Formal Consultation, Lyme Bay Potential Management Measures for Sole Fishery
Feedback updated 12 Sep 2023
We asked
Are new management measures required in Lyme Bay to protect the sole fishery?
You said
Yes, additional management is required.
We did
In brief, MMO will:
-
Create a new vessel licence condition requiring enhanced visibility and identification of passive gear
-
Publish a form for reporting lost and found gear that can be used without the need for names in order to improve data on the frequency of these events
-
Set a reduced sole catch limit of 200kg for non-sector vessels fishing with scallop dredges in ICES area 7e
-
Hold discussions with Producer Organisations about ways members can reduce sole bycatch when fishing with dredges
-
Support additional research to understand the potential need, benefits and risks of changes to minimum landing sizes or gear configurations
-
Facilitate a meeting for representative industry members to discuss the potential for separating areas of Lyme Bay for use by different fishing methods at different times of the year. It will be hosted by MMO in early 2024.
Results updated 12 Sep 2023
Executive Summary
Background
Between 2015 and 2022 quota for Dover sole (Solea solea) in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Area 7.e roughly doubled, leading to increased fishing effort in particular in Lyme Bay. Concerns were raised by stakeholders about the effects of this increased effort on the sole population, the wider marine environment, and local communities. As a result, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) agreed to undertake a review of the Lyme Bay sole fishery from an environmental, social and economic perspective.
This review included analysis of landings and at sea observer data, a consultation and in person workshop with stakeholders to discuss potential new management measures for the fishery.
The consultation ran from 29 March to 28 May 2023 and the workshop took place on 19 June 2023. Further information on the consultation results, workshop report, and evidence report is available here.
This document summarises the management options discussed during the consultation and workshop, the outcomes from the consultation and workshop and next steps.
Increase in minimum landing size
Discussion: There was wide support for an increase in minimum landing size for sole in 7.e from 24 to 28 cm. However, before this can be fully considered MMO need further information on the potential impact this change would have on the sole population, landings and financially for fishers.
Outcome and next steps: MMO will investigate commissioning scientific advice to provide further information and aim to present the findings and discuss next steps with industry when completed.
Separate catch limits for different gear types
Discussion: Consultation responses highlighted concern for the potential environmental impact caused by increased effort by scallop dredges. Dredges have very limited selectivity to reduce finfish bycatch and there is evidence to suggest that some fishers are maximising sole bycatch when fishing for scallops.
MMO directly manages quota used by non-sector vessels and has obligations in the Fisheries Act 2020 to incentivise the use of selective fishing gear to reduce the environmental impact.
Outcome and next steps: MMO considered limiting the amount of quota available for sole when fishing with dredges in order to incentivise the use of other more selective gear types that also potentially have a reduced impact on the benthic environment.
MMO will be setting a reduced catch limit for sole in 7.e for non-sector vessels fishing with dredges for scallops. A catch limit will be set at 200 kg per month from November 2023 via a licence condition. The catch limit has been set following analysis of landings data to reflect the upper end of what would be expected for normal bycatch. This limit will be reviewed and may be amended if required.
MMO will also be discussing with Producer Organisations how they can incentivise members to reduce sole bycatch when fishing with dredges.
Measures to alleviate gear conflict
Spatial separation
Discussion: Many consultation responses included reference to gear conflict between fishers. It was clear however that the majority of the commercial fishers did not want to see any form of permanent prohibition from accessing any particular area.
It was suggested beneficial to hold an annual stakeholder workshop for representative industry members to discuss the potential for separating areas of Lyme Bay.
Outcome and next steps: MMO will facilitate a meeting for representative industry members in early 2024 to discuss the potential for separating areas of Lyme Bay, for use by different fishing methods at different times of the year. Further communication on this event will be provided later this year.
Gear Marking
Discussion: Many consultation responses included reference to issues between fishers, often linked to difficulty in seeing the location of fixed gear and identifying the direction of travel of that gear.
Outcome and next steps: MMO will create a new fishing vessel licence condition that requires enhanced visibility and identification of passive gear in Lyme Bay (ICES rectangles 30E6 and 30E7). The condition will also require the east and west ends of the gear to be differentiated to easily determine the direction of travel of the gear. This condition is likely to be implemented in November 2023.
Communications
Discussion: Throughout the investigation and consultation process fishers regularly told the MMO that “communication was key” and cited the importance of all fishers notifying each other of the location of each other’s gear.
Outcome and next steps: MMO have created an anonymous method for reporting lost gear for those that have either lost gear or accidentally come into contact with someone’s gear. The form is available on the South West Regional Fisheries Group Website. The information collected will be anonymous and will be used to inform discussion on the potential for temporary separation of areas for fishing with certain gear types.
MMO suggests people wishing to fish in the Lyme bay area use forms of communication such as WhatsApp to inform others about the location of gear and to avoid gear conflict.
Gear modifications
Discussion: MMO asked three questions relating to increases in mesh size for fixed nets, otter trawls and beam trawls and one question relating to gear modification for scallop dredges. These questions were asked following discussion with industry as potential mechanisms to reduce catches of small sole.
Outcome and next steps: More evidence is required to determine what benefits to the stock would be derived from specific changes of gear modifications due to the complex social, economic and environmental interactions. As a result of this, MMO will not be making any specific changes to gear requirements at this stage.
More information to inform future decisions on gear modifications will be derived from the Channel Demersal Non-Quota Species and the Scallop Fisheries Management Plans.
Files:
- Decision Document, 663.0 KB (PDF document)
- Consultation Results, 174.1 KB (PDF document)
- One Page Summary, 260.3 KB (PDF document)
Links:
Overview
The MMO is consulting on potential new management measures for the sole fishery in Lyme Bay. This is in response to feedback from some fishers in Lyme Bay who have experienced competition for space and gear conflict. Some fishers also report a reduction in the amount and size of sole caught.
The total available quota for sole in Area 7.e has more than doubled since 2015. This allowed the MMO to increase the monthly catch limits for the non-sector, under-10m and over-10m fleets from 30kg in some months in 2015 up to 3t for some months in 2019 and 2.8t maximum in 2022. The increase in quota availability has led to increased uptake and an increase in the total value earned from sole by those fleets.
The MMO, has however, received reports that the increased availability of quota has resulted in increased fishing activity and a competition for space in Lyme Bay. Some fishers report knock-on effects in terms of gear conflict and a decrease in the number and size of sole caught, and state that this makes it harder for young fishers to enter the fishery.
In order to investigate these reports from fishers, the MMO took a variety of approaches to gather data on different aspects of the fishery in partnership with the Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA), Cefas and fisheries stakeholders.
1. Cefas conducted additional fisheries observer trips onboard fixed net vessels in Lyme Bay.
2. Cefas used landings and observer data to analyse the quantity, catch per unit effort and size of sole caught in Lyme Bay and the wider Area 7.e from all gear types going back to 2020. The report can be found on the South West Regional Fisheries Group web-page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/regional-fisheries-groups-south-west-7efg and is attached to this consultation.
3. Southern IFCA and the MMO carried out patrols in Lyme Bay to look for evidence of gear conflict and examine the catches and gear being used in the sole fishery.
4. The MMO conducted a survey of fishers on the social and economic aspects of the fishery. The report can be found on the South West Regional Fisheries Group web-page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/regional-fisheries-groups-south-west-7efg and is attached to this consultation.
Following an analysis of these data gathered, the MMO concludes that there is sufficient evidence to suggest that, in line with the precautionary principal potential management measures in Lyme Bay must be considered. A video summarising the work to date is attached at the bottom of this webpage.
The consultation is in three parts. The first part focuses on gaining views on the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of the fishery, the second part asks for information from commercial fishers and the third part asks for opinion on potential management measures, their area of implementation and any other suggestions for management. This consultation has been developed in partnership with a steering group of fishers, scientists, government policy makers and managers.
Why your views matter
This is an opportunity for you to help shape and influence fisheries management in Lyme Bay and builds on the development of co-management approaches through the Regional Fisheries Groups.
What happens next
An adaptive co-management approach will be taken regarding future management. If management measures are introduced, the effectiveness of those measures will be monitored, from an environmental social and economic perspective and the measures may then be changed or removed accordingly following discussion with stakeholders.
In line with the UK government’s goal to provide world class fisheries management, the effectiveness of the consultation in terms of levels of participation and co-management by industry will also be monitored by an independent party to ensure future management process are refined as necessary to achieve the best possible highest levels of engagement and collaboration as possible.
After the consultation closes the MMO will hold a meeting with interested stakeholders to present the analysed results and discuss next steps. An environmental impact assessment of the different gear types used in the sole fishery in terms of their interaction with the habitats and species in Lyme Bay will also be presented for consideration.
After discussion with industry management measures may or may not be introduced. If measures are deemed necessary, they may be introduced in 2023 or subsequent years depending on the type and complexity of measure.
The MMO looks forward to receiving your response to this consultation and working with industry collaboratively to enhance the fishing in Lyme Bay.
Events
-
Mevagissey Port Drop in
From 20 Apr 2023 at 12:30 to 20 Apr 2023 at 14:30Regional Fisheries Group staff will be available at She Sells café to discuss this project and collect your views.
-
Brixham Port Drop in
From 3 May 2023 at 09:30 to 3 May 2023 at 11:00Regional Fisheries Group staff will be available at Shipmates café to discuss this project and collect your views.
-
Exmouth Port Drop in
From 3 May 2023 at 13:30 to 3 May 2023 at 15:30Regional Fisheries Group staff will be available at Dockside café to discuss this project and collect your views.
-
Beer Port Drop in
From 4 May 2023 at 09:00 to 4 May 2023 at 11:00Regional Fisheries Group staff will be available at Duckys café to discuss this project and collect your views.
-
Poole Port Drop in
From 10 May 2023 at 09:30 to 10 May 2023 at 11:00Regional Fisheries Group staff will be available Quayside to discuss this project and collect your views.
-
Mevagissey Port Drop in
From 10 May 2023 at 10:00 to 10 May 2023 at 12:00Regional Fisheries Group staff will be available at She Sells Café to discuss this project and collect your views.
-
Weymouth Port Drop in
From 10 May 2023 at 13:30 to 10 May 2023 at 15:30Regional Fisheries Group staff will be available at The Ship Inn, to discuss this project and collect your views.
-
Plymouth Port Drop in
From 10 May 2023 at 15:00 to 10 May 2023 at 17:00MMO staff will be available on the Quayside to discuss this project and collect your views.
-
West Bay Port Drop in
From 11 May 2023 at 09:00 to 11 May 2023 at 11:00Regional Fisheries Group staff will be available at Cherries Café DT6 4ER to discuss this project and collect your views.
-
Brixham Port Drop in
From 11 May 2023 at 10:00 to 11 May 2023 at 12:00Regional Fisheries Group staff will be available at Shipmates to discuss this project and collect your views.
-
Lyme Regis Port Drop in
From 11 May 2023 at 12:30 to 11 May 2023 at 14:30Regional Fisheries Group staff will be available at Beach House Café DT7 3JFto discuss this project and collect your views.
-
Axmouth Port Drop in
From 11 May 2023 at 14:00 to 11 May 2023 at 16:00Regional Fisheries Group staff will be available at Chris Café EX12 4AA to discuss this project and collect your views.
Audiences
- Charities/Voluntary Organisations
- AWBs
- Environmental campaigners
- Animal welfare campaigners
- Trade Unions
- Employment Agencies
- Food Business Operators
- Licensed Gangmasters
- Food Industry
- Vets
- Operators of animal gatherings
- Abattoir Operator
- Livestock show ground operators
- Manufacturers of livestock identifiers
- All Marine Users
- Government Departments
- Government Agencies
- Devolved Administrations
- Coastal Members of Parliament
- Coastal local authorities
- National Park Authorities
- Recreation sector
- Coastal Management sector
- Aggregates sector
- Energy sector
- Industries and professional services
- Ports and Harbour Authorities and Estuaries
- Water/water Industry sector
- IFCAs
- Angling Organisations and Trade
- Fishing Focus individual recipients
- Water Abstractors
- Environmental professional services
- Estate Agents
- House Building Industry
- Property Management
- Legal and Conveyancing Professions
- Households
- Local Authorities
- Non-Household Customers
- Consumer Groups
- Commercial Fisheries Organisations
- Fisheries Producer Organisations
- Waste Producers and Handlers
- Business/Private Sector
- Policy Teams
- Pet Owners
- Pet Interest Groups
- Pet Carriers
- Transport Organisations
- Veterinarians
- Local Authorities
- Producer Compliance Schemes
- WEEE Treatment Facilities
- Waste Management Companies
- Electrical re-use organisations
- All Defra staff and ALBs
- Non-Government Organisation
- Retail Industry
- Manufacturing Industry
- Member of the General Public
- Landowners and their representative bodies
- Walkers
- Horse riders
- Families
- Students
- Farmers
- Fishermen
- SME businesses
- Energy suppliers
- Water suppliers
- Leisure industry
- Tourism industry
- Insurance industry
- Horticulture Industry
- Shellfish Cultivators
- Tenant Farmers
- Agricultural Landlords
- Agricultural Valuers
- Land Agents
- Trading Standards Officers
- Environmental Health Officers
- Professional and Membership Organisations/Agencies
- Public Bodies
- Consultants
- Beach Users
- Stakeholders
Interests
- Natural environment
- Local nature partnerships
- Biodiversity
- Ecosystems services
- Green economy
- Sustainable development
- Marine
- Marine Conservation Zones
- Marine licensing
- Fish stocks
- Shellfish
- Sea angling
- Local environments
- Science
- Conservation
- Marine Conservation
- Marine fisheries
- Environmental Stewardship
- Shellfish
- Wildlife management
Share
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook