Volume 5 | 2018 FISHING IN TO THE FUTURE In-depth introduction to the Susutainable Fishing Course and further investment within the industry. KEEPING FISHERMEN SAFE Feature on life-saving PFDs with PLBs in collaboration with Seafish and the RNLI. FUEL EFFICIENCY A look at innovative methods to reduce the gear drag and cut fuel consumption.
FREE MAGAZINE
Fishing into the Future An introduction to Sustainable Fishing November 2018
Seafish Report No. SR 731 ISBN No. 978-1-911073-37-6
© Copyright Seafish 2018
Seafish 18 Logie Mill Logie Green Road Edinburgh EH7 4HS Contents Innovative gear designs pages 02–09 Tackling the plastic challenge pages 10–15 Training opportunities page 02 for new entrants pages 16–21
Fishing into the Future: Introduction to sustainable fishing pages 22–27 page 10 Keeping fishermen safe pages 28–31 Man overboard ladders pages 32–35
ANCPOS page 16 pages 36–37
Authors: The benefits of Name Surname semi-pelagic doors Name Surname pages 38–41 Name Surname Introducing TOPAME page 22 page 42
Newlyn Harbour, Penzance Letter from the Chief Executive
At Seafish we know that seafood Our Quay Issues magazine is packed - Safety, as we all know, is a big issue. full of fantastic examples of people in Too many are lost at sea every year. is the way forward for business, This edition of Quay Issues provides a this wonderful industry also looking to Kirsten Milliken the way forward for our focus on two very positive initiatives the future, looking for ways to innovate, both designed to provide access Quay Issues Editor & Economics Project Manager communities, the way forward optimise and seek out change for the to vital safety equipment and to encourage its deployment at sea. We for the environment and the better. I believe those looking in from the believe that both these projects have Meet the way forward for our personal outside at the Fishing Industry would be already saved lives! surprised at just how much innovation - And finally, given that fuel costs can health and wellbeing. and positive disruption is going on. be the difference between profit ‘Seafood is the way forward’ and loss, it isn’t surprising that Quay But far from it; Issues has cast its net around two is our rallying cry. We aim is innovations that might just help to make all the difference to fuel to unite the industry behind - Quay Issues describes the business imperative that the Landings Obligation has created and consumption – trials suggest that Ana Witteveen Assistant Economist a common purpose and how fishers are responding to that challenge one such approach could reduce fuel with innovative gear design. costs by 15%!
build a common voice. Team Editorial - The magazine provides an overview of how the Aside from the obvious innovations industry is taking its share of the responsibility and new approaches covered in Quay for reducing plastic use and increasing retrieval Issues, the other big take-away for me and recycling activity. is the very evident passion for their industry that all the individuals featured - Essential to the future is a steady stream of in the stories seem to have. new entrants to the industry – none of us are getting any younger! Quay Issues has That passion, I’m convinced, is two excellent features on the excellent work something you cannot buy, it is of the network of Seafish Approved Training something inherited, passed down the Lewis Cowie Providers and it reports on a very forward line and fortunately it is infectious. Economics Researcher looking initiative (Fishing Into The Future) I defy you to read Quay Issues and not in which fishers are working alongside the feel upbeat and optimistic about the scientists and policy makers in such a way future of the UK Fishing Industry! that all are better informed about each other’s Enjoy the magazine expectations and challenges.
Marcus Coleman Marta Moran Quintana CEO, Seafish Economics Researcher 01
QUAY ISSUES INNOVATIVE GEAR DESIGNS INNOVATIVE GEAR DESIGNS
Amity skipper Philip Reid
In a mixed fishery, fishing selectively is easier Developing said than done. To make it work, fishermen need commercially available and viable solutions and there is no one better to develop them than Selective Gear: fishermen themselves. As the countdown to full implementation of the discard ban continues, projects are underway around the UK, bringing together fishermen, Nearing the end scientists and gear technologists. CEFAS, Northern Ireland Gear Trials and the Gear Innovation and Technology Advisory Group (GITAG) are all hard at work developing and of the Journey testing technical solutions to reducing bycatch. “Innovation is the most difficult part of the gear development process,” explains Mike By Ana Witteveen Montgomerie, Gear Technologist at Seafish, who helped develop and support the project. “It’s really important for industry to collaborate Can innovative gear designs prepare the with scientists, gear technologists and gear manufacturers throughout the process to ensure fleet for the full landing obligation in 2019 they get the concept right.” Here, Quay Issues takes a closer look at an For the Amity, a twin-rig prawn trawler operating out of Peterhead, the gear development process innovative design undergoing final testing began in 2013. “I’ve been trying out different gear modifications for the past five years and we’ve on the MFV Amity II (PD177). finally got something that really works,” says Amity owner Jimmy Buchan. When Jimmy began work on gear selectivity, “Tea or coffee?” calls out the skipper, he was thinking from a business and marketing Phillip Reid. Down in the galley of the perspective. For him, developing the gear was Amity, representatives from industry, about eliminating undersized fish, maximising science and government await Philip high quality prawns and retaining a small amount as they make final preparations for of high-grade fish. the upcoming trial. In a few short “I was looking for a way to maximise the value of hours, the Amity will set sail with my catch,” explains Jimmy. “But I also knew that three observers from the The Landing things couldn’t keep going as they were in the Independent On-Board Observer Obligation will be fully industry. The prawn fisheries that we target aren’t Scheme (IOOS) for a final chartered implemented on the MSC certified, so it’s important for us to find other trip to test the gear they have spent 1st January 2019 ways to show that we’re fishing selectively and nearly four years developing. sustainably.” With the discard ban coming into full effect in January 2019 and continued consumer demand for certified and sustainable seafood, fishermen are under pressure to show they’re minimising unwanted catch – undersize fish or fish they have no quota for.
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QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES INNOVATIVE GEAR DESIGNS INNOVATIVE GEAR DESIGNS
Fish
Jimmy and Philip have already found that separating prawns from fish using the inclined Inclined square net grid improves the value of their catch and mesh net grid “Vessel owners can make reduces sorting time on board, compared to fishing with their old gear. Nephrops better decisions about They are also able to save on fuel by reducing drag and improve catch quality by reducing which gear to use or how damage to the catch. Inclined square “Before this gear, I’d never seen such good mesh net grid to tune the gear if there’s quality or prices from a twin-rig,” Jimmy insists. “What’s not to like?” adds Philip. “I can sell Fish evidence that they can almost 100% of my prawns for a good value because they are such good quality, and I can Nephrops benefit financially from select out the small fish so that I’m maximising the value of my catch.” a gear change” Philip goes on to say “I’d rather have less bulk but a more marketable catch, than a larger bulk that I can’t sell.” “I think the 110mm mesh will give us the best result,” Philip reasons. At the end of the day, it all “The 100mm mesh is too similar to the 80mm and will retain too comes down to economics. much small fish and the 120mm mesh will be too big and release “Businesses need to remain profitable,” says too much high-grade fish.” Seafish has developed a Mike. “If the gear isn’t going to be financially new standard method for viable, there’s no sense in using it, no matter assessing the financial viability how selective it is.” of gear to help skippers gather For the Amity’s final charter, financial data accurate financial information was officially collected using the standard Since 2015, Jimmy has worked closely with GITAG, Jackson The final charter trip in August was the culmination of a from trials and make more method developed by Seafish. The financial Trawls and Mike Montgomerie to develop a piece of gear to lot of work. “It’s really the pinnacle. We’ve invested a lot of informed decisions about assessment, which includes estimating achieve his ambitious goals of eliminating unwanted catch time and money into the development and testing of this gear. Scientists, fisheries operating costs and gross fishing income, and maximising sales value. gear, but it’s worth it because we’re investing in our future,” managers, and other show which upper cod-end is best for business. emphasises Jimmy. fishermen need hard evidence The first step of the gear development process was to look of economic performance at a scale model of the gear in the flume tank in Hirtshals, During this final stage of testing, Philip tested different Jennifer Mouat, GITAG Project Manager said, to make policy and business Denmark to see how it performed under different conditions. mesh sizes on the upper cod-end to figure out which would “The economic data collected during the decisions. The guidance Once the first design was approved, a full-scale net was return the best catch composition. Three mesh sizes were final scientific trial will provide much needed is now also being used in built and taken to sea on board the Amity. The prototype tested against the standard 80mm mesh: 100mm, 110mm evidence of the commercial viability of this scientific trials ensuring had an inclined square mesh net grid and two cod-ends, and 120mm. gear modification to help inform business and that scientists and fisheries one above the other, each with a different mesh size. policy decisions related to the acceptance of Philip had been using this gear for several months before managers alike understand this gear.” The idea behind this design is that prawns drop through the the final charter and has a good idea of what the results that catch composition is only inclined square mesh grid into the lower cod-end, while fish will be. part of the story. Gear must The development stage of the Amity’s net is are guided over the grid and into the upper cod-end, where be economically viable for now coming to an end. Trials have shown that “I think the 110mm mesh will give us the best result,” says smaller fish can escape out of the larger mesh. businesses to ensure they can the gear can effectively reduce bycatch; the Philip. “The 100mm mesh is too similar to the 80mm and continue fishing. financial assessment will also hopefully prove Testing took place in two stages. The first involved finding will retain too much small fish and the 120mm mesh will that this has been achieved without negatively the best placement, angle and mesh size for the net grid be too big and release too much high-grade fish.” “Vessel owners can make better decisions about which impacting profits. The next step involves to optimise the separation of prawns from fish. The second gear to use or how to tune the gear if there’s evidence taking the gear forward to get it approved for But the success of this gear isn’t just about catch was to fine-tune the selectivity of the upper cod-end to that they can benefit financially from a gear change, commercial use. composition. For the gear to be used commercially, it must release small and undersized fish without losing high either because they aren’t losing target species or gross, be financially viable over the long term. Skippers can, to value fish. or if they’re counteracting income loss with lower costs” some extent, estimate the financial viability of a new piece explains Mike Montgomerie. of gear based on costs and earnings from a single trip, but these may not be accurate over the long term.
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QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES INNOVATIVE GEAR DESIGNS INNOVATIVE GEAR DESIGNS
2015 Nearing the end March 2015 : Jimmy Buchan visits the January 2015 Flume Tank in Hirtshals with other Landing obligation for of the Journey: fishermen from North East Scotland; pelagic fisheries while in Denmark, Jimmy gets idea from a local prawn boat for net grid design with an escape for fish April 2015: Jimmy returns to Flume Tank to look at different selective gear options August 2015: Initial discussions with GITAG to test net grid on board Amity 2016
February 2016: First version of net grid January 2016 taken to sea on Amity Start of demersal landing obligation in the North Sea March 2016: First charter trip on board and North Western Waters MFV Amity to test different mesh sizes for net grid; first report produced
November 2016: Amity trials ongoing; determine that 400mm net grid mesh gives best separaEon result 2017 January 2017 February 2017: Amity net grid Demersal landing obligation MFV Amity II modifications tested in Flume Tank expanded to include more species in the North Sea and June 2017: Amity hopper altered to be North Western Waters able to receive separate catches
August 2017: Second charter trip on board the Amity; second report produced the the
2018 January 2018 August 2018: Final charter trip on board Demersal landing obligation Amity to test different mesh sizes for further expanded to include upper cod-end; economic data collected; more species in the North Sea final report produced and North Western Waters Testing timeline aboard timeline Testing December 2018: Final gear report sent to Marine Scotland Policy. Current end of derogation for Amity 2019 January 2019 Full implementaon of the landing obligation for all quota managed species 06 07
QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES INNOVATIVE GEAR DESIGNS INNOVATIVE GEAR DESIGNS
Amity II at sea
“Everything we’ve done has been building to this,” explains Jimmy. Jane noted the many challenges surrounding the “We’ve finally got a piece of gear that gives us high quality prawns landing obligation, but sees technical innovation as and whitefish, which wasn’t possible before. If we can get it an important tool to make it a workable policy. approved, it’ll be available for other vessels to use, giving prawn “Selectivity issues are different in each fishery, trawlers more options.” but our hope is that innovative technical solutions “Because it’s been so thoroughly tested,” adds Mike, “other vessel will continue to be developed in areas where owners should be able to pick it up easily. Obviously every vessel improvements can be made,” explains Jane. is different, but with some tweaks others will hopefully get Creating innovative gear that works is a repetitive and similarly positive results.” sometimes lengthy process, but the Amity trials show “If it gets approved for commercial use, I’d definitely be interested that determination and perseverance can pay off. in using it,” confirmed another skipper operating in the same Getting selective gears like this one on the market will fishery. better prepare fishermen to operate profitably under the new landing obligation. GITAG is keen to work with other skippers who are interested in trying this gear. “We want to make sure that other boats get At the end of the day, fishing must remain profitable the right set up so that the gear works for them as well,” says for the industry; it must be economical to go to Jennifer. sea. After all, sustainability is about livelihoods and communities as well as the environment. We need So what’s next for this gear? information on all these aspects to ensure good To find out more about what it takes to get a gear modification decision making and choices when it comes to approved for commercial use, Quay Issues caught up with Jane managing fisheries. Without the economic data, MacPherson of Marine Scotland. you can only tell half of the story. “The Amity is a fantastic example of the kind of progress we The Amity trials show strong evidence for the net grid hoped to see come of the landing obligation. We have a real design operating profitably while reducing unwanted opportunity with this gear to translate an innovative design into catches. This is a prime example of industry leading something concrete which can be taken forward to a commercial the way in developing technical solutions that are scale.” both practical and economically effective, proving that playing by the rules of the landing obligation Currently this gear cannot legally be used commercially without doesn’t have to drive fishermen out of business. an official derogation because of the different mesh sizes in the upper and lower cod ends. Using the scientific evidence gathered on the Amity trials, the government may be able to either change current technical regulations, or approve an on-going derogation allowing others to use the gear on a trial basis. Jane went on to say that if the final report for the gear returns the expected results IOOS and GITAG are run by SFF Services, a wholly- and is scientifically sound, then Marine Scotland will do what they owned subsidiary of the Scottish Fishermen’s can to allow it to be used commercially, “We’ll try to find the best Federation, and are funded by the Scottish way to enable continued use,” says Jane. Government and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). Members include: SFF Services, Marine Scotland Policy, Marine Scotland Science, Seafish and the Scottish Association of Fish “Because it’s been so thoroughly Producers Organisations (SAFPO). tested, other vessel owners should be able to pick it up easily - and with some tweaks get similarly positive results.”
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QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES TACKLING THE PLASTIC CHALLENGE TACKLING THE PLASTIC CHALLENGE
“Unless I am very much mistaken, this invention will prove important to the future”, Leo Baekeland, chemist, wrote on his diary on 11 July 1907. The invention to which he referred was a synthetic polymer he called Bakelite, the precursor of modern plastics.
Baekeland was not mistaken. Begun in the 1950s, mass production of plastics did indeed change the future. From keeping food fresh longer to Tackling making disposable syringes, plastics transformed our world, and fishing was no exception.
the plastic Before plastic, fishing nets and pots were traditionally made of natural materials such as willow, wood, linen and hemp. The new synthetic plastics quickly replaced all these materials and the new fishing gear was stronger, lighter weight, more durable and cheaper. Before long challenge plastic fishing gear had taken the fishing industry by storm. As early as 1959, synthetic nets were described as “a revolution in modern fishing”. Nigel Legge, skipper of the Razorbill (SS268) in Cadgwith, recalls how he used to make his own willow pots, but stopped the What can be done to help moment that the new plastic pots came out. reduce plastic waste? “I just threw all my tools in a corner and didn’t touch them again for twenty-odd years”, says Nigel. “Plastic lasts longer and can work in By Marta Moran Quintana ways that willow won’t allow.” The days of artisanal gear-making were coming to an end, and plastic gear became the norm. Today, plastics are everywhere, often even in places they were never intended to be. A University of California research team estimated in 2017 that humanity has produced over 8 billion tonnes of plastics since 1950, over three-quarters of which has ended up as waste. Unfortunately, much of that waste finds its way into the sea. The same California research team estimated that in 2010 alone, between 4 million and 12 million tonnes of plastics ended up in the ocean. Some of that waste is fishing gear, estimated to make up a tenth of all marine litter. Fishing gear lost at sea is known as “ghost gear” and can persist in the environment, where it continues to catch fish, from which nobody benefits. Plastic has become a victim of its own success. The very same characteristics that make plastics ideal for packaging, construction and fishing gear—versatility, durability and resistance—also make them a serious environmental issue.
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QUAY ISSUES Nigel Lege, Cadgwith QUAY ISSUES TACKLING THE PLASTIC CHALLENGE TACKLING THE PLASTIC CHALLENGE Removing the catch from experimental biodegradable gillnet. Image courtesy of SINTEF What if there was a material as durable and resistant as plastic that doesn’t break down into a harmful substance when it degrades at sea? Could a safe, biodegradable material replace plastic fishing gear? That’s precisely what Eduardo Grimaldo, fisheries researcher at SINTEF (Norway), is working on.
Grimaldo, his team and the industry are trialling biodegradable gillnets that could help reduce the problem of ghost gear. “There is interest from the Norwegian fishing industry in using more environmentally friendly materials”, Eduardo explains. He is particularly Plastics in the environment can take hundreds of interested in the fleet catching Greenland halibut, whose gillnets, deployed at great depth, are difficult to recover if lost or tangled. years to degrade in the ocean, where they break Eduardo and his team are trialling nets developed in South Korea, down into micro plastics that marine life can ingest. where the local fishing industry has been using them for around This presents a major problem for the fishing 10 years. Norwegian fishermen helped modify the nets to suit their needs and trialled them over two years on commercial fishing vessels industry. Long credited as a healthy protein, there covering the entire fishing season for halibut, saithe and cod. is now a risk that consumers may lose confidence In the trials, conventional nylon nets and biodegradable nets were deployed in seafood because of micro-plastic contamination. side by side to compare their performance. Early results showed that the biodegradable nets had lower catch rates than standard nylon nets, around 10-15% lower in terms of number of fish caught. Nylon nets were also Micro plastics made headlines in the UK recently as researchers from better at catching bigger fish, likely because the biodegradable nets were the University of Plymouth reported finding tiny plastic pieces in a slightly more susceptible to wear and tear and degradation. third of the fish in a sample caught in the English Channel. The public Could biodegradable nets be a solution then? Although the first trials and regulators are becoming increasingly aware of the problem of showed lower catch rates from biodegradable nets, Eduardo and his plastic pollution, and in 2018 DEFRA launched a consultation to gather team are not ready to give up. He believes they show huge potential, views on tackling pollution from single-use plastics. Launching the and that with more research and innovation they will be able to create Conservative Party’s new environmental plan in January, Theresa May a safe biodegradable net that is as effective as conventional nylon. pledged that the UK would eliminate avoidable plastic waste by 2042. He says, “Fishermen tell us they would be happy to use these nets, In the near future, we’ll likely see new legislation to control plastic waste. but the lower catching efficiency is an issue for them.” Projects are already underway around the world to reduce plastic waste Cost could be another issue. At present, alternatives to plastic are expensive. from fishing activities. In 2017, the UK and Scottish governments The nets purchased for the trials cost about twice as much as standard joined Global Ghost Gear Initiative, an international initiative to reduce nylon nets. However, Eduardo noted the biodegradable nets are much the amount of derelict fishing gear at sea. Society is clearly urging that cheaper in South Korea, where the demand is higher than in Norway. something be done about plastic pollution in the ocean—but what can the fishing industry do? New materials are always more expensive at the start of the production process because of the basic law of supply and demand. But phasing Going back to pre-plastic times is not a viable solution. Natural materials out and replacing plastics in coming years would cause alternative are less durable, and fishermen would need to spend more time and materials to become more widely available and cheaper. money repairing or replacing gear. Furthermore, the fishing industry has changed significantly since the 1950s, making traditional gear no Eduardo is planning further trials for late 2018, when the team will test longer suitable. a new biodegradable net made of thicker filaments. They believe this new design will show improved strength and efficiency, comparable to Nigel still makes willow pots, but not for fishermen to use at sea. standard nylon nets. There are also plans to trial biodegradable rope — “These pots are probably better than plastic ones, but they were the Norwegian aquaculture and fishing industries use around 22,000 designed for very small boats hauling by hand. They wouldn’t survive tonnes of plastic rope every year, much of which gets lost at sea. the way big vessels work. I went back to making them just because someone asked me for a pot to decorate their garden.”
12 Dolly rope on a beam trawl 13
QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES TACKLING THE PLASTIC CHALLENGE TACKLING THE PLASTIC CHALLENGE
Leo Baekeland was right when he Back in the UK, research to reduce plastics in fishing is taking a slightly different approach. predicted his invention would change Instead of removing plastics from fishing gear the future. What he probably did altogether, some net designers are looking at not imagine was the challenges it different ways of constructing nets that require would also bring over a century later. smaller amounts of plastic net and rope. Those challenges are for us to solve, One particular type of plastic waste from fishing gear is attracting and the fishing industry’s skills and attention from researchers and net makers: dolly rope. With threads determination to protect the seas will around 2m long, dolly rope is widely used on North Sea demersal vessels to protect the cod end against friction with the seabed. be essential to addressing them. The DollyRopeFree project in the Netherlands estimates that up to a quarter of the dolly rope used in a trawl will tear off and end up in the sea. An estimated 25 tonnes of dolly rope enter the North Sea every year as plastic waste. Darren Edwards, from Brixham Trawl Makers, told us about their new trawl design that uses drastically reduced amounts of dolly rope. The first step was to increase mesh size in the trawl, which alone helped to cut the amount of dolly rope used by a third. As Darren explains, “If you have a bigger mesh, you have fewer meshes in the trawl to put the rope through.” In recent years, Darren and his team have managed to further eliminate the need for dolly rope by reshaping the trawl. “We used to have a lot of the net sitting on the bottom; now, it sort of cylinders so that only a few meshes go across the seabed. If you put dolly rope there, it would just drag the net down, so we took it out—and it works.” For the last few years, several vessels in Devon have been using this trawl design, not only reducing plastic pollution but also saving them money. Darren explains, “Previously you had to cut up the old ropes and put new ones in; now, it is cheaper to cut a piece of net and replace it. All the net we cut here then goes into a recycling sack.” Other fishermen in Cornwall are using similar designs of their own. Leo Baekeland was right when he predicted his invention would change the future. What he probably did not imagine was the challenges it would also bring over a century later. Those challenges are for us to solve, and the fishing industry’s skills and determination to protect the seas will be essential to addressing them.
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Read more about the financial costs of lost gear in the 2016 edition of Quay Issues magazine: http://www.seafish.org/research-economics/ industry-economics/quay-issues For more information on microplastics and their consequences for the seafood industry read: http://www.seafish.org/media/Publications/ FS104_07_18_Microplastics_information_sheet_July_2018.pdf
14 Biogdegradable filament used to make 15 gillnest. Image courtesy of SINTEF
QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN FISHING PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN FISHING
Are there still opportunities for young people at sea? the short answer is yes, but perhaps the better question is: How do you prepare new entrants for a career in fishing?
Boat owners often tell us they struggle to find “Including a practical element skilled, reliable crew. Some even say they’ve had to postpone or cancel fishing trips, losing is crucial to ensure students days at sea and potential fishing income have the skills required to because they don’t have enough crew to operate the boat. work effectively” In the past, it was common for youngsters But preparing for a fishing career requires to learn fishing from the older generation, training beyond the classroom, as Linda sometimes before leaving school. Changes in explains, “Including a practical element is workplace regulations mean that traditional crucial to ensure students have the skills routes into the industry are now less required to work effectively.” common, as Linda Hope, Manager at the At the Anglo-Scottish Seafish and Seafood Scottish Maritime Academy in Peterhead Training Association in Amble, training explains, “Though new entrants traditionally manager Dennis Osborne adds a day at sea came through a family connection, that’s on a local boat into the ICF course where not necessarily the way anymore. The next possible. generation of fishermen may not come from fishing families at all.” “If we can get them out on a vessel, even for a day, it gives trainees the opportunity to To meet the demand for skilled crew, practice some basics and make sure it’s for comprehensive new entrant training them,” Dennis explains. programmes are essential. The legal requirement for basic safety training is sea Students on the ICF course at Coleg Llandrillo survival, firefighting, first aid, and health spend time on a chartered boat to get boat & safety. These four basic courses are handling and navigation experience. The absolutely necessary for anyone training to boat makes stops along the Welsh coastline, work as a fisherman. giving students a well-rounded understanding of the entire seafood supply chain. Andy Training Many training providers also offer in-depth White, course coordinator at Coleg Llandrillo training that incorporates hands-on learning, explains, “it’s all about engaging with students particularly for new entrants, to help better in a practical way, both on- and off-shore.” prepare them for fishing careers. These include programmes like Seafish’s 3-week The Whitby and District Fishing Industry Introduction to Commercial Fishing (ICF) Training School has also combined practical opportunities for course, Whitby Fishing School’s 12-month learning through their Diploma in Sea Diploma and the Modern Apprenticeship Fishing. The Diploma is the only year-long in Sea Fishing at NAFC in Shetland or The training programme in England with a built-in Scottish Maritime Academy in Peterhead. 10-month placement as a trainee deckhand. Established in 2009, Seafish’s 3-week ICF The Whitby fishing school was set up new entrants course is now delivered by 12 training 16 years ago to bring new life to the local providers around the UK. The fully-funded fishing community after Whitby-based course includes training on ropes and knots, skippers raised concerns about the lack of care of catch, net mending, basic engineering, newcomers joining the industry. navigation, and the mandatory basic safety courses.
16 Basic sea survival training 17
QUAY ISSUES ISSUES QUAY QUAY ISSUES PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN FISHING PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN FISHING
Seafish approved training providers around the UK The diploma is open to 16-24 year 11 olds and attracts applicants from all The mixed class is really beneficial over the UK. As Anne Hornigold, Chief Executive of Whitby Fishing School – the trainees can share their explains, “A small percentage of 11. North Atlantic Fisheries College 01595 772000 trainees come from fishing families, experiences with the new enrolment. 1. Orkney College [email protected] but we also get trainees from places 01856 569401 www.nafc.uhi.ac.uk like Sheffield or Manchester who [email protected] Whitby fishing School trainees: (left to right) Ethan, Rory, 1 12. North East Fishermen’s come in with no background and are www.orkney.uhi.ac.uk Charlie and Jack Training Association absolute naturals!” 2. Western Isles Sea Fisheries 01346 513074 | 07958 110879 [email protected] Training includes 10 weeks of Training Association classroom-based training and 01851 702385 | 07748 332595 2 www.nefta.info [email protected] 10 months of practical experience as 13. Scottish Maritime Academy a trainee deckhand on board a fishing 01779 476204 | 07540 715856 3. Fish Industry Training Association boat. In the classroom there is often a (Highlands & Islands) [email protected] 01583 431570 | 07771 681428 12 13 www.smaritime.co.uk mix of trainees who have been to sea [email protected] as trainee deckhands and trainees 14. South of Scotland Seafish www.fita.info who are brand new. Training Association 07856 023172 “The mixed class is really beneficial,” [email protected] says Anne. “They all chat together and 15. Anglo-Scottish Seafish & the trainees who have been to sea can 4. Sea Fish Industry Training Seafood Training Association share their experiences with the new Association (Northern Ireland) 01665 713823 | 07702 042551 enrolment.” 02842 771556 [email protected] Quay Issues spent the day at the Whitby Fishing School to learn more [email protected] 14 3 16. Whitby & District Fishing Industry Trainees are matched with a local about the diploma and caught up with four current trainees. 07484 019496 Training School boat, as Anne explains, “We know the www.sfitani.co.uk 15 01947 825871 | 07796 943996 skippers quite well, so we try to match Rory, from a fishing family in Whitby, decided to join the diploma to get 5. Anglo-North Irish Fish [email protected] trainees with skippers who we think well-rounded, good quality training before he started working on a fishing Producers Organisation www.whitbyfishingschool.co.uk will work well together. Different people boat. “I think the diploma will make me better prepared for work at sea 028 4176 2855 respond better to different things so than the basic safety training alone,” says Rory. [email protected] www.seasource.com 4 it’s important that we make the right Charlie, relocated from Newcastle to do the diploma, and says he’s keen 16 matches to give trainees the best to “try everything” and is “ready for a challenge”. 6. Coleg Llandrillo opportunity to succeed.” Tel: 01492 546666 Ext. 523 5 Jack, from Hull, heard about the sea fishing diploma from a friend who had [email protected] The school agrees on a training plan completed the training. Jack decided to enrol in the programme because www.gllm.ac.uk 17 with skippers to ensure trainees get of the depth and range of training it provides, preparing him for a job at sea. 7. Welsh Sea Fish Industry enough experience with each of the Training Association 6 relevant tasks. The skipper or first Ethan travelled all the way from Cornwall to join the course. He comes www.welshseafishindustry.com mate completes the trainee’s sea from a long line of fishermen and is keen to carry on the family tradition. 18 log to confirm they have covered all These four trainees went to sea in the middle of August after completing the training. Progress is tracked and two weeks of classroom training, including the four basic safety courses, reviewed every eight weeks to ensure and will remain on their “trainee” boats until November when they will 8. The Fishing College the trainees are on track to complete complete their classroom training. 01297 445097 | 07717 752544 17. East Coast Maritime Training their training within 12 months. 01964 204044 | 07828 287532 [email protected] 7 www.thefishingcollege.co.uk [email protected] “We couldn’t run without the skippers,” fishing school on his boat over the past start learning until they get on board, www.eastcoastmaritimetraining.co.uk emphasises Anne. “They keep taking three years, one of which he kept on for because there’s a limit to what you can 9. Western Maritime Training 01752 770589 18. Eastern Seafish on trainees year after year without a year after completing the Diploma. learn in the classroom. [email protected] Training Association any incentive except to get more 01362 822449 | 07754 196777 “I haven’t had a bad one yet!” says Luke. Every day is different, and once they www.westernmaritime.training youngsters into the industry. They’re 8 [email protected] 19 absolutely superb.” “They’ve all been keen to learn and get settle on the boat they can really learn 10. Seafood Cornwall Training www.eastern-seafish.org.uk stuck in. Once they pick it up, they pick how it works.” 01736 364324 9 10 19. Red Ensign Training Luke Russell skippers a 10m boat, it up quickly and work hard,” says Luke. [email protected] 01983 294 088 fishing for lobsters and crabs out of www.seafoodcornwalltraining.co.uk [email protected] Whitby. He’s had four trainees from the Luke sees the practical component as www.redensigntraining.com vital for new trainees, “They don’t really 18 19
QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN FISHING PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN FISHING
“Graduates of the diploma programme are very Basic sea survival training employable,” Anne maintains. “It’s far easier for Whitby Fishing School training graduates with the diploma to find placements on boats once they finish than if they only had their basic safety training. A lot of skippers want to take our graduates because they’ve had 10 months experience at sea. Our trainees leave with the right qualifications and experience so the whole training is more robust.” The school also helps graduates find work in the fishing 10 10 156 industry. “Oftentimes,” says Anne, “skippers will ring us months weeks graduates and ask if we’ve got anyone who has just qualified or is experience training since 2004 about to. Other times the skipper who they’re training with will offer them a permanent position once they qualify.” Whitby Fishing School also set up the website www.ukfishingjobs.org a few years ago to help match vacancies with potential candidates, as Anne explains, “Skippers log on to their part of the website and enter information about the position they want to fill. Then on the other side, people looking for work log on to their part of the website and enter details about their “With few people coming into the industry, it’s even more important to qualifications, the position they’re looking for and where give young people the opportunity to get real experience and training” they are based or are willing to travel to.” Behind the scenes, the database matches suitable At 32, Luke says he’s the second youngest skipper working The trainee deckhand placements are a win-win for trainees candidates with job postings and sends the employer out of Whitby, and that a lot of local fishermen are nearing and skippers. Skippers do not have to pay the trainees a information on the most suitable candidates. “Some retirement. “With few people coming into the industry,” he salary, and trainees are not out of pocket because the school match exactly and some are a best match, but it gives explains. “It’s even more important to give young people the supports them financially. “Trainees are given a weekly employers a good list of possible candidates,” explains opportunity to get real experience on board fishing boats as hardship allowance and the school covers all of their costs; Anne. www.ukfishingjobs.org part of their training so that they can see what it takes. travel, bed, breakfast and evening meals,” explains Anne. Though many jobs are still found through word Without the school, there would be even fewer people All in all, trainees graduate with 12 certificates, a full kit of mouth, this and other websites like coming in, and if there aren’t enough people coming in, of safety gear and 10 months of deckhand experience. www.findafishingboat.com can match candidates with there won’t be an industry.” jobs that they wouldn’t otherwise hear about. Since it opened in 2002, the Whitby Fishing School has had huge success in training the next generation of fishermen. The diploma scheme alone has had 156 successful graduates since 2004. The school monitors where graduates go when they finish, and according to Anne, the majority stay in the industry. “In fact,” says Anne, “Some of the fishermen who now live in Whitby came from elsewhere to train at the school and have settled here because they’ve found positions on local vessels.” These “old boys”, many of whom are now skippers www.findafishingboat.com themselves, will often take on a trainee from the school. “It’s all cyclical,” says Anne. If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that the UK fishing industry is diverse and one size does not fit all. But with training providers increasingly offering more Whitby harbour in-depth training with the opportunity to gain practical sea experience, new entrants will be more skilled when 20 they enter the industry. 21
QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES LEAD ARTICLE: FISHING INTO THE FUTURE LEAD ARTICLE: FISHING INTO THE FUTURE Fishing into
way to do that is to give fishermen an opportunity to the Future overfish something.” In March 2018, FITF hosted their second residential An introduction to course on sustainable fishing, An Introduction to Sustainable Fishing. This event in Devon was similar Sustainable to a course run in Scotland in 2017 but focussed specifically Fishing on the inshore fleet. The course was designed to give aspiring industry By Kirsten Milliken leaders a well-rounded understanding of fisheries management and science In a darkened room, fishermen are and to introduce them to hunched over a map indicating the key people involved in those areas. All the speakers from locations and size of available fish science and management stocks; they are all deep in thought. are also participants, learning from fishermen At the front an official is reading what it’s like to run a fishing results, “OK” she says. “This season business in the UK today. plaice quota will be reduced by “The course is about explaining science and half because the stock assessment management in an shows it is overfished. To protect understandable and manageable way,” says a rare seabed habitat, there will Pete. “There’s everything be a closed zone here,” she says from selling the catch, trying to get the highest value scoring off a huge area on the from it, the economics, map, “and netting for bass The Peas and Beans game is a tool used managing different aspects Martin The fishermen begin to There’s a sudden flurry of to demonstrate how commercial fishing of the fishery, right down to Chris of is now banned.” sy sweat as they quietly plan activity as the fishermen is managed on a nationwide scale. an open seminar on gear rte ou Seventeen fishermen recently took part technology. It’s just a really c e their strategies for the reach across the map to g in this exercise at a course designed good opportunity for people a Im and hosted by Fishing into the Future to understand and become . coming season. catch the remaining peas e s (FITF), a charity focused on sustainability, confident about the industry i c The official looks and beans on the board. r innovation and prosperity for the UK they work in rather than be e x e fishing sector. scared of it.” at her watch and When the whistle blows, t
n e “The Peas and Beans game is about
m counts down, the fishermen return to
s understanding fisheries management,”
s e
s “Three, two, one, go!” their starting positions to says Pete Williams, fisherman and
s a
FITF trustee. “It’s about showing how
k exchange their pulses for
c
o fishermen are managed and the easiest t
22 S hard cash. 23
QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES LEAD ARTICLE: FISHING INTO THE FUTURE LEAD ARTICLE: FISHING INTO THE FUTURE
Quay Issues caught up with Glen Rod and line fisherman Glen Milligan Milligan, a rod and line fisherman from Portsmouth, who attended the course. “I’m quite new to the industry,” says Glen, “and thought it would be nice to learn a bit more about some of the bodies involved “Investment in and a bit more about the industry.” training in the Glen moved from angling into commercial sea bass fishing two fishing industry years ago. Like many fishermen, can produce Glen has not had a great deal of opportunity to work with fisheries significant scientists and managers, as he explains, “Fishermen are generally returns, not quite isolated in their work. only in shaping They’re quite removed from the big organisations. The only people the future but I’d met in the industry, apart from regaining the the local guys, were guys that I met FITF Executive Director, Jim Masters. Image courtesy Karrina Mather on various fishing courses, safety confidence of courses and what have you. And, most of the information The Introduction to Sustainable Fishing managers don’t spend a lot of time fishermen in the I had gained was from the internet, course, designed by FITF trustee on boats,” says Pete. “So equally they decision-making Facebook particularly.” fishermen, aims to give fishermen got a lot out of it because they saw confidence to engage in fisheries our perspective and left with a better The course provides a unique process.” management, as Pete explains, “It understanding of our job. It’s all about opportunity to bring together empowers people to feel that they can getting these people to actually speak to people from across the fisheries make changes within the industry, not each other and understand each person’s management spectrum and helps just that they are destined to follow other point of view. There’s lots of benefit in create networks for fishermen. people’s paths and routes. It’s creating fostering a more joined-up approach.” “There was a really positive vibe that innovators and leading lights within the I wasn’t aware of”, says Glen. “I was The event in Devon was the second The course aims to show how the understanding of the industry, how industry. It empowers people to become introduced to lots of people not just of its kind hosted in the UK by FITF whole of the fisheries management it works and how all the pieces fit more efficient, more effective, more fishermen, but fish producers and and is modelled on the hugely successful system operates, how decisions together because you can’t go about productive and resilient managers of even some from Government bodies. Marine Resource Education Programme are made and where science feeds changing something if you don’t their own business and, hopefully, of the There are a lot of people out there, (MREP), from GMRI. Summing into the process. Pete explains, “The understand how it works. wider industry in the future.” and we all really want the same course is about developing people’s up the ethos behind MREP, thing.” The course brings fishermen, scientists programme leader and managers together to share Alexa Dayton The fishing industry is a complex “There was a really positive vibe – I was introduced to knowledge and understanding of said, “Investment Fishing into regulatory environment with lots of their common goals. “A key part of it in training in the different organisations involved. It lots of people not just fishermen, but fish producers is networking and interacting,” says fishing industry the Future can be very difficult for fishermen, and even some from Government bodies. Pete. “More often than not, fishermen can produce especially newcomers, to navigate upcoming courses and scientists actually have the same significant this landscape. A key objective is to foster a opinions, they want to conserve the returns, Business of Fishing “Before the course, I had very little new, more robust approach and stocks and they want a sustainable not only in Location: knowledge of any of the bodies understanding of the fishing industry.” future for the industry. The course is shaping the Scotland, February 2019 involved in fisheries. There are so about having all that understanding in future but Introduction to Sustainable Fishing FITF is a charity built and guided one place, and getting everybody to regaining the many bodies involved. Even when it Location: by fishermen, for fishermen. It was came to getting my licence in the first understand each other’s points of view confidence To be announced place and getting the boat sorted. borne out of a strategic partnership and role within the industry.” of fishermen It can be a nightmare, especially for between the Prince of Wales’ in the For more information about FITF and the Scientists and managers from various someone that steps in cold from the Charities International Sustainability decision-making courses they run visit their website: organisations attended, not just to outside,” Glen added. Unit (ISU), Seafish, and the Gulf of process.” www.fishingintothefuture.co.uk Maine Research Institute (GMRI) in present, but also to learn. The course the USA. is also about educating scientist and managers of the realities of fishing and the difficulties of running a business. Fisherman and FITF trustee “More often than not, scientists and 24 Pete Williams 25
QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES LEAD ARTICLE: FISHING INTO THE FUTURE LEAD ARTICLE: FISHING INTO THE FUTURE
Hazel C urti s, S ea fii sh “These are the building blocks to a positive future, C h ie f E and no matter how the industry ends up being c o n o managed after Brexit, it can only be a good thing to m i s
t
& The course is fully funded by FITF. Although attendees might
encourage and empower people to work together” F
I lose fishing time, there is a lot to gain by joining the course.
T
F
“The course gives fishermen the knowledge, understanding
T r
u and language of fisheries science and management. The
s
t
e aim is to enable fishermen to become effective industry Investing in training and knowledge is vital in any industry and fishing is no exception, e as Pete explains, “A lot of the people that came on the course were younger people. leaders and engage in fisheries co-management,” Hazel went These are people that will be within the industry for a long period of time and having on to say. an understanding about how the industry works now equips them to be able to make After the course in Devon, Glen decided to establish an informal changes that are better for the industry in the future.” group to represent rod and line fishermen who target mainly “These are the building blocks to a positive future, and no matter how the industry ends sea bass. “It was clear to me that sea bass fishermen had very up being managed after Brexit, it can only be a good thing to encourage and empower little representation,” says Glen. “I thought I’d form a group, set up an people to work together”, Pete went on to say. unofficial body representing what we do, so I contacted MMO and CEFAS to get some figures on the number of licenced boats and landings and the As the UK is on the verge of EU exit, collaboration is more important than ever in group slowly started coming together.” responding to challenges and tackling uncertainty. The FITF course offers fishermen an opportunity to develop skills which will enable them to engage in this important The Commercial Rod and Line Sea Bass Fishermen’s Alliance is now about process. 20 strong and has a website and Facebook group. Although still in its infancy, the group is growing and Glen hopes that in the future it will help To help build positive working relationships, the course is run over three days with all connect researchers with fishermen, serve as an information hub and help the attendees staying together. Pete explained this residential aspect of the course represent rod and line sea bass fishermen in the decision-making process. is crucial. “It’s a more hands-on, a more engaged way of getting people talking and interacting and that goes on right the way through, not just during the day. In the Glen explains, “The purpose was to create a platform for commercial evening there’s time to reflect and time to talk to different groups; it gets lots of different fishermen that target sea bass with rod and line so that we can be people chatting together that might not normally get a chance to talk,” says Pete. recognised by scientists, buyers and the government.” Jim Masters, Executive Director of FITF added, “The magic of these events happens More information on this group can be found here: when people relax away from the pressures of the fish quay, get to know each www.seabassfishermen.co.uk other and get stuck into discussions for an extended period of time. Good food and accommodation help this process. “Breaking bread” together is the glue that supports positive change. The relationships that are built are lasting, productive and contribute to a new way of working: collaboration between those involved at the sharp end of Building a positive future fisheries.” Building positive relationships between the fishing industry, scientists and managers FITF hope to run the Introduction to Sustainable Fishing course again in is at the heart of the course. Chief Economist at Seafish and Trustee of FITF, Hazel autumn of 2019, and the Business of Fishing course will return to Scotland Curtis, explains, “Effective co-management of fisheries requires industry, scientists and in February 2019. Jim Masters says, “We’d love a mix of fisheries and decision makers that understand each other’s points of view and area of expertise. It fishermen represented on the courses – but the Business of Fishing course requires mutual understanding and respect between all parties. Spending down time is focused more on larger-scale fishing, and the Introduction to Sustainable together, as well as learning together, helps build connections and relationships that Fishing course focuses on issues relevant to non-sector and inshore or can really make a difference to the success of commercial fishing in the UK. I had smaller scale fishing.” fishermen contact me after both courses with enquiries that they would not have made Glen recommends the course to others, saying, “It’s a pretty exceptional if they did not feel they knew me well enough.” course, and it was a pleasure to be there. I would encourage people to attend for sure, go for it and go with an open mind.” Fishermen face challenges every day, not just at sea but navigating the complex regulatory environment in which they operate. The FITF course gives anyone who participates a wider perspective allowing them to understand their own contribution to the industry and where science and politics feed into the decision making process. It helps fishermen to build networks of support from across the spectrum which is crucial in meeting the challenges that industry faces and building a positive future.
Attendees at the Introduction to Sustainable Fishing course in Devon, 2018. 26 Image courtesy of Harriet Yates-Smith, Mindfully Wired Communications 27
QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES SAFETY AT SEA SAFETY AT SEA
Keeping Demonstrating PFD use fishermen safe By Marta Moran Quintana
Wearing a PFD makes you up to eight times
more likely to survive It’s July 2018 and Quay Issues travelled to Pwllhelli in North Wales to support the launch of a new safety if you fall overboard. initiative by the Welsh Fishing Safety Committee (WFSC). The WFSC, with the support of Seafish, Unfortunately, many fishermen has offered new Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) still do not wear them when equipped with Personal Location Beacons (PLBs) working at sea. to owners of active Welsh fishing boats.
The WFSC is now distributing Greg Phillpot, chair of the WFSC, these life-saving PFDs with PLBs to explains why this event is taking place, The 2018 fishermen in a series of events around “The biggest killer of Welsh fishermen ‘Work in Fishing the Welsh coast in collaboration with is falling overboard and not being Convention’ law Seafish and the RNLI. This evening, recovered. That’s why we set up with will require ALL around 30 skippers and crew from this ambition to get the best possible commercial fishermen the Llŷn Peninsula gather to watch flotation devices together with locator as Frankie Horner, Fishing Safety beacons.” to wear PFDs Manager at the RNLI, demonstrates Brett Garner, member of the WFSC on deck. on a volunteer how to use the PFDs. and Llŷn Fisherman’s Association, This is no ordinary evening for the knows these facts too well. “I have WFSC. The Committee, formed of personally known four fishermen local fishermen’s associations across killed during fishing activities. Three Wales, is determined to eliminate of them could have survived had they fishing-related deaths, with the been wearing a PFD,” he says. distribution of these PFDs with PLBs being a key part of their strategy. 28 29
QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES SAFETY AT SEA SAFETY AT SEA
Fishing safety “When you’re hauling, when you’re 2007-2016 shooting and handling gear at sea, you need to be wearing one of these. 155 2,322 430 76 Because the minute you think vessels lost accidents reported serious injuries lives lost ‘I’ll go and get it’, by then it’s too late.” Source: Marine Accident Investigation Branch, September 2017.
At the end of the demonstration in Pwllhelli, skippers and Fishermen don’t have to die at sea, and safety equipment crew line up to collect their new PFDs fitted with integrated can play a big role in keeping them safe. The WFSC PLBs. Some stay on afterwards to ask Frankie and Seafish PFD distribution campaign is a perfect example of how more questions or to try the PFDs on. The take up so far fishermen can take the matter in their own hands. has been overwhelming. “The only way we can achieve our objective [of zero fishing-related deaths] is with these,” says Brett as he Since April 2018, over 280 Welsh fishing boat owners points to his brand-new PFD. “Simple as that.” have applied for over 660 PFDs fitted with PLBs. That’s approximately 90% of the Welsh fishing fleet taking up this offer. Holly Whiteley, Wales Manager at Seafish, tells us that “The project has been a huge success. The high take up really demonstrates the vessel owners’ commitment Sadly, the statistics agree with Greg and Brett: 139 He is also happy with how easy to wear they are, “I found to safety on board their vessels.” fishermen drowned in UK waters between 2000 and 2015, that lifejackets hurt because it bends your head down, but and most of them were not wearing PFDs. In Wales alone, this one is different, it sits on your shoulders so I think I’ll But simply distributing the PFDs is only the first step. 12 fishermen lost their lives between 2006 and 2015. be alright.” The spotlight is now on fishermen to actually wear them while working at sea. The nature of the Welsh fleet adds another level to the A potential downside to this equipment could be its price. challenge: it is a small-scale fleet, largely made up of The integrated PLB in these flotation devices make them Frankie was adamant on this when he showed the PFDs to under 8 metre potting boats. Potting is one of the most more expensive than regular PFDs, costing over £350 the audience. “When you’re hauling, when you’re shooting hazardous types of fishing, and many of the reported man in total. Recognising this issue, Seafish worked with the and handling gear at sea, you need to be wearing one of overboard accidents have happened after crew became WFSC to secure funding from the Welsh Government and these. Because the minute you think ‘I’ll go and get it’, by entangled in ropes when shooting pots. the Seafarers UK maritime charity on behalf of the Welsh then it’s too late,” he says. fishing fleet. Thanks to their contributions, the WFSC was On top of that, many of the small Welsh boats are single- After the event in Pwllhelli, Greg tells us he is hopeful. able to make these PFDs available to fishermen for just handed, which adds an extra element of risk: no one else is “We hope that fishermen see the sense in wearing these. £15 (a 95% discount). around to help in case of an accident. We don’t want another incident off the Welsh coast This initiative means that Welsh fishermen can not only where we lose another fisherman.” The equipment being handed out by the WFSC serves a improve safety at work, but also stay ahead of the game double purpose. Like any PFD, they keep a person afloat in when it comes to safety legislation. The implementation case of a fall overboard, but they also have an integrated of the International Labour Organisation: Work in Fishing PLB, which is a type of GPS location device that alerts Convention (ILO 188) into UK law in 2018 will likely require rescue authorities to the person’s location. all commercial fishermen to wear PFDs on deck while at One of the skippers attending the event tells us why this is sea unless a written risk assessment proves that they have Skippers signing up to receive especially important for him, “Sometimes we shift nights, eliminated the risk of going overboard. Furthermore, the their PFD with integrated PLB and if my lad goes on one side… well, it’s pitch black. use of PLBs (or an equivalent device) will also be required You’ve got no chance of finding him; he’s just a little ball for small fishing boats by October 2019 under the Small on the water. This device is better [than our previous PFD]’. Fishing Vessel Code of Practice (MSN 1871).
30 31
QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES MAN-OVERBOARD LADDERS
mall MO ed s B la gg dd Ri e r b a g .
g Man-overboard n MOB ladder bag. u o
Y Image courtesy of
m Alex Mcmullan i J f o y s e rt The pair decided to ou ladders e c investigate, Imag By Lewis Cowie as Michael explains, “We were only On a cold Monday morning in early April 2018, three-quarters of the Quinn brothers, Michael Paul and John James, a mile away so were setting their nets on Lough Neagh. Suddenly, we decided to go they noticed something amiss with a pair of sand over and have a dredgers working on the Lough. look; it was just a “It just looked unusual—it’s hard to say exactly gut feeling, really. what it was, but things just didn’t seem right”, When we arrived says Michael. we found a man in “We went back to setting our nets, but a while the water shouting for help. later my brother said that he couldn’t see the The sand dredger had sunk, second sand dredger anymore.” leaving him in the water...
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QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES MAN-OVERBOARD LADDERS MAN-OVERBOARD LADDERS
...Fortunately, he was wearing a lifejacket, and we managed to get a hold of him by the side of our boat.” Northern Ireland Fishing Safety Forum In summer 2018, the Northern Ireland Fishing Wearing a PFD can help to keep a person afloat in the water, but getting back Safety Forum (NIFSF) held a series of roadshow For more information on the NIFSF please contact onto the boat is another matter, “When someone is in the water, they can’t help lift events in Northern Ireland, offering fishermen themselves—he was a dead weight” says Michael. Dr Lynn Gilmore at [email protected] information on training opportunities, cold-water or check out the NIFSF Facebook page The two brothers struggled against the cold, rough water to try and bring the man shock, and man-overboard recovery. At the https://www.facebook.com/NIFSF on board. “The sides of our boat are about three feet from the water and there were events, a number of free man-overboard (MOB) waves of two to three feet that day”, Michael says. “We just couldn’t get him aboard ladder bags were distributed to fishermen, to Since its establishment, the NIFSF has been no matter how hard we tried. It was a scary situation.” raise awareness of how important it can be to working hard to deliver positive change in safety have a means of getting casualties out of the culture in the Northern Irish fishing industry. With the aid of other fishermen, they managed to get hold of the man but were still water as soon as possible. RNLI Fishing Safety The proportion of Northern Irish fishermen unable to bring him out of the water. As Michael went on to explain, “Eventually we Manager Frankie Horne explains, “To survive any wearing lifejackets has increased since NIFSF managed to get a rope under his arms and move our boat over to the remaining man-overboard situation, the casualty needs to members delivered 1,800 lifejackets to NI industry sand dredger. With six people helping, we still couldn’t get him out of the water.” get out of the water. Rapid extraction is vital. and already several lives have been saved. Fishermen need to have a rigged and ready MOB Thankfully, the lifeboat arrived and rescued the man. “By the time the lifeboat A survey of 96 fishermen in Northern Ireland recovery solution.” arrived, he had been in the water for half an hour,” added Michael. “It was a cold day by NIFSF in Spring 2018 found that 98% of and the water temperature was only 4°C. That’s a long time to be in the water. The MOB ladder-bag initiative has been very respondents owned a lifejacket and that 93% This was an eye-opener for us. I’ve never felt anything like it. Without help it w successful and the bags are gaining real traction of respondents wore their lifejacket all or most ould have been near impossible for us to get him out of the water.” across the Northern Irish fishing industry. of the time when working at sea, particularly Fishermen have already installed MOB ladders in bad weather. on their boats in Ballycastle, Ballywater, Portavogie and Ardglass. “This incident showed us that we needed Incidents like the one on Lough Neagh show how important it is for fishermen to think beyond a rope ladder on the boat, big time. staying safe on board their vessel. It is equally It’s so compact and easy to do, and important to think about how to get out of the water as soon as possible in the event of a man- this applies to all fishermen.” overboard situation. For only £30, a MOB ladder bag is a cost effective and vital piece of safety equipment for every boat. Following the terrifying incident on Lough Neagh, brothers Michael and John have installed a MOB ladder on their boat and hope that others will do the same. “I’ve been fishing on Lough Neagh for 50 years, but I’ve never experienced anything like that”, says Michael. “This incident showed us that we needed a rope ladder on the boat, big time. It’s so compact and easy to do, and this applies Brothers, John James and Michael Quinn to all fishermen.”
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QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES IMPROVING WINCH TECHNOLOGY IMPROVING WINCH TECHNOLOGY
Advanced Numerical Control Panel Operating System In the aerospace workshop, the We brought together a team of Early results proved its success, team uses Computer Numerical mentors, all very interested in the but more trials are due and the Controlled (CNC) milling machines, concept.” team members want to guarantee a machining process for making the device has a long lifespan. With experience in electrical very precise cuts. The team Kelvin explains, “After sea trials, engineering, business and realised they could apply computer we will be back to the workshop, ANCPOS marketing, the mentor team has numerical control to winch analysing data and making ANCPOS Project Team. (Back row left to right) John Miskimmon, Kelvin McGreeghan, Cameron McKee, and Darren brought a range of skills to the operation, as Daniel explains, “We changes to the device to make it Anderson. (Front row left to right) Adrianne Brown, Duncan McIlroy, Jake Walker, Daniel McClements, and Jessica table. Student Cameron McKee Killen. Not pictured: James Coffey took inspiration from the CNC more functional. If the next sea says they have learned a lot from machines we use at work. The trials are successful, we’ll turn our the experience and Jake Walker type of technology used in these attention to making sure the device adds, “Meeting the mentors and machines could be used to track is durable enough to withstand the learning from them has been a the rotation of a winch and conditions on a fishing boat for great experience.” calculate the length of cable being years at a time!” used. This would allow the winch The student engineers secured Despite the challenges of creating to be used remotely and cables funding of £1,000 from the a functional, durable and cost- measured more accurately.” Northern Ireland Fishermen’s effective device, the developers Safety Forum and the Northern The project team designed a remain focused on their goal. Ireland Fish Producers device that could be used on “Ultimately the team’s aim is to Organisation (NIFPO), which fishing boats, as Daniel went on to make fishing safer”, says Daniel. enabled them to build a prototype say, “Our aim was to build a device “Working with winches is always of the instrument. A key aim was that could be fitted to any fishing going to be a risky job; we want to to develop a device that could be vessel winch to remotely monitor do what we can to minimise these retrofitted to any vessel winch. “Counting warp windings and operating winches manually puts the length of cable that has been risks and hopefully make things As the team’s lead tutor Kelvin released or retrieved when fishing. safer for the fishermen who work crew members on the aft deck in an extremely dangerous position” McGreeghan explained, “We This means that crew members in these situations every single day. wanted to create something that says Duncan McIlroy, a retired MCA fishing vessel surveyor. won’t have to stand in a dangerous There’s a lot of work to do, but we any fisherman could fit easily to an position to measure the cable. have a great team to help us!” existing winch, rather than having “If it snaps, crew will be directly in the path of the recoiling warp.” Instead, they will get readings on to replace the entire winch, which The fishing industry is supported an electronic display.” could cost the skipper tens of by a network of hard working Accidents involving snapped warps are amongst the most horrific in the College lecturers Kelvin thousands of pounds.” innovators with a huge range of McGreeghan, specialist in CNC knowledge and expertise. The In August 2018, the first sea trials fishing industry. Despite the dangers, accurately measuring warps is key milling, and Darren Anderson, an ANCPOS team show commitment of the device were carried out on to efficient net operation: release the wrong length and the trawl doors electrical engineer, also joined to pooling skills from across board Daniel’s family boat, the the team, providing advice and generations and harnessing new won’t spread the net properly. Duncan is part of a team in Northern twin-rigger Golden Ray. Fitted to expertise from their specialist technologies to help the fishing one drum of a winch on board the Ireland developing computer technology to make the use of winches fields. In 2017, the team was industry overcome the dangers vessel, the instrument monitored easier and safer for fishermen. Quay Issues caught went to Northern awarded an enterprise award they face every day. the warps on every tow over a four- from their college. Ireland to find out more about the project. day fishing trip. The college invited a team of mentors from the University of the The Advanced Numerical Control Panel Operating System (ANCPOS) Third Age (U3A), a volunteer-led project is led by Daniel McClements, Cameron McKee, James Coffey organisation offering educational and Jake Walker from Portavogie. Apprentices at Magellan Aerospace and leisure activities to people no and students at the South Eastern Regional College, the team are all longer in full-time work. Adrianne studying for their BTEC Level 3 in Manufacturing Engineering. Brown, lead mentor and one of From a fishing family himself, Daniel McClements told us how his the enterprise-award judges, says, experience of the fishing industry helped inspire the project. “I was extremely impressed with “Every summer I worked on my dad’s boat, MFV Golden Ray (B953), the quality of the work and the a twin-rig prawn trawler fishing in the Irish Sea. Working with the enthusiasm of the students. My winches and measuring the cables as they leave the boat is one of family have a history of fishing, the most dangerous roles on board.” so it was a project I was very interested in. Ancpos team fitting the device to vessel winch on board MFV Golden Ray. 36 3741
QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES IMPROVING FUEL CONSUMPTION IMPROVING FUEL CONSUMPTION
“In calm weather, between Semi-pelagic doors 80% and 90% of a fishing The benefits of boat’s fuel consumption is can be smaller used to overcome the drag and lighter than of the fishing gear in the water,” their traditional semi-pelagic doors says Mike Montgomerie, Fishing Gear Technologist at counterparts but still Seafish. “Think about how easy open the net mouth it is to manoeuvre around the harbour. Only 10-20% of the in the same way.
engine’s available power is “Semi-pelagic trawl doors have a greater aspect actually required to move ratio than traditional demersal doors; this means they are taller and thinner than the square or the boat forwards through oval shaped doors often used by UK trawlers,” says Mike. “This different shape means the the water.” doors are able to work effectively when in contact with the seabed or when lifted off the Using thinner materials for warps, sweeps and seabed.” the net itself can drastically reduce the twine surface area and weight of the trawl. But, there “Hydrodynamic steel foils are used to help is another major source of drag, traditionally stabilise the doors when they are not touching seen as unavoidable: trawl doors touching the the bottom meaning that they stay upright even seabed. without the support of the sea floor,” Mike went on to explain. When set up correctly, the effective weight of the trawl being towed is reduced to only 20-25% Generally, semi-pelagic doors are more of its weight on land. But, at several hundred hydrodynamically efficient than traditional kilogrammes, doors still create a significant demersal doors because their shape allows amount of drag when trawled along the seabed, them to generate more spreading force in burning a lot of fuel while towing. the water. As a result, semi-pelagic doors can be smaller and lighter than their traditional Some trawl fishermen have borrowed counterparts but still open the net mouth in the techniques from other types of fishing to reduce same way. fuel consumption by lifting the trawl doors Fuel is always a major cost for fishermen, off the seabed but keeping the ground gear in This technique has been effectively used by particularly those operating towed gear. contact with the seabed to maintain their catch Alaskan pollack fishermen in North America and of bottom-dwelling fish and shellfish. These are shrimp fishermen in Greenland. Some fishermen known as semi-pelagic trawl doors. in Northern Ireland have, for many years, been While fishermen can’t control the price of fuel, using semi-pelagic trawling, with pelagic trawls and doors, but rigged so that the gear skims the there are opportunities to reduce the Mike Montgomerie, Seafish Gear Technologist seabed to target cod and haddock. amount used and the cost to the business. In addition to the financial benefits of reduced fuel consumption, there are associated Here we look at innovative methods environmental benefits such as reduced impact on the seabed and reduced CO2 emissions. to reduce the drag of fishing gear and Despite these benefits, many have been cut fuel consumption. reluctant to fish with trawl doors off the seabed due to the belief that the action of the doors on the seabed helps herd fish into the trawl mouth.
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QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES IMPROVING FUEL CONSUMPTION IMPROVING FUEL CONSUMPTION Fuel consumption:
To overcome this reluctance, researchers in Denmark, working Cost structure of the UK fishing fleet on North Sea fishing boats, have trialled alternative trawl 42p (as % of total costs) Flume Tank setups and shown that catches can be maintained even with trawl doors off the sea bed. Adding weights to the sweeps of Average fuel price per litre. 1
semi-pelagic doors creates the herding effect of trawl doors Average annual price per litre 0.9 but with less drag. increased from 34p per litre in 2016 Testing – to 42p per litre in 2017. 0.8 When using semi-pelagic doors to target bottom-dwelling species such as cod and haddock, there is a fine line between 0.7 Semi-Pelagic effective fishing and losing bottom contact with the net, leading to lost fish. 12% 0.6 Doors Modern acoustic sensors on some boats are used to give the 0.5 skipper accurate information on where and how the gear is Fuel costs as a percentage One of the core functions of the fishing. Specific sensors tell a skipper exactly how high off the of fishing income in 2017. 0.4 seabed the gear is, as well as the angle and pitch of the doors. An increase of 2% from a 2016 low. 0.3 SINTEF flume tank in Hirtshals This means that the skipper can adjust the gear with a greater (nominal) pounds Million is commercial testing of trawls level of accuracy than if he is fishing blind, and ensures he 0.2 gets the most effective use of the gear at all times. The benefits of and trawl doors. 0.1 In 2013, researchers from SINTEF in Denmark conducted Semi-pelagic doors: Most available selectivity devices and new trials in the North Sea. The aim was to help Danish fishermen 0 developments have had a round in the flume tank reduce fuel consumption by entirely eliminating seabed 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 before they go to sea for final testing, including contact of their trawl doors. To compensate for the lifted Fuel Vessel expenses semi-pelagic trawl doors. doors, the team added in-line chain weights to the sweeps to Crew Other fishing expenses The tank allows designers to see how their trawl keep the gear itself on the seabed. doors will behave underwater. Engineers create The fishermen involved in the trials adjusted their gear warps highly accurate scale models of the doors which so the chain weights touched the seabed, but the doors were Evolution of Brent crude price are fitted to model nets and monitored in the tank. “flying” between three and five metres from the seabed. The 120 112 These tests allow door manufacturers to test the weights were placed behind the trawl doors at 45 metres 15% 97 hydrodynamics, spreading force and drag of their from the wingtips of the trawl; this meant that the sweeps FUEL SAVINGS 100 trawl door prototypes and make adjustments before continued to herd fish into the mouth of the net despite the 80 undergoing more expensive and time-consuming doors being off the seabed. 61 sea trials with full-size gear. 60 54 The trial team found that this method of trawling used 15% 44 For more information on the Trawl Gear Technology
less fuel than the same trawls using traditional doors on the £ per barrel 40 training courses at the flume tank please contact: seabed. Interestingly, these figures match the fuel savings 20 [email protected] predicted by manufacturers after trialling semi-pelagic doors In addition, there are or your local Producer Organisation office. in the Hirtshals flume tank in Denmark. associated environmental 0 benefits; such as 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 For many fishermen working with towed gears, the idea of reduced impact on the Testing gear in the fishing with their trawl doors off the seabed may seem like seabed and reduced SINTEF flume tank. a significant departure from their usual methods. But, faced CO2 emissions. with high fuel prices and mounting pressure to minimise the Fuel costs as a % of fishing income
environmental impact of fishing, UK trawl fishermen are taking 25% inspiration from fishermen further afield to see what tools 23% 20% and techniques could be applied to their fishing. Semi-pelagic 20% doors are just one example of technology being adapted to 15% suit another sector of the fishing industry but this type of 15% READ MORE 12% innovation is something we may see more of as the UK sector 10% continues to evolve. More information 10% commercial fishing gears,
More information on a wide range of commercial fishing UK fleet average 5% gears, including selectivity devices and methods of improving and methods of improving fishing efficiency, are available on the Seafish Gear Database. fishing efficiency available on the Seafish Gear 0 Database 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
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Introducing: TOPAME Optimising Marine Routes
TOPAME is a mobile app that helps improve fuel efficiency of fishing boats by calculating the optimal route to destination. The app helps reduce fuel consumption, saves travel time and reduces pollutant emissions. TOPAME co-founder Tiago Sa is from a Portuguese fishing family. Dinner table discussions on the cost of fuel gave him the idea of developing a solution to help reduce fuel costs for fishermen. Joined by co-founders Paulo Silva and Tiago Fernandes, they set out to develop TOPAME. The TOPAME app uses data on local oceanographic conditions (waves, wind and tides) and GPS location data to calculate the most efficient route to the desired coordinates. Oceanographic data is updated online daily and includes a 3-day forecast so the app can be used in offline mode for up to three days. The TOPAME app was trialled on the Portuguese trawler Cruz de Malta over several trips in a two week period. The trials showed a fuel savings of 5% and a reduction in travel time of 8% compared to previous trips without the app. This earned positive feedback from the skipper and boat owner. Currently TOPAME is available in Portugal only. Following trials, the developers plan to continue its implementation in the Portuguese fishing industry and to develop the app for use in south Atlantic waters. The success of the TOPAME app for the Portuguese industry shows that there is demand for such technology. There is likely also scope and opportunity for something similar for UK waters. www.topame.pt
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QUAY ISSUES QUAY ISSUES Seafish Seafish 18 Logie Mill Origin Way Logie Green Road Europarc [email protected] Edinburgh Grimsby EH7 4HS DN37 9TZ seafish.org T: 0131 558 3331 T: 01472 252 300