DOCSLIB.ORG

Master Thesis the Pulse Fish Case

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Master Thesis the Pulse Fish Case 2019 Master Thesis The pulse fish case How should the recent decision in the EU regarding pulse fishing be assessed from the perspective of the legislative competences within the EU and the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy objective: “to ensure that fishing is environmentally sustainable”? LOEKI MAAS U1251789 TILBURG UNIVERSITY Abstract Electric pulse fishing is a relatively new technique that uses electric pulses to catch flatfish, mostly sole and plaice in the Southern part of the North Sea. This technique is prohibited within Europe, only 5% of the vessels per member state can use this technique for scientific research. However, the Netherlands have found a way to extent their fleet, using different derogations. They believe pulse fishing is contributing to a more environmentally sustainable way of fishing and should be legal within Europe. This research focusses on the administrative and environmental law aspects of the pulse fish debate. The first part of this research explains the legal basis of pulse fishing, the legal bases of the derogations and who has competence in what situation. The second part of this study analyses the legal meaning of “environmentally sustainable fisheries”, one of the main objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (the legal basis of the pulse fish technique). Within this area the ecosystem-based approach and precautionary principle are explored. From these two parts I have made two frameworks, which are used in the third part of this study to analyse the pulse fish case. The results show that there is a gap between the results from the frameworks (the theoretical question) and the actual outcome of the pulse fish case. The fourth part of this study explains the influence of politics and lobby to reveal the disconnection between the theoretical outcome and practical outcome of the pulse fish case. The conclusion shows that the pulse fish technique is still in the research phase, but the known results show promising opportunities for the fishing industry and the maritime environment. The influence of politics however resulted in a different outcome for the pulse fish technique. The Union has exclusive competence in this matter and voted for a total ban, which means that the Netherlands will have to change back to the old technique and can no longer conduct scientific research at the current level. This research uncovers the disconnection between the rule of law and practice and shows the influence of politics in a decision-making process within the European Union. Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor, prof. dr. C.J. Bastmeijer, who has been very supporting during the whole process and made be believe in myself. I would like to thank my family and friends for supporting me and I would like to thank my partner, Noud, for supporting me and sticking with me these last months. 1 List of abbreviations TEU: Treaty on European Union TFEU: Treaty on the Function of the European Union CFP: Common Fisheries Policy CAP: Common Agriculture policy EP: European Parliament EC: European Council RAC: Regional Advisory Council EFCA: European Fisheries Control Agency MSY: Maximum Sustainable Yield TAC: Total Allowance Catches ICES: International Council for the Exploration of the Sea EU: European Union STECF: Scientific and Technical Committee of Fisheries ICES: International Council for the Exploitation of the Sea IAPF: Impact Assessment of Pulstrawl Fishery 2 Research question and approach On February 13, 2019 the Union voted for a total ban on electric pulse fishing in Europe.1 The debate on pulse fishing in Europe has many aspects. There is a lot discussion on the legality of the contracts and derogations (the derogations make it possible for the Netherlands to use the pulse fish technique), which includes mostly private law. There is speculation that the Netherlands are committing fraud with the way they execute the derogations, which include criminal law. The question is raised whether the Netherlands are abusing a dominant position and if pulse fishing contributes to unfair competition, which falls under European competition law. Then there is the question of “who decides what”; what competences and what decision-making power the member states and the Union have, which falls within administrative law. Finally, pulse fishing is about environmental law. It is a new technique that aims to contribute to a more environmentally sustainable way of fishing. For this study, I had to make choices and scope my research. Because of my interest in the oceans and marine environment, I wanted to take the administrative and environmental parts of the pulse fish debate as a starting point. I am always very curious about new techniques and methods on sustainability. Supporters of the pulse fish technique strongly believe that this technique is contributing to a more environmentally sustainable way of fishing. They even compare the technique to solar systems, which are universally approved. Taken this into consideration, this study will focus on the administrative- and environmental law aspects of the pulse fish case. This means that I only included in this study the aspects of the pulse fish debate that focus on competences, legislative procedure, environmental law and sustainability. During the process I realised that politics have had a big influence on the policy-making process, therefore I decided to dedicate one small chapter on the influence of politics. This study uncovers a disconnection between the legal framework of the Common Fisheries Policy and the executed policies, using the pulse fish case to expose this. The research question is the following: How should the recent decision in the EU regarding pulse fishing be assessed from the perspective of the legislative competences within the EU and the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy objective: “to ensure that fishing is environmentally sustainable”? Within this research question, there are the following subquestions: 1. How are competences divided between the EU and its Member States in general and more specifically in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy? 2. What is the meaning of “environmentally sustainable fisheries” and what instruments can be used? 3. Would the answers to subquestions 1 and 2 leave space for an allowance of pulse fishing? 4. What has been the role of politics and lobby in the pulse fish case? 1 Vincent Sondermeijer, ‘Helft Nederlandse kotters mag tot 2021 blijven pulsvissen’ (NRC, 13 February 2019) 3 Index Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 0 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 1 List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................................ 2 Research question and approach ........................................................................................................... 3 Index........................................................................................................................................................ 4 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Chapter 1 – How are competences divided between the EU and its Member States in general and more specifically in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy? ........................................................ 7 1.1 Competences within the EU.......................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Legislative procedure .................................................................................................................... 8 1.3 The Common Fisheries Policy ....................................................................................................... 9 1.4 The legal basis and objectives of the CFP: .................................................................................. 10 1.5 Interim conclusion: ..................................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 2 – What is the meaning of “environmentally sustainable fisheries” and what instruments can be used? ......................................................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Definition of “environmental sustainability”: ............................................................................. 13 2.2 Legal meaning of environmental sustainability in the context of the CFP ................................. 14 2.3 Legal instruments to achieve environmental sustainability ....................................................... 15 Ecosystem-based approach .......................................................................................................... 15 Precautionary principle ................................................................................................................. 16 2.4 Legal instruments on environmental sustainability within the CFP ........................................... 16 Ecosystem-based approach and the precautionary principle within the CFP .............................. 17 MSY ..............................................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • FR-29-Kavieng.Pdf
    Secretariat of the Pacific Community FIELD REPORT No. 29 on TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON SMALL-SCALE BAITFISHING TRIALS AND COURSE PRESENTATION TO THE NATIONAL FISHERIES COLLEGE, AND FAD EXPERIMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY FISHERIES MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ASSISTING IN KAVIENG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA 12 September to 7 December 2005 by William Sokimi Fisheries Development Officer Secretariat of the Pacific Community Noumea, New Caledonia 2006 © Copyright Secretariat of the Pacific Community 2006 All rights for commercial / for profit reproduction or translation, in any form, reserved. The SPC authorises the partial reproduction or translation of this material for scientific, educational or research purposes, provided the SPC and the source document are properly acknowledged. Permission to reproduce the document and/or translate in whole, in any form, whether for commercial / for profit or non-profit purposes, must be requested in writing. Original SPC artwork may not be altered or separately published without permission. This field report forms part of a series compiled by the Fisheries Development Section of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Coastal Fisheries Programme. These reports have been produced as a record of individual project activities and country assignments, from materials held within the Section, with the aim of making this valuable information readily accessible. Each report in this series has been compiled within the Fisheries Development Section to a technical standard acceptable for release into the public arena. Secretariat
    [Show full text]
  • The Need for Premium Agri-Fisheries for the Disaster-Affected Areas of Leyte, Philippines
    Journal of Developments in Sustainable Agriculture 10: 76-90 ( 2015) The Need for Premium Agri-fisheries for the Disaster-Affected Areas of Leyte, Philippines Dora Fe H. Bernardo1*, Oscar B. Zamora2 and Lucille Elna P. de Guzman2 1 Institute ofBiological Sciences, College ofArts and Sciences, University ofthe Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna 4031 Philippines 2 Crop Science Cluster, College ofAgriculture, University ofthe Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna 4031 Philippines On 8 November 2013, Super Typhoon Yolanda (internationally, “Haiyan”), a category-five typhoon, traversed the central Philippines. It was reportedly the strongest recorded storm ever to hit land, with winds over 300 km h-1 and storm surges over 4 m around coastal towns ofthe central Philippines. Total losses fromthe storm were PHP 571.1 billion (USD 12.9 billion); the estimate for Leyte Province was PHP 9.4 billion. In Leyte, the typhoon almost totally destroyed most crops, fishing boats and gear, aquaculture infrastructure, seaweed farms, mangroves, onshore facilities, and markets. The Leyte Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan was initiated to restore the economic and social conditions ofthe people in Leyte to at least pre-typhoon levels, and to establish greater disaster resiliency. However, to simply re- establish pre-typhoon conditions would be a missed opportunity. The tragedy should be used to foster sustainable and climate-resilient agri-fisheries in the province of Leyte. The typhoon calamity demonstrated that the current practice ofmono-cropping (or monoculture) is unsustainable and not resilient to climate change. Agriculture systems that are small-scale and labor-intensive, with diverse crop strategies that consider on-farm, farm-related, and off-farm food and income generation should be developed.
    [Show full text]
  • Protests Against His Rule
    BUSINESS | 14 SPORT | 16 Jet Airways Gutsy Kerber approves rescue stays on deal to plug course for $1.2bn gap Doha final Friday 15 February 2019 | 10 Jumada II 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 23 | Number 7803 | 2 Riyals Amir in Munich to Amir meets Ambassadors of Kyrgyzstan and Peru attend security conference QNA The 55th session of MUNICH/DOHA the Munich Security Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Conference is Hamad Al Thani arrived expected to be the yesterday evening in Munich, the biggest and most Federal Republic of Germany, to participate in the 55th session of important since the Munich Security Conference the founding of the (MSC) which will begin today and conference. will run until February 17. H H the Amir is accompanied by an official delegation. most important since the founding MSC is one of the largest and of the conference. Over the course most important international con- of three days, MSC 2019 will be ferences on the global security held under the chairmanship and defence policies. Twenty-one Wolfgang Ischinger and with the heads of state and 75 foreign and participation of German Chan- defence ministers participated in cellor Angela Merkel, US Vice- the last session of the MSC. President Mike Pence and a A strong strategic part- number of heads of governments nership, between Qatar and the and international community MSC, emerged during the 18th organisations. session of Doha Forum. The year This year’s conference will be 2011 witnessed the convening of held in exceptional circumstances the first meeting of MSC officials amidst many problems, crises and in Doha, where the two sides events, which will give the 2019 agreed to work together more session great importance.
    [Show full text]
  • The Court of Justice Dismisses the Action Brought by the Netherlands Against the Ban on Fishing by Vessels Using Electric Pulse Trawls
    Court of Justice of the European Union PRESS RELEASE No 59/21 Luxembourg, 15 April 2021 Judgment in Case C-733/19 Press and Information Netherlands v Council and Parliament The Court of Justice dismisses the action brought by the Netherlands against the ban on fishing by vessels using electric pulse trawls The EU legislature has a wide discretion in this field and is not obliged to base its legislative choice on scientific and technical opinions only In 2019, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted new rules on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems. 1 Accordingly, certain destructive fishing gear or methods which use explosives, poison, stupefying substances, electric current, pneumatic hammers or other percussive instruments, towed devices and grabs for harvesting red coral or other types of coral and certain spear-guns are prohibited. However, the use of electric pulse trawl remains possible during a transitional period (until 30 June 2021) and under certain strict conditions. On 4 October 2019, the Netherlands brought an action before the Court of Justice for the annulment of the provisions of this regulation concerning electric pulse fishing vessels. The Netherlands argued inter alia that the EU legislature had not relied on the best scientific opinions available concerning the comparison of the environmental impacts of electric pulse trawling and traditional beam trawling in the exploitation of North Sea sole. In its judgment delivered today, the Court recalls, first of all, that the EU legislature is not obliged to base its legislative choice as to technical measures on the available scientific and technical opinions only.
    [Show full text]
  • Fnw1834-4-Compressed.Pdf
    Find us on Twitter £3.25 Join in the conversation 23 August 2018 Issue: 5426 @YourFishingNews £300M FLEET INVESTMENT TURN TO PAGE 2 FOR THE FULL REPORT Mary May – new Cygnus Typhoon 40 for Seahouses REGIONAL NEWS Seahouses skipper Neal Priestley’s new Cygnus … preparing to Valentine’s crew ‘on Typhoon 40 Mary May… start potting from Seahouses. guard’ for Folkestone Trawler Race 2018 Twenty-fiveboats and imaginatively-dressed crews took part in the popular Folkestone Trawler Race, held in fine sunny weather on 11-12 August. Further details on page 23. This year’s winners were: ● Valentine – first boat home, sponsored by Folkestone Trawlers ● Viking Princess – second boat home, sponsored by the Ship Inn ● Gilly – first motor boat home ● Poseidon – first visiting boat home ● Valentine – best-dressed fishing boat ● Viking Princess – best-dressed fishing boat crew ● Silver Lining – last boat home Seahouses skipper Neal Priestley, together with crewmen completion of a 900-mile delivery trip from Co Kerry. Darren Flanagan and Daniel Blackie, have started to fish static Insured by Sunderland Marine, Mary May is designed for gear on the new fast potter Mary May BK 8 off the coast of pot self-hauling and shooting. North Northumberland, reports David Linkie. Catches of lobsters and brown and velvet crab will be The battle-weary crew of the overall winner of Mary May is based on a Cygnus Typhoon 40 hull, moulded kept in optimum condition by an innovative sprinkler system Folkestone Trawler Race, Valentine, salute as they return and fully fitted out by Murphy Marine Services at Valentia fitted in a large hold amidships, before being landed daily to to harbour, ahead of Viking Princess in second place.
    [Show full text]
  • Electric Pulse Fishing
    Jeremy Percy Executive Director Low Impact Fishers of Europe [LIFE] • Traditional Beam trawling • Operation • Impacts • Electric Pulse trawling • Operation • Impacts • Discussion • A petition was presented to Parliament in 1376 calling for the prohibition of a "subtlety contrived instrument called the wondyrchoum". This was an early beam trawl with a wooden beam, and consisted of a net 6 m (18 ft) long and 3 m (10 ft) wide. • “of so small a mesh, no manner of fish, however small, entering within it can pass out and is compelled to remain therein and be taken...by means of which instrument the fishermen aforesaid take so great abundance of small fish aforesaid, that they know not what to do with them, but feed and fatten the pigs with them, to the great damage of the whole commons of the kingdom, and the destruction of the fisheries in like places, for which they pray remedy” • Thus, already back in the Middle Ages, basic arguments about three of the most sensitive current issues surrounding trawling - the effect of trawling on the wider environment, the use of small mesh size, and of industrial fishing for animal feed - were already being raised • Benthic Impacts • Changes in benthic communities • By Catch • Discard rate • Carbon footprint • Fuel use per kg landed fish: 2.13 euro • Fuel cost as percentage of revenues; 52% • Fuel use per day at sea: 7,311 L • Net Profit 2013: beamtrawl -1.4 mln. Euro • [ref: Mike Turenhout NL] With thanks to Bart Verschueren for the following technical slides: • 1988 – EU Ban on use of electricity [850/98]
    [Show full text]
  • Electric 'Pulse' Fishing: Why It Should Be Banned January 2018 Electric 'Pulse' Fishing: Why It Should Be Banned | January 2018 2
    working for the oceans ELECTRIC 'PULSE' FISHING: WHY IT SHOULD BE BANNED JANUARY 2018 ELECTRIC 'PULSE' FISHING: WHY IT SHOULD BE BANNED | JANUARY 2018 2 ELECTRIC 'PULSE' FISHING: WHY IT SHOULD BE BANNED Europe needs to decide on a 'Frankenstein' case, a problem we have entirely crea- ted for ourselves: electric 'pulse' fishing'. Electric fishing, which is forbidden in most fishing nations in the World, including China, was also banned in Europe until the European Commission and Council, at the end of 2006, made an ille- gitimate decision to authorize the use of electric current to catch fish and grant unjustified exemptions. This ruling went against scientific advice, only to satisfy the pressure exerted by a private interest group: the Dutch industrial beam trawl fleet. The use of electricity in the wild has serious environmental and socio-eco- nomic consequences: not only is the seabed impacted by huge industrial nets, but all marine life is now electrocuted. Europe needs to fix the problems it has created. The survival of the small- scale fishing sector requires that Europe definitively bans this destructive fishing technique. Electric 'pulse' fishing is a technological trick which halves fuel consumption, so that a fleet of otherwise cash-strapped Undoubtedly, 'regular' beam fishing units can be kept in operation. Under the guise of "ex- trawls are devastating and al- perimental fishing" a whole fleet in the Netherlands has been converted to a fishing method that is banned in Europe (and ternatives must be sought. But elsewhere in the world). Several million euros of public money solutions should not threa- have been allocated to equipping Dutch vessels with electric 'pulse' trawls, with the complicity of the public authorities.
    [Show full text]
  • House of Commons Official Report
    Wednesday Volume 691 17 March 2021 No. 192 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 17 March 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 303 17 MARCH 2021 304 Simon Hart: The best way of avoiding that outcome House of Commons is for the Welsh Government to get behind the scheme and support a project that is endorsed by local authorities and port authorities in Wales, and to encourage jobs Wednesday 17 March 2021 and livelihoods in that way. Every single day that they leave it—on the basis of the “not invented here” The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock syndrome—will cost jobs and livelihoods. My message to the hon. Gentleman is get hold of the Welsh Government and encourage them to come to the party. PRAYERS The Union [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Orders, Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow North East) (SNP): What 4 June and 30 December 2020). recent assessment his Department has made of the [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] strength of the Union between Wales and the rest of the UK. [913410] Oral Answers to Questions Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (Con): What steps his Department is taking to strengthen the Union. [913417] WALES The Secretary of State for Wales (Simon Hart): As the vaccine roll-out has shown, our four nations are The Secretary of State was asked— safer, stronger and more prosperous together, and I Liverpool City Region Freeport look forward to the people of Wales giving a resounding endorsement of the Union at the Senedd elections in Mr David Jones (Clwyd West) (Con): What discussions May.
    [Show full text]
  • Electric 'Pulse' Fishing
    OPEN SEAS working for the oceans IJmuiden Pan Cypriot Association of Fileyeurs des Leigh & Southend Fishermen Professional Fishermen Hauts de France Fishermen IRISH ISLA N D S M A R INE RES O URCE ORG ANISATION Mersea Island Thanet Queenbourgh Fishermen Fishermen Fishermen p l a t e f o r me d e la pe tit e p ê c he a r tisan a le f r a n ç ais e ElEctric 'pulsE' fishing: Why it should bE bannEd April 2018 ELECTRIC 'PULSE' FISHING: WHY IT SHOULD BE BANNED | April 2018 2 ELECTRIC 'PULSE' FISHING: WHY IT SHOULD BE BANNED | April 2018 3 80 catch are discarded. In comparison, gillnetters targeting s e the same species in the same area discard around 6% of s Vessels engaged in n 60 e so-called “research” their catch. c Illegal KEy findings & conclusions i l licenses f 40 ▪ The electric current causes such violent, uncontrolled o r Most fishing nations in the world have banned electric fishing, and so has the EU. However, it has been authorising the e convulsions in fish and experiments show that 39 to 70% b 20 use of electric current to capture wild animals through a derogation regime since 2006. Not only does this unethical m of large cod are left with a fractured spine and internal u way of fishing damage our natural world, but electric fishing also threatens the productivity of the ocean and directly N Legal bleeding after the shock. 0 licenses destroys jobs in the fishing sector. 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 ▪ Survival rates measured for several discarded species 22 licenses 2010 2014 +20 licenses +42 licenses were very low, especially for undersized specimens.
    [Show full text]
  • General Disclaimer One Or More of the Following Statements May Affect
    General Disclaimer One or more of the Following Statements may affect this Document This document has been reproduced from the best copy furnished by the organizational source. It is being released in the interest of making available as much information as possible. This document may contain data, which exceeds the sheet parameters. It was furnished in this condition by the organizational source and is the best copy available. This document may contain tone-on-tone or color graphs, charts and/or pictures, which have been reproduced in black and white. This document is paginated as submitted by the original source. Portions of this document are not fully legible due to the historical nature of some of the material. However, it is the best reproduction available from the original submission. Produced by the NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI) 1,0E/NASA/01 80-1 NASA CRA 65286 Market Assessment of Photovoltaic Power Systems for Agricultural Applications in the Philippines (NASA-Cd- 165286) SAHKEI ASSESSMENT CF N61-'14530 PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTIMS FOR AGHICULTUgAL APPLICATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES Final Report (DH&, Inc.) 205 p HC A1U/bF A61 Unclas CSCL 10A G3/44 42369 R. Anil Cabraal and David Delasanta DHR, Incorporated and George Burrill ARD, Incorporated April 1981 Prepared for National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lewis Research Center Under Contract DEN3-180 for U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Conservation and Solar Energy Division of Solar Thermal Energy Systems DOE/NASA/0180-1 NASA CR-165286 Market Assessment of Photovoltaic Power Systems for Agricultural Applications In the Philippines R. Anil Cabraal and David Delasanta DHR, Incorporated Washington, D.C.
    [Show full text]
  • University of Groningen the Implications of a Transition from Tickler Chain Beam Trawl to Electric Pulse Trawl on the Sustainabi
    University of Groningen The implications of a transition from tickler chain beam trawl to electric pulse trawl on the sustainability and ecosystem effects of the fishery for North Sea sole Rijnsdorp, A.D.; Boute, P.; Tiano, J.; Lankheet, M.; Soetaert, K.; Beier, U.; de Borger, E.; Hintzen, N.T.; Molenaar, P.; Polet, H. DOI: 10.18174/519729 IMPORTANT NOTE: You are advised to consult the publisher's version (publisher's PDF) if you wish to cite from it. Please check the document version below. Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Publication date: 2020 Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database Citation for published version (APA): Rijnsdorp, A. D., Boute, P., Tiano, J., Lankheet, M., Soetaert, K., Beier, U., de Borger, E., Hintzen, N. T., Molenaar, P., Polet, H., Poos, J. J., Schram, E., Soetaert, M., van Overzee, H., van de Wolfshaar, K., & van Kooten, T. (2020). The implications of a transition from tickler chain beam trawl to electric pulse trawl on the sustainability and ecosystem effects of the fishery for North Sea sole: An impact assessment. Wageningen Marine Research. https://doi.org/10.18174/519729 Copyright Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). The publication may also be distributed here under the terms of Article 25fa of the Dutch Copyright Act, indicated by the “Taverne” license.
    [Show full text]
  • Join the Fishing News Group – Follow This Link £3.25 Shingnews 19 July 2018 Issue: 5421
    nd us on Join the Fishing News group – follow this link £3.25 http://on.fb.me/shingnews 19 July 2018 Issue: 5421 17 April 2015 TURN TO£2.99 PAGE 2 FOR THE FULL Courageous Courageous approaches Symbister harbour for the first time after being bought by a youthful Whalsay partnership (Photo courtesy REPORT PLANSat Whalsay TOIvan Reid) CHARGE INDUSTRY Kirkella – new Hull freezer trawler fishing her first trip REGIONAL NEWS North Sea hake, plaice and whiting A large number of Whalsay residents awarded MSC certification braved gales force winds and driving North Sea hake, plaice and whiting, and West Coast sleet to welcome the latest addition haddock, were awarded MSC accreditation on 3 July, to the local fleet, the 26.5m whitefish after being entered for assessment by the Scottish trawler Courageous LK 470, into Fisheries Sustainable Accreditation Group (SFSAG), Symbister harbour for the first time at reports David Linkie. the beginning of this month, reports In an innovative approach, SFSAG did an David Linkie. expedited assessment of the North Sea haddock The occasion was given added fishery, which secured MSC certification for the significance by the fact that Courageous second time in 2015. Expedited assessment enabled has been bought by four young Whalsay the target species array to be expanded to haddock, fishermen, skipper Ian Shearer (24), saithe, plaice, hake and whiting in five separate engineer Malcolm Reid (24) Christopher Units of Assessment and a range extension that Irvine (19) and James Johnston (18), in includes ICES divisions 4, 6a, 3a and 2a (EU waters), partnership with LHD Ltd.
    [Show full text]