Volume 9 | 2023 Free magazine

Quay
Issues
 Welcome to Quay Issues
You can’t keep the UK fishing industry down!
In this edition
04 – Ain’t No Party Like 04 08
That is the big takeaway from this edition of a Scallop Party
Quay Issues. The well-documented challenges 08 – Planning the Future
presented by Brexit, Covid-19 and the cost- of UK Fisheries
of-living crisis in recent times have hit the
industry hard. And yet, throughout the UK, 17 – First Aid Guide With
we hear stories of ingenuity, versatility and Crew Safety in Mind
Marcus Coleman
resilience as businesses look forward with Chief Executive 18 – Spurdog Millionaire
positivity rather than dwelling on the past. Officer, Seafish
20 – Fishermen Wanted!
18 22
Here, we shine the spotlight on innovation with a wonderful article featuring
three seafood families striving to integrate their businesses with the 22 – Hooked on
catching sector. We hear about Remote Electronic Monitoring in use on Squiddling
Scottish scallop dredgers and lessons learnt from deployment of the same
32 – Staying Afloat
technology in Australia. Talking scallops, we catch up with a project using
‘PotLights’ in modified traps to increase catch volumes – ‘disco scallops’! with Family

Climate change is a major focus for Seafish and for the fishing industry. 38 – Nothing Ventured,
Quay Issues features carbon footprint labelling at Whitby Seafoods, who Nothing Gained
32 38
are keen to give consumers more information. We look at fuel efficiency
42 – REM in the UK
initiatives in the UK fleet and we explore the concept of ‘squiddling’ –
Fishing Fleet
catching squid through jigging – an environmentally friendly method that
some might want to take a look at. 48 – Whitby Seafoods
We know that crewing vessels has become increasingly difficult. We Carbon Footprint
explore how the Scottish White Fish Producers Association is tackling 54 – Tracking the Trends
this issue through its new Crewing Services initiative, and we travel to
Bridlington to understand how the ‘Get a Life at Sea’ project is using social
media to good effect, providing advice and guidance on training and job 48 54
opportunities. We also look at how a fishing vessel can play a part in
education with the Bachlaw Project in Aberdeenshire.
I hope you enjoy reading these, and other, uplifting stories as much as we
enjoy researching them and bringing them to you all. There’s lots more
help, advice and guidance on the Seafish website. We’re here to help the
seafood industry in the UK to thrive. I hope you enjoy Quay Issues!

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In Focus: Disco Scallops
Ain’t No Party Like a
Scallop
Party
– Caitlin Turner
In 2019 Dr Rob Enever and his
team from Fishtek Marine
were tinkering with adding
small LED lights to traditional
crustacean pots. These lights,
they hoped, would attract
crabs and lobsters to the
pots, without the need to use
fish as bait. The lights were
simply named ‘PotLights’,
and the modified traps were
handed over to Newlyn
fisherman John Ashworth
for trial on fishing grounds
off the Cornish coast.
4 | QUAY ISSUES | SEAFISH
Strings shot, they waited.
When they hauled the pots a few days later, they found they had accidentally
attracted a rather unexpected reveller: king scallops. A number of scallops were
in the pots, alongside the expected species of crustacean.
With over 200 eyes, for some time it’s been no secret that scallops are sensitive
to light, but it was previously unknown that they could be attracted to it in this
way. Speaking to The Guardian, Ashworth stated that “pretty much every pot
(with lights) hauled had scallops in them, and yet every pot without lights
had no scallops”. John, skipper of the Three Jays, also revealed that from the
35,000 pots he hauls annually, he would generally not expect to see more than
five scallops all year. When he began shooting pots with PotLights, the first haul
immediately revealed 15 scallops.
This caused so much excitement that Dr Enever, lead author of the study,
“could hardly sleep for a couple of nights”. This had potential to be a world-
first discovery, but further research was needed. Funding was granted from the
UK Seafood Innovation Fund, which is part of the £100m UK Seafood Fund.
Researchers from the University of York and Exeter got on board, as well as
more local fishermen and pot makers. With this additional support, Fishtek
Marine began conducting further trials to investigate the phenomenon.
The trials were again conducted in Cornish waters, on grounds traditionally
potted for crustaceans. Between December 2020 and February 2021, 77 strings
were shot, deploying 1,886 pots of several different designs. Some pots included
modifications such as ramps and retainers to help scallops enter pots and make
leaving them more difficult.
Modified parlour pots containing PotLights
SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 5
In Focus: Disco Scallops

The results? Scallops are party animals!

All treatments with lights were found to retain scallops, and of 518 total
scallops recorded, 516 (99.6%) were caught in pots with lights. Modified parlour
pots containing PotLights were most effective, with 24 scallops caught in a
single pot!
Fittingly, these LED-modified pots are now being referred to as ‘scallop discos’.
Not only do these pots particularly attract scallops, they also had no detrimental
effect on catches of crab and lobster: scallops were simply being caught
alongside them.
These exciting findings have introduced the potential for a new, low-impact and
low-cost alternative to traditional scallop fishing methods. Currently, scallops
are caught primarily using dredges, which, due to their heavy and penetrative
design, carry a high impact on the seabed.
The other low-impact alternative currently practised is hand-gathering by divers,
but this method can only produce limited quantities.
PotLights – small, AA-battery powered LED lights – are an inexpensive, reusable
modification for crustacean pots.
Further experiments will look to refine pot designs and LED lights to specifically
retain attracted scallops, and also investigate the effect of using different light
colours. As of June 2022, Orkney, the Isle of Man and Dartmouth have been
identified as further sites to trial PotLights.
For now, the research has shown that PotLights work, and could offer the
potential to boost inshore fisheries with further development.

For the full report,

please scan here:

Effort of scallop fishing fleet by gears used

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In Focus: Future of UK Fisheries

Planning
the Future
of UK Fisheries – Udara Nagodavithana

The Fisheries Act 2020 sets up the main principles for the UK
to manage and use its own fisheries as an independent coastal
state outside of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Defra and the Devolved Administrations (DAs) are
implementing Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) as part of
their responsibility to deliver sustainable fisheries for current
and future generations. FMPs are evidence-based action plans
developed through collaboration between the fishing sector,
scientists, regulators, other marine industries, policy makers
and environmental groups.

The Joint Fisheries Statement lists 43 proposed FMPs. These will be developed
by either a single fisheries policy authority for its own waters, or partnerships
of authorities. Each FMP will focus on specific species, fishing method(s) and
geographical areas.
As our fishing activities range from well-understood stocks to complex mixed and
data-deficient fisheries, FMPs will vary significantly in content and format; there
will be no one-size-fits-all approach. FMPs may draw upon existing tools, require
new technical measures or regulations, or use non-statutory routes such as
voluntary agreements.
FMPs are being delivered collaboratively with input from stakeholders
throughout the process. Once drafted, FMPs will all go through a public
consultation, allowing interested parties further opportunity to share their views.
Six frontrunner FMPs are being developed by Defra (two of these alongside
the Welsh Government), with government working collaboratively with different
delivery partners. Each plan is piloting a different way of preparing the plan in
partnership with stakeholders, including industry groups. This article provides
some more information on these frontrunner FMPs.
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In Focus: Future of UK Fisheries

FMPs: constituent parts Whelk

* FMP – the plan itself, including fisheries management objectives,
environmental considerations, implementation plan and ways of monitoring
performance. Each FMP will have supporting documents, for example:
* Annex 1: Evidence statement – a summary of what information is already
available for these fisheries, to serve as a baseline for where fisheries were
when the FMP was drafted; this includes biological, social and economic
evidence. Figure 1 below right is an example of the evidence included in the
evidence statement.
* Annex 2: Evidence and research plan – laying out evidence gaps and
how these can be addressed through targeted scientific research to improve
the information base for these fisheries and inform management decisions in
the future.
* Annex 3: Stakeholder engagement report – a summary of stakeholder
involvement in the FMP development process including feedback received from
stakeholder engagement events and how this feedback was used to refine the
draft FMP before delivery to Defra.
Jurisdiction: English waters only
Delivery partner: Seafish in consultation with the Whelk Management
Group (WMG)
Description: The partnership between Seafish and the WMG focused on
identifying opportunities to build the evidence base for whelk fisheries in
England to move from a point of data deficiency to a data-rich future, to support
evidence-based management. The partnership also explored management
options that may be suitable for whelk fisheries. The WMG is a collaborative
forum for industry, researchers, policy makers and government regulators.
The WMG formed an FMP working group of industry representatives and
regulators to develop species-specific objectives, which were further refined
through stakeholder feedback. As part of the draft FMP development process,
Seafish delivered a series of stakeholder engagement events: five in-person
events – in Weymouth, Ilfracombe, Shoreham, Fleetwood and Wells – and three
online events were held to discuss and feed back on elements of the draft FMP
content. The draft FMP developed collaboratively by Seafish and the WMG was
submitted to Defra in February 2023.

A. An FMP sets out policies for maintaining

stocks at sustainable levels, or restoring
them to these levels if needed. This includes
Q. What is an FMP?
non-quota stocks. FMPs provide the
framework to build and maintain sustainable
UK fish and shellfish stocks.

A. Following Brexit, the UK Fisheries Act

Q. How did FMPs 2020 has placed FMPs at the heart of
come about? UK fisheries management. FMPs detail
the practical, fishery-scale delivery of the
overarching Act.

A. Defra is responsible for preparing and

publishing FMPs for England. They will
Q. Who is be based on best available science, fisher Figure 1: Distribution of whelk landing by UK vessels in English waters
developing FMPs? experience and policy objectives through from 2016-2021
participation of key stakeholders (fishermen,
researchers and regulators).
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In Focus: Future of UK Fisheries
Crab & Lobster
Jurisdiction: English waters only
Delivery partner: Seafish in consultation with the Crab & Lobster Management
Group (CMG)
Description: The partnership between Seafish and the CMG focused on
identifying and reviewing current measures, identifying knowledge gaps and
exploring opportunities for improved future management to ensure the long-
term sustainability in the brown crab and European lobster fisheries in English
waters. Alongside this work, species-specific objectives were developed by the
CMG’s FMP working group, which is made up of industry representatives and
regulators. As a part of the draft FMP development process, Seafish delivered
a series of stakeholder engagement events in late 2022: seven in-person – in
Ilfracombe, Padstow, Newlyn, Salcombe, Shoreham, Bridlington and Whitby
– and three online events which facilitated discussions with stakeholders from
around England and provided feedback on the objectives and the potential
management interventions. The draft FMP developed collaboratively by Seafish
and the CMG was submitted to Defra in February 2023.
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King Scallop
Jurisdiction: English and Welsh waters
Delivery partner: The Scallop Industry Consultation Group Working Group
(SICGWG) with support from Seafish
Description: This FMP sets out plans to achieve long-term sustainability for king
scallop fisheries in English and Welsh waters. The SICGWG is a collaborative
forum for industry, researchers, policy makers and government regulators to
come together to inform management decisions. The aim was to develop a
plan that encompassed the existing management measures for king scallop
fisheries, plus the available science and evidence, to identify the existing gaps
in management. The SICGWG took the lead in developing aims and objectives
that will facilitate the co-management approach and ultimately achieve the
objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020. From September to December 2022 the
SICGWG, supported by Seafish, delivered 14 informal stakeholder engagement
events through a combination of in-person and online meetings. These events
gave stakeholders the opportunity to discuss and provide feedback on draft FMP
aims and objectives, plus proposed management interventions and the evidence
supporting these. The draft FMP developed by the SICGWG with support from
Seafish was submitted to Defra in January 2023.
Next steps: For the Crab & Lobster, Whelk and King Scallop FMPs: these
plans are undergoing a public consultation period during summer 2023.
Following consultation and refinement, the FMPs will be signed off by the
Secretary of State and are scheduled to be published later in 2023.
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In Focus: Future of UK Fisheries

Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish

Jurisdiction: English waters within the ICES divisions 4b, 4c and 7d
Delivery partner: Defra
Description: Defra is working on the flatfish frontrunner FMP, which includes
both quota and non-quota species: sole, dab, plaice, flounder, halibut, lemon
sole, witch, turbot and brill. In spring 2023, the team collated evidence and
drafted the vision and objectives for the FMP. An example of the evidence being
used is shown in Figure 2. The FMP is using existing forums such as the FIAG
and the FIAG FMP sub-group for stakeholder engagement, to try and reduce the
burden on stakeholders.
Next steps: The FMP is being drafted and will go to consultation in
summer 2023. When the draft is finalised, the FMP content is to be tested
on existing groups, such as the FIAG.

Bass
Jurisdiction: English and Welsh waters
Delivery partner: Policy Lab, Defra and Welsh Government
Description: Stakeholder engagement and co-design for the Bass FMP was
facilitated by Policy Lab, a small multidisciplinary team based at the Department Figure 2 shows the distribution of the UK fishing fleets’ landings of
for Education. Policy Lab’s work included conducting expert interviews with key species concerned in the Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel
bass stakeholders, undertaking lived experience research and port visits, hosting Mixed Flatfish FMP by area and gears used in English waters between
online collective intelligence exercises, co-design workshops and co-refine 2016 and 2021
surveys. Over 1,400 stakeholders, including commercial and recreational fishers,
charter boat operators, scientists, environmental organisations, regulators and
policy makers were engaged in the process. Policy Lab have now handed over
the evidence they collated to Defra and the Welsh Government, who will draft
the final Bass FMP informed by Policy Lab’s research as well as a separate FMP
evidence statement and conservation advice.
Next steps: A draft Bass FMP will go out to public consultation in the
summer of 2023. The final FMP is scheduled to be published in the winter
of 2023 and FMP implementation is expected to be rolled out in 2024.

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In Focus: Future of UK Fisheries In Focus: First Aid Guide

Channel non-quota demersal stocks (NQS)

Jurisdiction: English Channel (ICES) divisions 7d and 7e First Aid Guide
Delivery partner: Marine Management Organisation (MMO)
Description: This FMP is complex as it encompasses 14 demersal (bottom-
with Crew
dwelling) non-quota species: gurnard (red, tub and grey), cuttlefish, squid,
octopus, John Dory, lesser spotted dogfish, red mullet, smoothhound, bib,
Safety in Mind
turbot, lemon sole and brill. The MMO has been working collaboratively with Thanks to EMFF funding, Seafish has collaborated with the Welsh Fishing
commercial and recreational fishers, policy makers, scientists, academics and Safety Committee to produce a quick-reference ‘First Aid at Sea’ guide for
environmental organisations through a working group and an evidence advisory
the fishing industry.
group to co-refine the FMP. This first iteration of the plan will set out the
available evidence for these species, what gaps exist and how they may be With guidance provided by the Welsh Government, this first aid guide has been
filled, and what measures are necessary to effectively manage non-quota designed with fishing vessels in mind. During summer 2022, printed versions of
species sustainably. the guide were handed out to vessels across Wales. We had a great response
To gain wider stakeholder awareness of the FMP, understand priorities and to the simple, uncomplicated layout and clear instructions on how to deal with
get feedback on the FMP’s goals and proposed management measures, the incidents and emergencies requiring first aid to be administered. Due to its
MMO has held a number of stakeholder engagement events, most recently success, we are now making a digital version of the guide available to the
in February and March which included quayside conversations and drop-in whole UK fleet.
sessions in 20 ports along the Channel coast, and also online events. The guide covers 12 of the most serious situations likely to be encountered
Next steps: The NQS FMP is being drafted. This will go to consultation while fishing, ensuring that fishers always have access to essential first
in summer 2023. aid information.
Once downloaded on the Adobe Acrobat app to a mobile phone or tablet, the
digital first aid guide is a great tool that you can ensure is always close by and
ready to access if needed.
Contact details for further information
It is a great resource that complements and reinforces what fishers learn when
• Whelks, Crab & Lobster, fisheriesmanagementplans@seafish.co.uk attending first aid training.
and King Scallops bassFMP@defra.gov.uk
• Bass FMP@marinemanagement.org.uk
• Channel non-quota flatfishFMP@defra.gov.uk Please get in touch
demersal stocks with our Wales Manager,
• Southern North Sea and
Noemi Donigiewicz, at
Eastern Channel Flatfish
noemi.donigiewicz@
seafish.co.uk for a
download link or with any
questions about the project.

First Aid at Sea

Digital Guide

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In Focus: Spurdog Millionaire

Spurdog
Shall we lock it in?
So, what’s changed? Spurdog is now a ‘Category 1’ species – meaning it has
the most data-rich stock assessment available and is in the best position for

Millionaire – Oscar Wilkie

advice. The new advice for 2023 and 2024 is based on variables including
landings and discard levels, recruitment, harvest rate and total biomass.
A maximum sustainable yield (MSY) approach has been applied, with ICES
suggesting that catches of no more than 17,353 tonnes in 2023 and 17,855
For 15 years, spurdogs couldn’t be tonnes in 2024 could be made available in sub-areas 1-10, 12 and 14 (the
landed by UK fishers, but that’s all Northeast Atlantic and adjacent waters).
about to change. The opportunity
Negotiations have taken place with the other coastal states that have an interest
to catch, even target, spurdogs –
in spurdog, to discuss how to share out the TAC. All countries recognise the
a member of the dogfish family need for caution and have agreed to a TAC for 2023/24 that is 10.95% less
sometimes also referred to as than what the science suggests is acceptable. Despite this caution, there is an
spiny or picked dogfish – will be expectation that the TAC allocated to the UK (7,965 tonnes in 2023) is sufficient
an exciting opportunity for those to allow for targeted fisheries, not just a bycatch allowance.
fishing with nets, longlines and Further measures to protect the fishery include measures to prevent the
trawls all around the UK coast. targeting of large females: no spurdogs over 100cm in length may be landed
So why couldn’t we catch them in the UK. Further management measures may be added if necessary.
before, and why can we now?

A gill net, one method used to

catch spurdogs

In the hot seat

Spurdog landings in the UK peaked in the 1960s, with some fisheries specifically
targeting larger females. It turns out these females are particularly important to
spurdog recruitment (the number of fish surviving to be large enough to enter
the fishery). With landings beginning to decline, management of the fishery was
first suggested in the late 1960s, but no action was taken. When a 1989 study
recommended a precautionary Total Allowable Catch (TAC), still no action
was taken.
The agreed TAC was reduced most years from 1999 to 2009, with the
International Centre for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advising in 2002 that
the species may be as low as 5% of its virgin biomass. With spurdog listed as
critically endangered, 2010 was the first year in which no TAC was agreed for
the Northeast Atlantic and zero TAC remained the status quo right up to 2022.

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 Headline advice minus 10.95% set aside
In Focus: Spurdog Millionaire of coastal state catches 15,453 tonnes

Table 2: TAC apportionment, showing the split between

Is that the final answer?
UK and EU share, and value for 2023
All this has been agreed, but at the time of writing – well into 2023 – still no
spurdogs can be landed (outside of bycatch avoidance programmes). This is TAC Total UK EU UK EU
TAC unit
because there is a complicated legislative process to go through. No species apportionment tonnage share share tonnage tonnage
has ever been removed from the prohibited list before. As the process is being
undertaken for the first time, it is difficult! Progress is being made on this front,
North Sea
and as soon as spurdogs are off the list, the fishery will reopen for UK waters. 22.222% 3,434t 81% 19% 2,781t 625t
DGS/2AC4-C
This will allow many fishers a valuable option to diversify their effort, thus helping
preserve other fish stocks from overexploitation.
Western
The thought of becoming a spurdog millionaire might be a slight exaggeration, 70.464% 10,889t 44.31% 55.69% 4,825t 6,064t
DGS/15X14
but there is much to be excited about. Nonetheless, a lot of questions remain.
Will there be a UK market for a species no one has consumed for 15 years? Will Skagerrak
7.314% 1,130t 0.00% 100.00% 0t 1,130t
there be a market globally that makes catching spurdogs worthwhile? Will the DGS/03A-C
skills to process them in this country still exist? These questions will all start to be
answered over the coming months. Keep your eyes peeled for ‘rock salmon’ in Spurdog Bycatch Avoidance Programme
your local chippy and see how good it tastes after 15 years away!
The Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO) and the Shark Trust
In the meantime, Seafish is looking to keep industry informed with updates on have been working with Cornwall’s fishing fleet, Cefas, Defra and the MMO
spurdog. This will likely involve the formation of a specialist sub-group of the to implement a Spurdog Bycatch Avoidance Programme since 2016. Trawl
Finfish Industry Advisory Group (FIAG). If you’re interested in joining, please and net fishers in south-west England were reporting high levels of spurdog
get in touch with oscar.wilkie@seafish.co.uk bycatch, which had to be discarded due to spurdogs’ exemption from the
Landing Obligation.
In the programme, participating skippers can keep two tonnes of (already
dead upon coming aboard) spurdogs per month, while self-reporting the
presence or absence of spurdog bycatch every 24 hours. This data is
shared back with all participants, enabling skippers to make informed, real-
time decisions on where to fish (avoiding bycatch hotspots) and reducing
wasteful discards. This valuable data helps build a picture of the stock’s
health, as, since the ban on landings in 2010, routine collection of fishery
data hasn’t taken place.
The project’s benefits are many: fishers and scientists working together
to generate data; trialling an alternative approach to prevent ‘choking’ in the
fishery; not incentivising fishers to target the stock; reducing discards; and
promoting the return of live spurdogs to the sea.
The programme is ongoing. It’s pivotal that the data and
ICES headline advice 2023 17,353 tonnes learnings from this successful scheme are taken into
consideration in future stock assessments. Read the
Headline advice minus 10.95% set aside
project’s 2022 three-year review by scanning the QR code
of coastal state catches 15,453 tonnes
to learn more.

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Table 2: TAC apportionment, showing the split between
UK and EU share, and value for 2023
In Focus: Fisherman Wanted
Fisherman
Wanted!
Success stories
in recruitment
– Marta Moran-Quintana
It’s just the idea of doing the same
thing all day long, stinking of fish.
No one would say it was their
dream job, would they?
22 | QUAY ISSUES | SEAFISH
Those were the words of one of the teenagers who took part in a focus group
carried out by Seafish in 2018. We wanted to know what 16-18-year-olds from
different parts of the UK thought about a career in seafood. As you can see, the
results were somewhat discouraging!
Of all the challenges the UK fishing industry faces, crewing remains one of the
most pressing. Traditionally new entrants would come from fishing families –
businesses passed from father to son – but that avenue seems to be drying
up and young people across the UK generally do not see fishing as an exciting
career. A bad omen for an industry where the average age of skippers is
nearly 50 (as reported in our latest Employment in the Fleet report), with many
uncertain of who will replace them.
What can be done? Many boat owners have turned to bringing in crew from
outside the UK via crewing agencies. Some of these crew have formed solid
relationships with their skippers and have returned to the UK year after year.
This route is not without problems, though.
Until recently, non-UK crew have arrived to work in the UK via a transit visa
mechanism – this is the route used by any maritime industry operating outside
the 12-nautical-mile limit. Vessels fishing inside 12nm must ensure that non-UK
crew have a legitimate right to work in the UK via the Skilled Workers Visa. This
will make it more difficult to recruit crew from overseas but it will ensure greater
transparency of who is working in the UK fishing industry and on which fishing
boats. This will be important to address any issues or claims that fishing crew
are not being treated or paid properly.
Recruitment method as reported by the skipper
SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 23
In Focus: Fisherman Wanted

SWFPA Crewing Services

With this in mind, the Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA) set
up their own crewing agency – SWFPA Crewing Services – aiming to improve
standards when it came to overseas recruiting.
We spoke to Mike Park, CEO of SWFPA, about the work they do and what
motivated them: “We are very strict with the agents we work with. We travel
to places like India or Latvia to meet with agents there, to make sure their
practices and charges are acceptable. We want to avoid bringing people in
via a bonded route.”
The work SWFPA Crewing Services do is guided by ILO 188 Work on Fishing
Convention, and the contracts they issue are compliant with ILO 188 and
The crew we bring
national law. All contracts are translated into the local language of the crew in know all the
and sent to them for review before signing and arranging travel to the UK. The money they win will
crewing agencies are thoroughly vetted and where no suitable agencies were
available, they deal directly with local embassies and marine industries to find
stay in their pockets
candidates. Once the crew arrive in the UK, SWFPA also act as mediators,
being a point of contact for any grievances the crew may have with their
contracts or work.
SWFPA Crewing Services started small, assisting members to find crew for their
vessels. Now, they also work with other fishing and windfarm companies and
have recruited around 270 new crew for them. Their success is largely down
to word of mouth among the workers: “The crew we bring in know that the
money they earn will go straight into their pockets: we make sure they are
paid directly into their bank accounts.”
Their approach has been successful, but Mike tells us there is more they’d like to
do. They are currently in the process of preparing an app for crew to check their
details and contracts, and they would like to set up a workers’ forum to discuss
possible improvements in the system.
They are also looking into hiring crew from countries such as Belize, where
English is the official language, to ease the process of obtaining a Skilled
Worker Visa.
SWFPA is also looking into fishing apprenticeships and similar schemes. In the
long run, Mike tells us, the answer to the recruitment challenges of the fleet is
to recruit new people from the UK: “The crew who come here from outside
the UK are very good, but chances are they won’t be the skippers of
the future.”

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In Focus: Fisherman Wanted

Get a Life at Sea crew thanks to it, some less than 24 hours after putting up a job offer.
While there are apprenticeships and training available for anyone wishing to The Isobella M now has two new crew recruited this way.
become a fisherman, not enough people are signing up for them, often because Jenny and Karl would like to continue growing the website. At first, they paid for
they simply don’t know much about the industry and are not aware of the everything themselves. Now they are seeking funding so they can grow, upload
opportunities. Others, as you read at the beginning of this feature, have the more videos and reach more people. “We know it’s working. We just need
perception that fishing is a dead-end, hard job with limited prospects. more money to keep it going.”
Overcoming this lack of knowledge about fishing is crucial to recruit new blood. If we are to solve the crewing shortage in the short term, it’s essential to improve
After 18 years in fishing and continuously struggling to find crew, Jenny and Karl recruiting from abroad. Agencies like SWFPA Crewing Services are providing an
Price, owners of the Isobella M in Bridlington, decided it was time to try example of how the process can be made better.
a different approach. Longer term, a change in how fishing is perceived can help encourage more
In 2021 Jenny and Karl teamed up with friend John Leppington from Digital people to get into fishing. It will be challenging, but initiatives like Get a Life at
Cookie marketing agency to build Get a Life at Sea, a website and Facebook Sea are helping to show that fishing is much more than doing the same thing
page offering information on what to expect from a career as a fisherman and one day after another. It can be your dream job!
how to become one.
“Schools don’t really promote fishing as a career and the media talk a lot
about the downsides of the fishing industry, but not the positives. We want Further reading
to change people’s perception of fishing,”
Jenny tells us. Jenny and Karl started by recording a few videos of themselves Get a Life at Sea:
and other fishermen talking about what life and work is really like for them, getalifeatsea.uk
and very quickly were surprised by the results. In just a few days the videos
had thousands, even tens of thousands of views. People from all over the UK
The world is your oyster: a short video by Seafish
contacted them, interested in a career in fishing or simply to tell them the videos
showcasing careers in seafood available to young people:
had opened their eyes to a part of their community they didn’t know existed.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhNfiLwlDD4
Get a Life at Sea offers practical advice to anyone considering becoming a
fisherman. There is information on training, working conditions, opportunities Careers in the seafood industry, by Seafish:
and salaries, all explained by fishermen. All parts of the job are discussed in www.seafish.org/safety-and-training/careers-in-the-
an upfront and no-nonsense manner. uk-seafood-industry/
This is fundamental, as Jenny explains: “The important part is that we
are very honest about the job. There is no point in sugar-coating it:
it’s not for everyone.”
Their main advice is for candidates to get Sea Survival training, then try out
a few fishing trips. Please contact training@seafish.co.uk for assistance and
information about training. Jenny and Karl have a network of contacts in
Bridlington and nearby ports to put skippers and crew in touch, and would love to
expand to other areas of the UK so they can increase their reach. Rightly so, as
Get a Life at Sea has been a success. Several local boats have been able to find

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In Focus: Hooked on Squiddling

Hooked on
Low environmental impact
at little cost

Squiddling
Phil fishes with three poles, each with
six jigs of varying colour, shape and
size. But buy cheap, buy twice! A good
jig starts at £5; a reasonable cost for
– Rebecca Spain the undamaged capture of high-
quality squid.
Squid jigging (or ‘squiddling’ as it is often known in the West Country) “I’ve been beaten hands-down
is not for the faint-hearted. Yet many inshore fishermen around the UK by people who just use one jig
coastline have diversified into this interesting fishery. As a relatively on a rod. Everyone has their
own method.”
inexpensive, sustainable way to supplement catches, commercial
fishermen may wish to consider exploring this fishery. A popular theory suggests you
must head out at night, using little
70-year-old Phil Lockley is a particularly passionate ‘squiddler’. He has green lights to attract these strange
been catching these unpredictable and elusive creatures around the creatures to hunt in the shadow of
Cornish coast for the last 23 years. With his wealth of experience, your vessel.
Phil is the guy to ask about the ins and outs of the Squid Game.
Phil says: “This is a load of rubbish!
As a multipurpose inshore boat,
you can do a bit of squiddling on
Once squid are the way out and on the way back
from your normal fishery.”
under your skin Phil’s squiddling partner for
you will think five years, French biologist Many around the Cornish coast go on
the hunt at dusk and dawn. Phil has
of nothing else, Taimor Jolly
found that his best hunting ground
do nothing else. is where sand and shale meet the
Completely hooked. rocks, at about 50-60ft, which is
perfect for little boats. Jigging is not
only rewarding, but environmentally
friendly. The lines and their weights
have no impact on the seabed, burn
very little fuel and have very little
bycatch. It’s another string for the
The bow of inshore fishermen and
European a good way to diversify –
Rolls-Royce helping protect other
of jigs, the DTDs species from over-
2.6kg squid caught from the Helford – Phil Lockley exploitation.
River, Cornwall – November 2013

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In Focus: Hooked on Squiddling
Squid species: indifferent in looks and value
UK waters stock two long-finned species marketed throughout Europe: the
veined squid, Loligo forbesii, and common European squid, Loligo vulgaris.
Both species look similar, with the only noticeable difference seen in the
diameter of their central suckers.
You could say squid live fast and die young. In their short life of around 18
months, they grow astoundingly fast. In August, at the start of the squiddling
season, they can be 50g. By January, they weigh around 1.2-1.4kg, with some
even reaching over 3kg! With the sole purpose of growing and multiplying, squid
are incredibly aggressive feeders.
“When you suddenly see all your rods going, you must contain your
excitement: don’t make sudden movements that roll your boat about.
Be steady, one rod at a time.”
Phil described the 49kg of squid he once pulled out of the Helford River in three
hours. He proceeded to sell his catch to a small local pub, who’d unknowingly
agreed to buy all the squid he’d caught that day.
It’s brilliant for small
boats. It’s artisanal
and it’s not going to
break the bank.
Difference in squid species:
Loligo vulgaris (bottom) with
the larger central suckers
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Comparing the price of line- and trawl-caught squid, 2017-2021
What about the markets?
In 2021, 78% of UK squid landings were trawl-caught. Yet, data shows line-
caught squid fetch far higher prices.
“I don’t believe line-caught squid is a fishery that should go on
fish markets.”
According to Phil it’s best to sell locally. Additionally, some Japanese restaurants
in cities such as London and Manchester will pay a premium for squid that can
be delivered within five hours of being caught.
“The squid line fishery has changed markedly from small companies
like Kernowsashimi, who have developed a brilliant market for line-
caught squid.”
Kernowsashimi – based in The Lizard in Cornwall – are iconic in the supply of
high-quality fish and shellfish to selected high-end markets. There is now a fast-
growing demand from high-end restaurants.
“The development of line fishing for squid is going ahead, but not fast
enough. The more people doing it, the more markets.”
Line-caught squid are caught almost exclusively in Southwest England, but
there are many regions where squiddling could be a viable, and still largely
untapped, resource.
“It’s brilliant for small boats. It’s artisanal and it’s not going
to break the bank.”
For more information on
Phil Lockley’s adventures with
squid, view the Squid Diaries on
Fishing News at: fishingnews.
co.uk/news/squid-diaries-part-1
SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 31
In Focus: Staying Afloat with Family

Staying af loat
with family
– Rebecca Spain and Nick Patience

‘Permacrisis’ was the Collins Dictionary word of the year in 2022 Quay Issues spoke to seafood and
and describes the feeling of living through a period of war, inflation supply chain businesses across the
UK to discover the secret to success.
and political instability. It encompasses the feelings of uncertainty
Their answer is integrating family
and worry that have affected everyone. However, among all the members in catching, filleting, cooking,
challenges, certain seafood enterprises have defined resilience driving, sales, marketing, business
and, in some cases, thrived through the past few years. administration… the list goes on!

Out of the eight staff, six are

family. Family cares a lot
more. It’s just that much
tighter-knit…

Wife Nic and daughter Ella

processing the crab at Buck
Becketts Shellfish Ltd

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In Focus: Staying Afloat with Family
Buck-ing up the business plan
Adam Beckett, better known as Buck, is based in Newquay harbour. He has sold
his produce to the export market for 30 years.
When Covid-19 hit, everything changed…
“Everybody shut their doors. Overnight we literally ran out of places
to sell anything. We had ten days inside, thinking ‘what are we going
to do?!’”
First, Buck and wife Nic developed a small Facebook page, branded ‘Buck
Becketts Shellfish Ltd.’ The business started delivering crab and lobster, door
to door. As their Facebook following grew, chefs from across the country got in
touch, interested in their produce.
“Once lockdown started to ease and restaurants opened, that’s when we
jumped on.”
From here their business snowballed. “We got so busy we started to buy
crab and lobster from six other boats in the harbour to keep up with the
demand!” With the help of government grants Buck Becketts now owns two
refrigerated vans, a new crab-picking facility and a shack on the harbour-front
selling their fresh catch during the summer months. Buck explains that to grow
the company further, they would have to buy a bigger premises and rely on more
employees, which they are not prepared to do. Much of their success lies within
their choice of staff.
“Out of the eight staff, six are family. Family cares a lot more. It’s just that
much tighter-knit… we found a lot of our best customers are also family-
run businesses: family-run restaurants, family-run fishmongers, because
they’ve got the same sort of attitude.”
Buck Beckett
Freddie Beckett with lobsters
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Nic oversees the business administration and crab preparation along with
Buck’s mother-in-law, Sharon, while daughter Ellie runs the shack for six months
of the year.
“The boat and everything will be left to my son, Freddie. He’s only 15 and
he’s like a grown man. He’d leave school tomorrow to go and work... he’d
live on that boat if he could.”
“The difference in what we are earning in these three years is colossal.
Don’t get me wrong we are flat out in the summer, 20 hours a day, non-
stop. But at the end of the year, we look at it and think it was well worth it.”
Seafood on the trot
Maria and Wes Lewis have derived a life of joy and purpose from the sea.
The avid scuba-divers built a successful Professional Association of Diving
Instructors (PADI) centre in Southampton and a popular seaside café in
Hampshire. Their newest venture, set up after Wes bought his first boat, involves
a converted horsebox and a strong focus on Northeast Scotland, where the pair
now live.
Running between March and October, “plus Valentines, Christmas and supper
clubs”, the ‘Seafood Bothy’ serves Wes’s catch of the day from the pier of
Stonehaven harbour. Their mobile unit offers crab, lobster and mackerel, as well
as locally sourced salmon, langoustines, salt, tablet and honey. Salad is supplied
by their neighbour, a farmer – although these exchanges are not always
conventional, stresses Maria: “We like bartering, and it works well for us.”
The market has changed since the operation began in 2019, when customers
were predominantly tourists: “they tend to be more receptive and eager to
try local seafood” than locals. During 2020, the Seafood Bothy saw a rise in
local interest, mostly Brits, and an adapted menu as “we were set up for social
distancing”. Now, the customer base includes a mix of overseas visitors and
those on staycations.
Now employing a small troupe of seasonal staff (including a skipper), the
Seafood Bothy appears at the Highland Games, harbour festivals and trade
events. Their daughter and nieces travel from London and Bristol respectively
to cover staff illness and holidays, and Maria collaborates with competitors
“to ensure we are not making the same products for our
customers”. Moving into year four, Wes concedes that
“it’s like working as siblings… you can be direct
with each other”.
SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 35
In Focus: Staying Afloat with Family
Kate and her son pictured harvesting their kelp off Rathlin Island
Kelp-ing it in the family
In an era where food from the sea has seen a drop in demand from cost-
conscious consumers, focusing on product differentiation may help convince
buyers. Based on Rathlin in Northern Ireland, ‘Islander Kelp’ is a business which
does just that. Founded by Kate Burns in 2013, this kelp production company
now employs six, with a keen focus on family, flavour, community and the health
benefits of kelp.
As a remote island business, Islander Kelp has greatly benefitted the local
community by supplying employment, a sustainable source of revenue and a
beneficial ecosystem for marine life. All of these are much-needed resources
in a village of 150 people.
Growing her nutrient-rich product 365 days a year in a specialised nature
reserve, Kate is assisted by her three sons and their partners. Her eldest
son Benji is the company’s co-director and helps with business management.
Another son, Philip, is an active commercial fishing vessel skipper, who runs
the vessel while his partner, Elsbeth, lends a hand with business administration
and hand-gathers baby kelp.
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Involving family has benefits and challenges, as Kate explains:
“Island life is complicated and requires multitasking and a lot of self-
sufficiency. The lads are all busy, but equally their skills and knowledge
made a complicated business model a possibility with limited
resources available.”
Kate hopes the business can become net-zero by the end of this decade and
is keenly watching developments in the hydrogen-as-fuel space, as well as the
academic outputs from UK universities.
The business has not been without its challenges. Kate notes of the past
three years:
“Covid-19 was a huge issue: while furlough was a business saviour,
we didn’t get enough ropes in the water in 2021 and 2022 for when our
markets bounced back. The market continues to be the main challenge
for algae farming. Top-end added value is the only way to cover our
hefty operational labour costs. So, achieving that in terms of product
development and market reach is our biggest issue. The Northern Ireland
protocol is a godsend for us because all our products are exported
outside the UK.”
Now, more than ever, family is the beating heart that continues to aid our
historical coastal communities. It is their endeavours that mean the seafood
industry continues to supply the world with spectacular British seafood. Modern
lives can thrive thanks to the grit and resilience of these families, and the ways
they are continuously adapting to the many and varied challenges that could
otherwise sink a business.
The lads are all busy, but equally
their skills and knowledge made
a complicated business model a
possibility with limited resources
available.
SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 37
In Focus: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Nothing Ventured, Running since 2009, Bachlaw Projects

Nothing Gained
– Nick Patience
Venture West, a small boat in northern Aberdeenshire, is a
transformative education tool. On summer nights, the vessel fishes
inshore for lobster, mackerel and prawns under the guidance
of three fishing veterans. Owned by an independent school,
the vessel provides “the opportunity for kids to go out there
and build character because fishing is a character-building
exercise”, according to Head of School, Marcus
We look at how in the
past fishing was central to
people’s lives in the area.
In terms of my curriculum,
I want to look beyond the
market of the fish and
emphasise the importance of
fishing to local coastal towns
is a pioneering initiative delivering
high-quality residential childcare and
specialist education for children and
young people who have experienced
trauma or abuse.
Pupils at the school – aged 8 to 18
– benefit from the varied expertise of
staff: qualified social service managers,
social workers, teachers and child
protection specialists, as well as former
commercial fishers. The common thread
across staff is their interest in young
people and their desire to use their skills
to help make lives better.
James, a local who first stepped onto
a vessel 50 years ago, is now one
of its primary educators. Starting in
Whitehills before securing his skipper’s
ticket in Fraserburgh, James spent 21
years fishing Scotland’s west and north
coasts. For the past eight years he has
worked at Bachlaw Projects, “building
this work ethic for pupils and letting
them see how hard work pays”.
Before first boarding the fishing vessel,
pupils learn about technology in the
wheelhouse (such as VHF radio),
navigation skills and vessel safety.
They’re also taught about the wider
aspects of sustainability and the
history of the seafood sector.

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In Focus: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
Targeting ground on the Moray Coast, Venture West uses three hooked lines
to fish: two are hand-led, and one is computerised. Catch is basketed onboard
before being sold at Peterhead Fish Market for which the pupils receive a ‘crew
share’.
‘Learning for Sustainability’ is a key theme in the school’s curriculum.
Marcus poses questions for pupils to digest:
“Are we going to have fish in the next 20 years, the same kind of fish?
What are we doing to keep the fish going? They also learn that’s why,
for example, when they catch small ones they throw them back in.”
Venture West, the 8.35m vessel owned
and operated by Bachlaw Projects
40 | QUAY ISSUES | SEAFISH
According to students who work aboard Venture West, the experience
is transformative:
“When I first came here, I struggled with a lot of stuff. But by being on the
boat, I’ve learned socialising skills, teamwork and resilience. Some nights
you go out and catch nothing, but it’s the going out again and keeping
trying that counts.”
In addition to the fishing opportunities, Bachlaw Projects offers activities
and training related to animal husbandry and land management on their
smallholding, as well as hospitality and retail opportunities. This allows pupils
to understand the food journey.
“Our kids really get to experience that whole process, from catching the
fish and getting them ready to cooking them and having dinner with us.”
In addition to numerous former Bachlaw Projects pupils now working as
commercial fishers, a wider interest in, and appreciation of, seafaring is clear.
One pupil has plans for a career in the Royal Navy:
“I’m just finalising my application. A lot of the skills from the boat
are transferable, which is one of the things that’s really stood me in
good stead.”
Providing transferable skills such as a love of hard work, teamwork and the
ability to follow directions is as important as linking the concepts of money and
work. Pupils benefit from practical advice on budgeting and investing what has
been earned. Through this they learn how to become better at saving.
And what of the changes in fishing? Reflecting on his many years at sea, James
notes the differences are many; wild salmon were even caught off Whitehills!
In recent years the costs of running a boat have increased very noticeably –
especially the price of fuel. What hasn’t changed are the species he sees and
the infectious enthusiasm he has for sharing knowledge, perhaps best reflected
in the confidence he has in his pupils:
“I would be pretty sure if anything happened to me on the boat, they would
be more than capable of getting on the radio and getting help.”
SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 41
In Focus: REM in the UK Fishing Fleet
What’s the frequency, Kenneth?
REM in the UK
Fishing Fleet – Sheriene Murphy
The camera switches on to record the catch
as it’s pulled from the sea. But this is not the
latest episode of Trawlermen. This is REM
(Remote Electronic Monitoring).
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REM has been introduced onto many fishing vessels around the world,
including in Australia, Canada and Denmark. It has been used as a tool for
monitoring fish stocks, ensuring compliance with regulations and providing
proof to consumers of sustainability in the industry. It is hailed as one of
the most effective ways to obtain the data necessary to ensure responsive
management of fisheries.
While still relatively rare within the UK fishing fleet, REM has been introduced
on scallop dredgers in Scotland, and it’s likely to become more common
across all vessel types over the coming years. In the recent Joint Fisheries
Statement (JFS), the UK fishing administrations all agreed to investigate the
use of this technology, and the extension of current technologies such as
Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) on fishing vessels in the UK.
SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 43
In Focus: REM in the UK Fishing Fleet

Imitation of Life These technologies can also put pressure on fishers who feel like they are
VMS is neither new nor uncommon. It has been a requirement in vessels over under surveillance, even though they are complying with all regulations. But the
12m since 2012, but over the last couple of years it has been rolled out to under- advantage is that it can also vindicate those who work hard to maintain good
12m vessels in Wales and England. VMS captures when and where fishing standards, and the focus of fishing administrations can be targeted on those who
activity takes place, for use in the development of fisheries management plans flaunt measures.
for improving stock sustainability.
End of the World as We Know It?
VMS transmits information on GPS location, speed and course of vessel.
Everyone agrees that neither of these technological measures can fix all issues
Collected data can only be seen by vessel operators, national fishing authorities
with data collection or monitoring, nor that a one-size-fits-all approach should be
such as the MMO, local IFCAs and devolved fisheries administrations (if the
taken within the UK fishing fleet. Measures should be proportionately tailored
vessel enters their waters) and is not publicly available.
to different segments of the fleet and what they catch.
But for fishers, it has some other advantages. It can also be used in
There is greater need for better fisheries data, and both VMS and REM seek to
consultations around licensing and marine planning to show where fishing
improve the information available. It is a positive tool for fisheries administrators,
activity occurs and highlight how important an area is to fishing. No more time
but it has great potential for fishers as well. While VMS can help with spatial
spent proving where you are fishing, or worrying that planned changes to an
and gear disputes, REM shows the greatest potential for benefits to fishers
area will directly impact your business – because the data will already exist.
where it can boost consumer confidence and distinguish the high standards of
It could also be used to resolve conflicts over damaged gear. Used in these
their business. Better data and improvements to the industry have always been
ways, VMS has the ability to improve interactions between fishers and other
important to fishers who want to see their business, their waters and their fish
marine users.
stocks thrive.
Nightswimming
REM captures more information using sensors that monitor the movement of
gear and CCTV that records the catch as it is brought on board. This data can
be monitored remotely or after landing.
This extra information isn’t only about demonstrating that fishers are compliant
with regulations. It can provide a clearer understanding of what is caught,
either as targeted catch or bycatch. The data can assist in providing better
stock assessments and reduce the need for onboard observers and the costs
associated with them.
Most importantly, at a time when consumers are demanding more sustainability
across the food supply chain, this data could be used to help fishers
demonstrate they are fishing in responsible and sustainable ways.

Everybody Hurts
As with all technologies, there are some disadvantages. Cost is a big one. While
initial installation costs are usually mitigated through grants, there are ongoing
maintenance costs and yearly charges as the data is transmitted by 4G phone
technology. These costs need to be factored into any fishing business.

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In Focus: REM in the UK Fishing Fleet

Case Study 1: REM in the Scottish fishing fleet

REM has been used on some scallop dredgers since 2017. The requirements
include having a winch sensor and two cameras to monitor fishing activity.
Cameras currently take a series of still images.
The estimated installation costs for a REM system are £4,500-£7,500 per
vessel. Marine Scotland has provided grant funding to help with these initial
costs. Ongoing running costs vary from £350-£650 per year. The average costs
involved for Scottish scallop dredgers can be seen in Figure 1.
While for those who fish responsibly REM has little direct impact, it is seen as a
positive step to improve the image of scallopers by demonstrating that no activity
is occurring in protected areas, and by highlighting improvements being made
within the sector.
Work is ongoing to improve the use of footage for monitoring catch composition,
though so far this has been hampered by the difficulty in accurately capturing the Figure 1: Average costs and fishing income for a Scottish scallop
shape and orientation of scallops as they are sorted. dredger between 2016 and 2020
Recent consultation by the Scottish Government suggests extending REM to
pelagic and some demersal vessels.

Case Study 2: REM in the Australian fishing fleet

In Australia, REM was introduced into three fisheries in 2015. It has been used
to verify the amount and type of fish caught as well as any bycatch. It has
helped to monitor compliance with measures to protect species and has allowed
management measures to be tailored to individual vessels.
REM has saved the industry money by cutting down the need for onboard
monitors and shown that logbook accuracy increased when done alongside
REM. But as good as it is, there are some limitations on what data can be
collected, so that biological data collection still requires sampling of the catch.
One of the main lessons learnt in Australia is that REM is just one possible
way to collect data and monitor fisheries, and REM should be seen as part of a
spectrum of options and arrangements, from only requiring sensors on gear to
a fully integrated system of cameras and sensors.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) says these measures
have improved consumer confidence that Australian fish come from sustainable
sources and have a low environmental impact.

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In Focus: Whitby Seafoods Carbon Footprint

Whitby Seafoods
Carbon Footprint
Labelling and its Sustainability Efforts
– Carlos Paredes

Whitby Seafoods has added carbon footprint labelling to its portfolio of

sustainability initiatives. The largest UK scampi manufacturer will soon
provide a carbon content label on its packaging, making it the first seafood
processor in the UK to do so. Mapping the company’s emissions related
to scampi production is not an easy task, but after the analysis is completed
Whitby Seafoods will be able to show the carbon footprint of its products. Diagram of supply chain type with equivalents on CO2 and
This label can help customers choose a sustainable product from the GHG emissions
selection of available options when shopping.
Carbon footprint mapping
In order to communicate important information to consumers, Whitby Seafood
Being a family-owned company partnered with Carbon Cloud to map the carbon footprint along its scampi supply
allows us to have targets that are not chain. Put simply, Carbon Cloud estimated the CO2 emitted in every stage
just financial. Being transparent and of their operations: from catching the Nephrops, processing, packaging and
honest while trying to become more storing them, to distribution to wholesalers and retailers. Total greenhouse gases
associated with supply chain energy and raw material use are expressed as a
and more sustainable in the long run
carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e or CO2eq) per unit mass of finished product.
is one of them.
Edward Whittle, Head of Climate Energy-intensive collaboration
Change at Whitby Seafoods Monitoring the carbon footprint does not end in ‘just a label’. Seafood processing,
like fishing, can require a high amount of energy. As a rule of thumb, emissions
depend on energy consumption. Energy comes from fuel or electricity, and these
impact costs. Mapping the emissions along the supply chain provides a powerful
tool for a company. It can identify risks as well as areas for improvement.
This might include energy efficiency in the shorter-term and renewable
fuel sources more medium-to-long-term.

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In Focus: Whitby Seafoods Carbon Footprint
Areas for improvement can be identified in order to implement cost-relief
measures: more environmentally friendly initiatives shouldn’t have a negative
economic impact for a seafood company.
To support this work, in 2019 Seafish conducted analysis for Whitby Seafoods.
Our task was to determine the fuel usage of the fleet that supplies Nephrops
to the company. This analysis helped identify fuel consumption as an area
requiring improvement and an area in which support to the catching
infrastructure was needed.
Recently, with the rapid rise of fuel costs resulting from the Russian invasion
of Ukraine, Seafish conducted further analysis on the impact of fuel costs on
fishing businesses. A database of the average weekly fuel price was created
with the help of fuel suppliers around the UK. Any company can use this data to
improve their operating efficiency. For example, analysing a change in fuel price
versus a change in the value of fish and shellfish landed can help the fishermen
to understand the break-even point. That is the point where operating costs,
including fuel, equal the landing price of Nephrops (see Figure 1). The cost of
fuel has a direct impact on the profitability of the boat and the share that crew
take home, and thus the livelihood of fishing communities.
Figure 1: Nephrops market price vs. fuel price variability for 2022
50 | QUAY ISSUES | SEAFISH
Other sustainability initiatives from Whitby Seafood
Carbon footprinting is the latest sustainability initiative from Whitby Seafoods.
Their other initiatives include:
• Sourcing energy for their processing sites from renewable sources (e.g. hydro,
wind and biomass plants).
• Transitioning to an electric vehicle fleet.
• Reducing the use of single-use plastic by 85%, by swapping to cardboard
packaging in some of their products.
• Signing up to the food waste reduction initiative led by WRAP, and committing
to a 25% reduction in food waste by 2030.
“Enterprises like that are the result of long-term strategies focused on
sustainability and not just profitability on its own. However, there is need
for a collaborative environment among industry, government, research
groups and other bodies that allow companies to test, trial and put in
practice more sustainable methods without being economically impacted
or regulatorily penalised.”
– Edward Whittle
All these initiatives can potentially result in company savings. They are the
result of a proactive approach towards research and collaborative working with
other organisations, ensuring natural resources are responsibly sourced and
sustainably managed as part of a circular economy.
An example of collaborative working is via the Scottish Nephrops Working
Group (SNEWS), which is funded by the Scottish Government and facilitated by
Seafood Scotland. To increase the resilience of the sector, SNEWS is focusing
efforts on areas where energy efficiency can be improved. Fuel efficiency
measures have the potential to provide an easy win, as fuel is often the main
operating cost of a fishing vessel.
“As a next step we are currently collaborating with University of Leeds in
the research of new ways of reducing our waste. There is a high amount of
protein and nutrients that can be extracted from the portion of Nephrops
that does not end up as scampi. If successful we would be able to
obtain a by-product from a current waste and, in addition,
decrease our carbon content per kilogram of catch.”
– Edward Whittle
SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 51
In Focus: Whitby Seafoods Carbon Footprint

Working towards greater fuel efficiency first requires a reference point to be Nutrients and carbon content
established. Seafish has been working alongside the industry, the University Another recent collaboration
of Strathclyde and Marine Scotland to establish the baseline for assessing between Seafish and Lancaster
greenhouse gas emissions from Scotland’s fishing fleet (see Figure 2). Currently University focused on understanding
we aim to extrapolate this work to the entire UK fishing fleet. Since sustainability the correlation between seafood
credentials are becoming increasingly important, we want to help fishermen to nutritional values and their average
be able to assess and demonstrate their fuel-related carbon footprint. carbon content. Researchers found
that seafood products, as a whole,
have a relatively high level of
NSWOS demersal over 24m
nutrients per kg of CO2 emitted during
North Sea Nephrops over 300kW
the catching/harvest, processing and
Pelagic over 40m
logistics stages (see Figure 3). The Figure 3: Percentage of nutrients
UK scallop dredge over 15m

NSWOS demersal under 24m over 300kW results show the potential of seafood per kg of CO2 equivalent of
NSWOS demersal pair trawl seine products to decarbonise our food different seafood and other
Under 10m pots and traps supply chain. food products
WOS Nephrops over 250kW

NSWOS demersal seiners

Longliners
“Globally, most seafood products are more nutritious and emit lower
WOS Nephrops under 250kW
greenhouse gases than terrestrial animal-source foods, hence seafood
Miscellaneous is expected to play a key role in improving access to healthy diets while
Pots and traps 10-12m providing food products with relatively low rates of GHG emissions.”
North Sea Nephrops under 300kW – James Robinson, Senior Research Associate at Lancaster
Pots and traps over 12m
Environment Centre
UK scallop dredge under 15m

NSWOS demersal under 24m under 300kW Increasing our seafood consumption – in line with the recommended two
Under 10m demersal trawl/seine
portions of fish (and shellfish) per week, including one of oily fish – could help
Low activity under 10m
lower food chain carbon emissions, and benefit consumer health. With the
Under 10m using hooks

Low activity over 10m

variety of seafood products, carbon labelling can allow us all to make better
0 20 40 60 product choices when shopping.
Greenhouse gas emissions (thousand tonnes CO2 equivalent)
Carbon footprint labelling is the most recent achievement of Whitby Seafoods
Figure 2: Fuel-related fishing emissions for the Scottish fleet in litres/ and part of a long-term strategy towards a sustainable supply chain. A carbon
content label is a little stamp containing a lot of research and development
DAS and CO2kt equivalent per Seafish segment
behind the scenes. It is a step in the right direction to provide consumers with
more information and has the potential to beneficially impact the environment
For more as well as our food habits and health.
information on
Whitby Seafoods,
scan the QR
code.

52 | QUAY ISSUES | SEAFISH SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 53

In Focus: Tracking the Trends

Tracking the trends:

Explore UK
Seafood Export Data
– Joe Cooper
The impact that Covid-19 and the UK’s exit from the EU
has had across the seafood supply chain is complex,
multifaceted and still being revealed. Indirect
effects on the UK catching sector resulting from
the war in Ukraine have highlighted how
connected global supply chains are.
Trends in trade data can shed
light on what is going on.
The UK is a major player in the global seafood trade, exporting a wide range
of wild caught species. Understanding emerging market trends for UK seafood
products across the globe can have benefits across the seafood sector, not just
for importers and exporters.
Our Trade and Tariff Tool in Tableau (T4) is a free public resource to explore UK
import and export trade statistics – see an example in Figure 1. Any seafood
business can use it to help with decision making, advocate for policies or
navigate trade trends of target species.
Here we explore emerging changes to UK export data available from 2022 and
make comparisons to the same period in 2021 and the same period averaged
across 2017-2019 (pre-pandemic).

31.86 14.62 11.87 8.42 5.01 4.98 4.63 3.06 3.03 2.95
28.2% 12.9% 10.5% 7.5% 4.4% 4.4% 4.1% 2.7% 2.7% 2.6%

Figure 1: T4 image extract showing the top 10 export destinations

of highest-value pelagic species products in 2022

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In Focus: Tracking the Trends
Welcome to Seafish export data
Although some seafood imports are processed and re-exported, most
seafood exported from the UK is landed by the UK fleet (or farmed). The UK’s
export volume of wild-capture fish and shellfish has seen a decline over the
past decade, worsened by the restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic
in 2020-21.
In 2022, the UK exported 254 thousand tonnes (live weight) of wild-capture
fish and shellfish worth £706 million. Over the same period, the UK fleet landed
612 thousand tonnes of seafood to the UK and abroad, worth £963 million.
Overall, HMRC statistics show that the UK’s export of wild-capture fish and
shellfish in 2022 remained at similar levels to 2021. The total volume exported
decreased by 1% but overall export value increased by 3%. We can dive deeper
and focus on species and products seeing higher or lower levels of export than
ever before.
For a better comparison to landings statistics, filters can be selected for
preservation states of live, fresh and frozen products that have had little value-
added processing. These products are whole or gutted. We also convert the
reported weight of products to live weight equivalent of species. Export data
of salmon and other aquaculture species are removed from this analysis.
Figure 2: Trade and Tariff Tool in Tableau extract image of seafood
export by preservation
56 | QUAY ISSUES | SEAFISH
Pre-2022
The start of 2020 saw the collapse of export markets almost overnight.
The pandemic led to restrictions in the UK and worldwide, which impacted
global supply chains. UK export volume and value of all species groups dropped
significantly in 2020 as many businesses stopped trading or significantly reduced
operations. Shellfish species were particularly hard-hit, as their main markets
in France and Spain faced year-long restrictions.
Export markets for pelagic and demersal species started to recover in 2021
from the worst impacts of Covid-19. However, new trading arrangements with
the EU resulted in further delays and disruptions to exports. Shellfish exports
struggled to recover as a ban on most live bivalve molluscs (LBMs) was
introduced, and depressed European markets hadn’t returned to normal levels.
A comparison in export volumes and average prices for wild-capture shellfish
species in Figure 3 highlights the impact of these drivers of change. The export
volume of live, fresh and frozen (non-processed) shellfish species products
dropped by 26% in 2020 compared to 2019 as export prices also reduced
by 4%.
Figure 3: UK export volume and price of live, fresh and frozen
wild-capture shellfish species
SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 57
In Focus: Tracking the Trends

2022
Energy and fuel prices rose dramatically at the start of 2022, initially driven
We want to hear from you
by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At this time, the annual rate of inflation Quay Issues is a free magazine published by the Economics team at Seafish to
in the UK had started to increase sharply, reaching a peak in October 2022. promote innovation in the fishing industry. We’d love to hear your thoughts and
By January 2023, average consumer prices in the UK – measured by the ideas for other topics to feature in the next edition.
Consumer Prices Index – were 10.1% higher than they were the year before.
As countries introduced sanctions on imports of whitefish and other products
from Russia, the demand for non-Russian whitefish increased. By the end of
2022, the average price for both landed and exported demersal species were Tell us what you thought of Quay Issues
above the rate of inflation, as shown in Figure 4. for the chance to win a £100 voucher!*
Visit https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/6QD9V2V
or scan the QR code:
25 23%
Landings price change *Prize draw terms and conditions apply and can be
viewed alongside the survey. Entries to the prize draw
Annual price change %

20 Export price change

15% close at 11.59pm on 5 November 2023.
15

10
6%
Get on social Speak to
5 3%
2%
Other ways media one of our
0 to get in touch You’ll find us on Fleet Survey
-3%
Twitter, YouTube researchers
-5
Demersal Pelagic Shellfish
and LinkedIn

Figure 4: The change in landings price and export price by species Quay Issues magazine is our way of telling some of the stories our researchers
group in 2022 compared to the previous year hear every year during our socioeconomic survey of the UK fishing fleet.
The survey is an opportunity for fishers to tell us about their fishing business
and ensures that decision makers have the best evidence.
Tradition, tourism, dietary preferences, political relations
To take part in our survey contact fleet.survey@seafish.co.uk
and access to fisheries all contribute to why 118 countries
or call 07984 565 386.
import different species of fish and shellfish from the UK.
We can explore the UK’s seafood export data by species
and trading partner to understand where the largest
markets are and how they are changing. Try out the Seafish T4 tool
to delve deeper into species, products or export markets of interest to you.
You can search seafood trade data on the Seafish website or scan the
QR code to explore our Trade and Tariff Tool in Tableau for the species
of interest to you.

58 | QUAY ISSUES | SEAFISH SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 59

Your Editorial Team

Caitlin Turner Joe Cooper Oscar Wilkie Rebecca Spain

Fisheries Project Officer Economic Researcher Quay Issues Editor Quay Issues Editor and
and Fisheries Analyst Economic Researcher

Carlos Paredes Marta Moran-Quintana Sheriene Murphy Udara Nagodavithana

Economic Researcher Economic Analyst Quay Issues Editor and Fisheries Project Officer
Economic Researcher

Nick Patience
Economics Project Manager

60 | QUAY ISSUES | SEAFISH SEAFISH | QUAY ISSUES | 61

Seafish Seafish
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