FishSource

UK brown crab and European lobster - pot/trap (FIP)

Access FIP Public Report

Last Updated: 2023-08-15

Evaluation Start Date: 2018-03-01

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Inactive

FIP Lead: MSC (M)

Comments:

The timeline of the FIP has concluded and the FIP is now inactive.

1. FIP Development	Dec 16	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 13 December 2016 — MSC pre-assessment published
2. FIP Launch	Aug 17	Confirmation of project participants 30 August 2017 — Participants confirmed
2. FIP Launch	May 22	Workplan made public 1 May 2022 — Updated May 2022 Workplan 1 March 2018 — Workplan published
3. FIP Implementation	Sep 22	FIP activities undertaken 7 September 2022 — UK Crab and Lobster Steering Committee meeting held; the updated version of the MSC fisheries standard was discussed. 17 June 2022 — Several management workshops held in 2022; a summary of the workshops has been made available. 9 March 2022 — UK project crab and lobster steering committee meeting held; there is now a reporting form on the South Devon and Channel Shellfishermen’s website for the fishing fleet to report any interactions with ETP species. There have been zero reports of interactions within the past 12 months. 12 January 2022 — FMP has been updated; red gurnard and dogfish are have been determined to be unmarketable bycatch from bottom trawls 14 October 2021 — Project UK meeting minutes made available; progress is ongoing with developing a harvest strategy (Oct 21) 9 July 2021 — Meeting held by FIP in January to discuss Principle II and harvest strategy. 1 December 2019 — The group has identified other projects, such as the Marine Pioneer project, to contact and liase with in regards to formalizing harvest strategy. 1 December 2019 — Harvest Control Rules have been identified for the respective management areas for the FIP as well as outreach and information gathered from Wales. 1 December 2019 — An informative workshop report on reducing cetacean bycatch in UK fisheries (Hauling up Solutions) was made available that further supports the work being conducted in this action. 1 December 2019 — matrix of alternative measures vs their efficiency/trade-offs presented - showing escape hatches were found to be the best option to address by catch despite their down sides of costs 13 August 2019 — A meeting was held on "Project UK Fisheries Improvements Stage One: Crab and Lobster", facilitated by the MSC. 1 June 2019 — A review of the crab and lobster action plan was conducted. 25 June 2018 — SW Crab & Lobster Management sub-group minutes 15 March 2018 — Draft risk assessment - interactions between ETP species and fishing gear published highlighting two ETP issues to be addressed 1 December 2017 — A data comparison of the non-target species caught across the UK Western Channel and Celtic Sea crustacean pot fisheries.
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	May 22	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 May 2022 — Increase to MSC PI 1.2.2 scores; the present HCRs in place are expected to reduce the exploitation rate 9 July 2021 — Increase in 2.2.3; increase in information of main secondary species 9 July 2021 — Increase in PI 2.3.2 & 2.3.3; Strategy in place to record ETP interaction, with regular review of the system. Additionally, there were no interactions to assess UoA related mortality of ETP species. 9 July 2021 — Increase in PI score 1.2.4; 9 July 2021 — Increase in PI score 2.1.2; The only main primary species is mackerel. FIP not expected to not hinder rebuilding of mackerel to levels which are highly likely to be above the PRI 1 January 2020 — Increase in PI score 1.2.2.. Review of all regional and transboundary - well defined harvest control rules are in place
5. Improvements on the Water	Jul 21	Verifiable improvement on the water 9 July 2021 — Increase in PI 2.3.1; No ETP species associated with this fishery were identified in the catch composition review
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public