To advise Members that during the next three months, Officers will be exploring various options to improve the management of the scallop fishery in Wales.

1.1 Scallop fishing takes place in certain areas on the west coast of Wales, and within the 6nm limit from Anglesey to Cardigan. The Committee has implemented a number of closed areas to protect environmental interests as shown in Annex A (enclosed separately).

1.2 In 2005 after three years of major increase in fishing effort, the Committee introduced Byelaw 9 and the Welsh Scallop Order also came into force. These two measures were successful in greatly reducing the numbers of vessels and dredges deployed within the District. However in the following three years up to the present, numbers have again shown a steep trend of increase, albeit to a much lower level than the 2005 peak. The numbers in 2008 reflect the new under 12m vessels entering the fishery.

1.3 Scallop fishing is controlled by various legal instruments. The most important are:

Of all the legislation, Byelaw 12 is the most flexible and reactive in reducing fishing effort.

2.1 The sharp increase in the number of authorisations in 2008 has placed various pressures on the fisheries. In March 2008, a large number of vessels displaced as a result of closures in SW England travelled up to Cardigan Bay. Many of these were under 12m vessels and therefore were, and continue to be, eligible for authorisations to fish inside the 3 mile limit. Of the 48 authorisations issued for the 2007/08 season, 32 were issued to itinerant vessels that had not previously fished inside the District.

2.2 The result of these vessels fishing inshore in the waters of Cardigan was extreme concern over potential environmental damage from CCW and other sections of the wildlife sector. The area contains a high biodiversity of habitats and species including seabed reefs and bottlenose dolphin habitat. It also has high quality lobster and crab habitat and valuable fisheries for these species.

2.3 In order to address the environmental concerns, Officers took a decision at short notice on 19 March to introduce a new Byelaw 12 restriction in the form of a further closed area from Cardigan to New Quay. The closure affects area 1A on fig 2 Annex A and it remained in force for the remainder of the scallop season, i.e. until 31 May 2008.

2.4 Officers are now considering future management with two distinct imperatives; 1) the short term (plans for the 2008/09 season) and 2) the longer term (the next 5 years).

3.1 Increasing pressure on scallop stocks is a national issue, and a number of other stakeholders are investigating a range of initiatives, all of which will inform the debate on future management.

3.2 On the 28^th May 2008 the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB) is hosting a National Scallop Strategy meeting. A verbal update will be made to the Joint Committee.

3.3 The Welsh Federation of Fisherman’s Associations (WFFA) has held a series of meetings with the industry in an attempt to find a compromise plan of action. We await their deliberations and recommendations.

3.4 If area 1A were to remain closed for the 2008/2009 season, it is likely that other inshore areas could come under pressure. In order to prevent environmental damage north of Cardigan, it may be advisable to close (under Byelaw 12) the whole of the inshore part of the District (inside the 3 mile fishery limit) from Anglesey to Cardigan.

3.5 In the longer term, as an alternative to complete closures the Committee could explore the possibility of limiting fishing effort by applying for a Regulating Order for scallop fishing covering this area. The rational for this would be that an Order would allow the Committee to limit effort under licence and set defined qualifying criteria for holding a licence, probably based on experience and track record of fishing within the District.

3.6 Officers will be investigating the viability of tracking systems that could assist in enforcing zoned areas for fishing. Operating costs for these systems are significant therefore Officers would be looking to the European Fisheries Fund for grant aid.