This year's Skipper Expo saw some crucial steps forward for the environment, but with gillnets and plastic gear still flooding the industry, are these goals really feasible? Take an in-depth look at the Shellfish Stocks & Fisheries Review 2022 released at Ireland's largest fishing event.
Although I am passionate about conserving and protecting Ireland's marine biodiversity, I also grew up spending my summers on commercial fishing boats off the west coast. In particular, I used to fish for lobster and brown crab. Despite my deep love for everything that lives below water, I also understand the demand for valuable fish and shellfish stocks, along with the need to be able to exploit these stocks sustainably. That's why an event like the Irish Skipper Expo has a special place in my calendar!
The highly-anticipated event, which brings together fishers, suppliers, industry experts, government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) offered a wealth of information on the latest developments in the fishing sector.
As one of the largest fishing-related events in Ireland, the Skipper Expo was an opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their products and services and for visitors and fishers to learn about new innovations in the industry.
Shellfish Stocks and Fisheries Review 2022
One of the highlights of the event was the Shellfish Stocks and Fisheries Review 2022 published by the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).
For the non-fisher readers, in the fishing industry the term shellfish refers to any species of mollusc, crustacean or cephalopod species which is subject to commercial fishing.
The report, which was released at the expo, provides a detailed analysis of the state of the Irish shellfish stocks and fisheries for the year 2022, including information on species distribution, stock assessments, and fishing practices. It also identifies areas of improvement, and makes recommendations for the sustainable management of shellfish stocks.
It highlights the importance of maintaining healthy populations of shellfish for both ecosystems and the local economy.
However, the review also raises concerns about the current management of fisheries, including a decline in the abundance of key species, overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution.
Over 19,000 tonnes of shellfish worth a total of €64.1 million were harvested in 2022.
Excluding Dublin Bay Prawns and Blue Mussel seed (which is used for mussel farming), over 19,000 tonnes of shellfish worth a total of €64.1 million were harvested in 2022.
It is important to note that a number of species such as Lobster (Homarus gammarus) are mainly caught by fishing vessels under 10m in length. However, there is no requirement for the over 1,400 vessels under 10m to report their landings of lobster. This makes it difficult to capture the true scale of exploitation for these species.
The report advises that current conservation measures for lobster be maintained, such as the minimum and maximum landing sizes and the V-Notching system. V-notching is a system whereby a V-shaped notch is cut out of a lobster's tail segment, particularly when lobsters are carrying eggs or if they are especially large specimens. This mark identifies an individual lobster as protected by law. Once V-notched, the lobster cannot be legally harvested or sold in Ireland. However, this is not permanent as when the lobster moults, the V-notch is grown out.
The V-notching programme is heavily relied on and is only voluntary for fishers to participate in. The report recommends that to protect lobster stocks, reliance on the programme should be decreased and new conservation measures should be put in place.
The report also recommends that stocks be measured by the implementation of a new logbook system for all fishers. Currently there is no limit to how much lobster can be caught in one year.
Gillnets and Supertrawlers
Despite these challenges, the report also highlighted some positive developments in the Irish fishing industry, including the development of new technologies to reduce bycatch and waste.
At the expo, I had the opportunity to speak with some of the experts from the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara to address these issues. Representatives from both organisations stressed the importance of sustainable fishing practices and the need for continued research and monitoring to ensure the long-term viability of the industry.
In addition to the report, the expo featured a range of seminars and talks from industry experts. Topics covered included sustainable fishing practices, the impact of climate change on the fishing industry, and new grants, proposals and technologies in the sector.
The expo also featured a range of exhibitors showcasing the latest fishing gear, equipment, and technology. It was fascinating to see the new innovations in action, such as the use of underwater cameras to monitor fishing practices and the development of eco-friendly fishing gear. For example, some new gears are using doors and new mesh sizes to filter out bycatch in nets.
The Irish Skipper Expo 2023 was a great opportunity for those in the fishing industry to network and share ideas, as well as for the general public to learn more about the fishing industry and its importance to the Irish economy. It highlighted the importance of sustainable fishing practices and the need for continued efforts to protect and manage Ireland's marine resources.
The fishing and aquaculture sector in Ireland is thankfully bucking the trend of doubling down on unsustainable practices that we see all too often in agriculture and forestry. Thanks to events like the Irish Skipper Expo, we can come together and keep the momentum of change going!
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