)    

• Common squid / European squid (Loligo vulgaris)  

The aim of the FMP is to deliver sustainable management of specified Channel demersal NQS to a position driven by robust stock assessments, supported by consistent data collection and research programmes. The management measures and actions linked to delivering the goals detailed in the FMP describe the key stages. 

Why your views matter

This consultation is the opportunity for you to help shape and influence the future of channel demersal NQS management policy in England and builds upon previous engagement with industry.    

The consultation survey has four parts:   

1. Personal details and confidentiality (required)   

2. Questions on the Draft Channel Demersal NQS FMP   

3. Questions on the Channel Demersal NQS FMP environmental report   

4. Consultee feedback on the Online Survey (required)   

You only need to respond to the questions that you wish to answer. There are a mixture of general and specific questions. Defra welcomes any further information and evidence to support this work - you can supply that directly via FMPconsultations@defra.gov.uk. However, all respondents must complete the required 'Consultee Feedback on the Online Survey' and ‘personal details and confidentiality’ sections before you are able submit your response to the online survey.    

You can find the FMP and associated documents in the ‘related documents’ section at the bottom of this page. Please pay particular attention to the consultation document which summarises the FMP, includes the consultation questions and provides context.  

What happens next

Defra will take time to review and analyse the responses to this consultation. These will then be published alongside the final FMP.