MOODY MARINE LTD Ref: 82084 Assessors: J.W. Andrews, A.R. Brand, T.J. Holt MSC Assessment Report for Isle of Man Queen Scallop Trawl and Dredge Fishery Client: Isle of Man Government Version 4: Final Report Certification Body: Client Contact: Moody Marine Ltd Andy Read Moody International Certification Department of Environment Food & Merlin House Agriculture Stanier Way Isle of Man Government Wyvern Business Park Thie Slieau Whallian Derby DE21 6BF St Johns UK Isle of Man IM4 3AS Tel: +44 (0) 1633 544663 Tel: +44(0)1624-686045 Fax: +44 (0) 1633 675020 Fax: +44(0)1624-468581 FN 82084 v4 Page 1 CONTENTS 1 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................... 6 2 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 THE FISHERY PROPOSED FOR CERTIFICATION........................................................................................ 8 2.1.1 Unit of Certification 1: Trawl fishery............................................................................................. 8 2.1.2 Unit of Certification 2: Dredge fishery .......................................................................................... 8 2.2 REPORT STRUCTURE AND ASSESSMENT PROCESS.............................................................................. 11 2.3 STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS ATTENDED................................................................................................. 11 2.4 OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES.......................................................................................................... 12 3 GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE REPORT............................ 18 4 BACKGROUND TO THE FISHERY................................................................................................... 19 4.1 BIOLOGY OF THE TARGET SPECIES ..................................................................................................... 19 4.2 HISTORY OF THE FISHERY .................................................................................................................. 20 4.3 FLEET AND GEAR DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 22 4.3.1 Trawling ....................................................................................................................................... 23 4.3.2 Dredging....................................................................................................................................... 23 4.4 AREAS FISHED.................................................................................................................................... 24 5 THE TARGET SPECIES....................................................................................................................... 26 5.1 STOCK STATUS ................................................................................................................................... 26 5.2 TAC AND REFERENCE POINTS............................................................................................................ 31 5.3 HARVEST CONTROL STRATEGY .......................................................................................................... 31 5.4 HARVEST CONTROL RULES & TOOLS .................................................................................................. 32 5.4.1 Queen scallop management byelaw ............................................................................................. 32 5.4.2 Other fisheries regulations ........................................................................................................... 35 5.5 INFORMATION / MONITORING ............................................................................................................. 36 5.6 ASSESSMENT OF STOCK STATUS ......................................................................................................... 37 6 ECOSYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS .................................................................................................. 38 6.1 OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................... 38 6.2 RETAINED SPECIES ............................................................................................................................. 43 6.3 DISCARDED SPECIES........................................................................................................................... 43 6.4 ENDANGERED, THREATENED & PROTECTED SPECIES ........................................................................ 46 6.5 HABITAT IMPACTS.............................................................................................................................. 46 6.6 ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS......................................................................................................................... 49 7 FISHERY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ..................................................................................... 50 7.1 OVERVIEW ......................................................................................................................................... 50 7.2 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK....................................................................................... 50 7.2.1 Institutional arrangements ........................................................................................................... 50 7.2.2 Fisheries Legislation and Boundaries.......................................................................................... 50 7.2.3 Consultation roles and responsibilities ........................................................................................ 52 7.2.4 Decision making processes........................................................................................................... 53 7.2.5 Monitoring and evaluation of management systems .................................................................... 54 7.2.6 Fishery Research Plan ................................................................................................................. 54 7.3 FISHERY MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................. 54 7.3.1 Long term objectives..................................................................................................................... 54 7.3.2 Fishery specific objectives............................................................................................................ 55 7.4 ENFORCEMENT & COMPLIANCE ......................................................................................................... 56 7.4.1 Enforcement.................................................................................................................................. 56 7.4.2 Compliance................................................................................................................................... 56 7.4.3 Incentives for sustainable fishing ................................................................................................. 57 7.5 FUTURE MANAGEMENT...................................................................................................................... 57 8 OTHER FISHERIES AFFECTING TARGET STOCK ..................................................................... 58 FN 82084 v4 Page 2 9 STANDARD USED................................................................................................................................. 59 9.1 PRINCIPLE 1 ....................................................................................................................................... 59 9.2 PRINCIPLE 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 59 9.3 PRINCIPLE 3 ....................................................................................................................................... 60 10 BACKGROUND TO THE EVALUATION.......................................................................................... 62 10.1 EVALUATION TEAM ........................................................................................................................... 62 10.2 PREVIOUS CERTIFICATION EVALUATIONS ........................................................................................... 62 10.3 INSPECTIONS OF THE FISHERY ............................................................................................................ 62 11 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION................................................................................................... 64 11.1 STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION.......................................................................................................... 64 11.2 STAKEHOLDER ISSUES........................................................................................................................ 64 12 OBSERVATIONS AND SCORING...................................................................................................... 65 12.1 INTRODUCTION TO SCORING METHODOLOGY...................................................................................... 65 12.2 THE RISK BASED FRAMEWORK.........................................................................................................