Bycatch fishing statistics (FOI)

Request

A

I would like information and statistics on the volume of bycatch that is caught, legally and illegally if possible, within Jersey waters for the last five years [2015-2019]. If this can be broken down by type of bycatch that would be preferred.

B

In relation to bycatch I am also interested in statistics relating to sustainable fishing stocks. What are the figures [from 2015-2019] enforced by Jersey fisheries for sustainable catch [annually] in Jersey waters and are these standards met [i.e. what are the stats of total catch in Jersey waters annually for the same time period].

C

I would also be interested in statistics for the period 2015 to 2019 relating to illegal fishing in Jersey waters, what's being illegally fished and how much is caught.

D

Finally, I would like to know if there is any data recorded regarding the amount of seafloor that is damaged from trawling or weighted nets within Jersey waters. If this is unavailable, I would be interested in knowing any figures regarding the volume of registered fishing boats in Jersey that use this method [from 2015-2019].

Response

A

Marine Resources do not collect data relating to bycatch in Jersey waters since the local fishing industry is dominated by potting for crab, lobster and whelk. Any catch from potting either has a commercial value and is logged accordingly with any undersized or no value catch being returned to the sea.

The Jersey fleet has one trawler that could generate a significant bycatch, however it operates mostly outside of Jersey waters and, as such, reports any bycatch to the UK via an electronic logging system to which we do not have access.

B

The information you have requested in relation to this question is partially exempt under Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 because the information is already accessible to you by other means.

The annual catch data and fish stock assessment are included in the Marine Resources Annual reports which is published on www.gov.je and can be accessed using the following links. The information is located on the pages indicated below.

Figures for 2015 and 2016 are included in the 2017 report.

Marine Resources Annual Report 2017 (Relevant pages 9, 20-25, 34-35)

Marine Resources Annual Report 2018 (Relevant pages 9-21, 52-54)  

Marine Resources Annual Report 2019 (government and administration section) (Relevant pages 9-21, 49-51)

The landing data is also published within the Agriculture and Fisheries Statistics and can be accessed using the following link.

Agriculture and fisheries statistics

As a largely invertebrate based fishery, we do not fish to Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)/biomass thresholds but manage the stock through a combination of technical and biological measures.

Further information regarding sustainability work for the joint Jersey and Normandy fishery on lobsters and the Normandy fishery on whelks can be found on the Annual Marine Stewardship Council website www.msc.org using the following links.

Lobsters - Maritime Stewardship Council

Whelks - Maritime Stewardship Council

C

The annual statistics are included in the enforcement section of the Marine Resources Annual Reports and include a breakdown of the nature of offences encountered.

D

Marine Resources do not hold any specific data quantifying seabed damage in relation to trawling or benthic netting. The Jersey fleet has one trawler and one vessel that reported using benthic (tangle) nets between 2015 and 2019.

Article applied

Article 23 Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.