MSC pre-assessment made public

Participants confirmed 

Workplan updated for 2022

Workplan updated for 2021

Workplan updated for 2021

Workplan updated for 2020

Workplan made public

The Scottish Government has published its response to the public consultation on a draft policy and approach for selecting Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). 

The Nephrops Steering Group held a meeting; the FIP has been conducting modeling exercises to assess potential seafloor disturbance by human activities. The analysis shows consistent disturbance trends over time. 

Marine Scotland continues to report marine and fisheries compliance data; 17 recorded instances of a breach of the landing obligation were reported from 2018 to 2022.

 Management Flowchart has been developed by the FIP Steering Group to define the steps taken should FU reference points be reached.

2023 Nephrops Steering Group meeting held; representatives from the meeting noted that the catching sector will test the Clean Catch app for functionality in the summer of 2023 and that there is an ongoing review and prioritization of ETP species for inclusion in a wheelhouse guide to assist with their identification.

Habitat impact assessment conducted using the benthic impact tool (BIT); despite high impact on areas of the main Nephrops habitat (under TR2 and TR1 trawling) recovery is predicted to be rapid and no commonly encountered habitats scored below  SG100 in the impact assessment.

Several Nephrops regional management meetings were recently held towards the end of 2022; discussions ensued on the development of technical measures and HCR.

The UK government launched the Marine Wildlife Bycatch Mitigation Initiative in August 2022 and full implementation remains underway. The initiative will focus on implementing measures related to Marine Protected Areas. 

The SFSAG reassessment report was published in early 2022; the steering group committee continues to have ongoing discussions as to whether or not the SFSAG reassessment scores could be harmonized with the FIP

Project UK Nephrops Steering Group Committee meeting held; updated assessments for functional units 5 & 34 were discussed. These assessments have shown a reduction in fishing mortality. 

The FIP has begun utilizing the "Clean Catch" bycatch reporting app and several skippers have been chosen to trial the application at sea. 

The habitat impact research project is  being conducted at Bangor University 

The MPA mapping project conducted by Kingfisher has developed a database of management in all UK MPAs for all gear types. 

An ETP species guide has been developed to aid skippers identify potential ETP species encountered

Project UK workshop held in November 2021 where it was determined that the use of Btrigger as a Blim was reactionary and might not be needed.

FIP held virtual meeting in September 2021; MarPAMM project updates were discussed and several project continue to progress

The establishment of Regional Management Groups has commenced with a list of stakeholders drawn up for each group

Poseidon has drafted an interaction log for skippers to record, analyse and monitor ETP species

A review of alternative measures for the Northern Nephrops trawl fisheries is underway

The Marine Protected Area Management and Monitoring Project (MarPAMM) is developing tools for monitoring and managing a number of protected coastal marine environments in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Western Scotland. This work is still underway

Decision-making processes are in place via the Trade and Cooperation Agreement which stipulates yearly negotiations for nephrops total allowable catches at the ICES Division level.

SICA workshop held in April 2021

Meeting held in October 2020; research was conducted on habitat and ETP species with resulting reports produced

FN published analysis 

One year review of the Action Plan undertaken and updated

Project update at FIP meeting on 28 November on progress and results on all PI research and results.

Meeting was held in November 2019 on “Project UK Stage Two: Nephrops” which was facilitated by the MSC. Contact was made with creelers in Northern Ireland to better understand secondary species used as bait.

ICES report on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort being used to inform catch estimation and cod stock status. 

Masters researchers have been selected and put in place with funding secured for their research which seeks to address PI 2.4.1 and 2.4.3

Increase to PI 2.2.2 - Secondary species management (2.2.2) for all UoAs improved from 60-79 to ≥ 80 due to documentation of the management in place for secondary species

Increase to PI 2.1.2; - Improvements in the west of Scotland whiting stock were detected in the ICES 2021 review (see og 17 of 2022 04 14 v4.1 Project UK R2 Nephrops Action Plan).

SICA analysis completed and included inputs from experts and scientists sharing data, analysis and increasing consensus on the impact of the fishery on the ecosystem and propose recommendations.

Increase in PI 2.2.1; FN conducted a PSA on all secondary species identified in each functional unit in the FIP