Present

Michael Emmerson, David McCandless, G. C Pilling, Pete Sedman, Val Sedman, Angie Skelton, Mally Skelton, Leanne Stockdale (Chair), George Traves, James Wood.

Apologies

Robbie Fisher, Victor Leppington, Danny Major, Fred Normandale, Robin Neale, Stuart McPherson.

Agenda

Leanne Stockdale (LS) (Chair) opened the meeting and informed those present that tonight’s meeting was arranged to update the group on current byelaws and project work. Topic areas to be discussed include: -

The proposed No Take Zone
NESFC Lobster Tagging Project
An update on current NESFC byelaws
Marine Conservation Zones and the North Sea Project

The Proposed No Take Zone

LS The byelaw for the NTZ (circulated to the Fisheries Liaison Group in October 2008) was taken to NESFC quarterly meeting on the 27 January 2009. The byelaw was agreed with no amendments needed. The byelaw was then sent to Defra for approval on the 9 February 2009. Contact has been made with NESFC to ask what monitoring would be taking place in the area, if the byelaw were passed. The byelaw is currently still with Defra; NESFC believe this hold up is due to The Marine Bill taking priority.

Funding has been secured through Natural England to tender for the monitoring strategy for the area. This will be advertised shortly. Expressions of interest will be invited over the next few weeks, with the successful applicant developing a monitoring strategy for the area. The reason for taking this approach is to ensure a scientifically robust monitoring plan is in place, for the first 5 years of the byelaw.

GT Markers are needed to mark the area, now. It was suggested that the type of marker to be used would be a tyre with reinforced chain links, three times the depth of the water, using wire not coiling.

DMc Buoys and Foreshore signs are needed to inform those launching and at sea where the area is.

GP What is the penalty for breaking a byelaw?

DMc the statutory maximum is £5,000 for breaching a byelaw, however it does depend on the offence. A range of sanctions are in place including verbal warnings, home office cautions were a statement would be signed, with court being the last resort. NESFC try to educate and get compliance through taking this approach.

GT will the use of salmon nets be enforced in the area?

DMc This would fall to the Environment Agency, as NESFC do not legislate salmonids. We would hope that those people working nets would follow the spirit as everyone else has.

Action: DMc to investigate whether the area can be buoyed before the byelaw is passed.

NESFC Lobster Tagging Project

James Wood (JW), the Project Officer coordinating the tagging project gave an update to the liaison group. From the results collated there appears to be 3 main stocks Hornsea / Withernsea – Flamborough / Filey and Runswick / Staithes.

Results show that when the lobsters are moulting there is a 10% average increase, however in some cases there has been up to 25mm growth in a single year.

It was previously thought that the V notch lasted for 2-3 seasons, however, it may only last a few months.

Important: indication that large female-berried hens migrate against the current and may release eggs to restock home site. I.E berried hens supplying Flamborough may be caught as far north as Whitby.

Suggestions of self-sufficient stock at Flamborough as there are constant ranges of sizes caught here.

In total 1300 lobsters have been tagged in Flamborough with 170 site-specific returns, 166 within 10km of the shore indicating the stock is highly localised. This may be linked to hydrodynamics and the strong currents.

Catch returns were previously put into a prize draw, however fishermen are now paid per tag return. There has since been a significant increase in returns details.

Update on current NESFC byelaws

DMc gave an update on byelaws in place within the Flamborough Head area. Two byelaws have been passed since the last meeting. The Flamborough Head Fishing Byelaw was August 2008 and was confirmed on the 5 February 2009. This byelaw only applies to trawling within the SAC, to protect and monitor sensitive features of the site. A special permit system is in place and is open to those who can prove a track record between the years of 2005-2007. Evidence from plotting systems will be requested; DMc personally would like to see the systems and tracks to check.

GT can under 10m still fish here?

DMc Hobby fisherman will not be able to; commercial vessels with current trawl permits can.

The second byelaw is an amendment to the fixed engine byelaw. From Flamborough to Withernsea light 5 permits where issued in November 2008, enabling fisherman to use intertidal nets to target sea bass. Applications have now been invited for the 2009/10 season. Previously between November and March there where no restrictions.

The fixed netting regulations are amongst the most restricted in the UK. The fishery has achieved MSC certification, which includes and independent annual audit of management provisions, costing between £4,000-£5,000 a year.

An open discussion then followed on the Limited Shellfish Permit (LSP) and the reasons for this byelaw. Some of the angling representatives felt the LSP provisions where overly restricted on their activities and they have little impact on the fisheries compared with commercial fishermen. Action: DMc agreed to re-examine these provisions.

Marine Conservation Zones and the North Sea Project

LS two new documents are now available on the JNCC website, one explaining the terminology of Marine Protected Areas and the other the Marine Conservation Zone projects. LS has sent the links to those who have email (http://www.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2409 and http://www.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4525).

As no one had a chance to read the documents prior to the meeting, LS suggested that people ring/email with any queries.

LS asked for those interested in the North Sea MCZ project to tick the appropriate box on the signing in sheet. As due to data protection, details cannot be passed on without consent. LS will be sending a letter/email to all those on the database asking if they would like their details sending to the North Sea project team.

Any other business

LS the next Flamborough Head Maritime Forum will take place on the 15 July, 7pm at the Flamborough Village Hall. This is a meeting for all interests and is an open meeting. At this Forum the new interpretation project, which will develop the material that is already around the Headland, will be consulted on.

LS will start her new role at Natural England on the 13 July 2009. The Management Group does intend to recruit a new Project Officer and the adverts for this role will be going out shortly.

Meeting closed 21:15

Tags: flamborough, Flamborough Head, leanne stockdale