NORTH WESTERN AND NORTH WALES SEA FISHERIES COMMITTEE
OFFICER’S REPORT
CONSULTATIONS ON THE MANAGEMENT AND EXPLOITATION OF TOPE
Report by the Chief Executive
A. Purpose of Report
To inform members of the current Defra and NAW consultations on the management of Tope
B. Recommendation
1. That Members note the aims of the consultation and options under consideration.
2. That Officers respond that the Committee supports Option 2: to ban the landing of Tope by commercial or recreational sectors.
1. Details of the consultations
1.1 Defra and NAW have issued similar consultations on managing the exploitation of tope. The Defra consultation letter at Annex A states the purpose, the options under consideration and a web address for the full consultation. The NAW letter is similar and the deadline for comments to Defra and/or NAW is 20 October.
1.2 The Committee discussed the management of tope in May 2006 and agreed to develop a byelaw to prevent the landing of tope by the commercial or recreational fishing sectors. In view of this consultation, the Committee will postpone work on this byelaw but in the event that adequate national measures for tope are not forthcoming the Committee will review the option of creating its own byelaw.
STEPHEN ATKINS
Chief Executive
22 August 2006