News
Call for Industry Engagement in Welsh Crab and Lobster Fisheries Management Plan Pre-Consultation
What is happening with crab and lobster management in Wales?
The Welsh crab and lobster fishery management plan (FMP) will be developed by the Welsh Government and is due for publication in 2026.
Before that happens, Seafish is undertaking a pre-consultation project. Species in scope of the project include brown crab, European lobster, velvet crab, spider crab, crawfish and common prawn.
What is pre-consultation?
The purpose of the pre-consultation project is to gather views from stakeholders and fishers on current and…
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Summary
This consultation seeks your views on the Secretary of State potentially exercising the exemption power within Regulation 14 of The Merchant Shipping (Work in Fishing Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2018 with respect to existing fishers working on vessels of 10 metres and under.
This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 27 February 2024
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/medical-exemption-existing-fishers-on-vessels-of-10-metres-and-under
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Government to support small-scale fishing industry across the UK in latest medical consultation
The government launches a consultation on medical exemptions for fishers working on vessels 10 metres and under in length.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-support-small-scale-fishing-industry-across-the-uk-in-latest-medical-consultation
- Government gives industry a chance to have its say on concessions that would benefit fishers on vessels of 10 metres and under.
- Safety of fishers is paramount and today will make sure that remains the case while ensuring fishers can continue their important work
- Government continues to listen to the views from across the fishing industry
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Ahead of the Senedd election on the 6th May, the WFA has published its vision document, Sea Our Future, explaining who, what and how the WFA and its constituent fishermen’s associations work with fisheries managers, nature conservation bodies and others to aim for sustainable and profitable fisheries.
WFA-CPC Sea Our Future
The WFA-CPC’s manifesto centres around the need to reform fisheries management in Wales to achieve our vision and specifically requests:
- THE INTRODUCTION OF A WELSH FISHERIES BILL IN THE NEXT SENEDD TERM,
- THE CREATION OF A DUTY TO ADAPTIVELY MANAGE THE EXPLOITATION OF SEA FISHERY RESOURCES…
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The Small Scale Coastal Infrastructure Scheme (SSCIS) is open to applications from all Port Authorities (PA) and Local Authorities (LA) who own ports and harbours across Wales and meet the eligibility selection criteria as set out in this booklet:
https://welshfishermansassociation.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/EXhzbcFB5qlGvMnOGVxAIYQBuRTHuNKTJj-nUC6T_mY27w
The scheme covers capital investments in port and harbour infrastructure which deliver benefits to improve the overall performance, sustainability, safety and well-being of the Welsh Marine and Fishing industries as well as the general public enjoying the use of these facilities and the surrounding areas.
The grant provides up to 100% towards capital investments in equipment and machinery that…
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The biggest lifesaver? Stay on board
Steps to prevent MOB
1. Assess the risks
2. Do your drills
3. Wear a PFD
https://www.homeanddry.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/HD-MOB-launch_1.mp4
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Acoustic recorders are being deployed in the following locations in Cardigan Bay to monitor Harbour Porpoise
Site
Lon
Lat
1
-4.313717921
52.78077684
2
-4.209460743
52.60178989
3
-4.295770913
52.38549369
4
-4.373644855
52.23993486
5
-4.6638075
52.15075515
6
-4.823737282
52.28023173
7
-4.680222054
52.44491
A diagram of the acoustic recorder mooring system can be found here:
Acoustic Recorder
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The Government has today (14 April 2021) set provisional catch limits for UK-EU shared fish stocks for the remainder of 2021, or until an agreement is reached with the EU.
Today’s announcement follows the Government’s commitment to extend provisional catch limits for the rest of the year if agreement on fishing opportunities with the EU had not been reached by 14 April. The EU recently announced their intention to extend their provisional catch limits until 31 July.
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Ahead of the Senedd election on the 6th May, the WFA has published its vision document, Sea Our Future, explaining who, what and how the WFA and its constituent fishermen’s associations work with fisheries managers, nature conservation bodies and others to aim for sustainable and profitable fisheries.
WFA-CPC Sea Our Future
The WFA-CPC’s manifesto centres around the need to reform fisheries management in Wales to achieve our vision and specifically requests:
- THE INTRODUCTION OF A WELSH FISHERIES BILL IN THE NEXT SENEDD TERM,
- THE CREATION OF A DUTY TO ADAPTIVELY MANAGE THE EXPLOITATION OF SEA FISHERY RESOURCES…
Read more
Please find the link below to access application and guidance notes regarding the £1.3m Welsh Seafood Resilience Scheme.
Please note this scheme opens today and closes on the 31st of March 2021.
https://gov.wales/marine-fisheries
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The Welsh Government has launched a new £1.3m scheme to help the Welsh fishing and aquaculture sector following the twin hits to their businesses caused by leaving the EU and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The sector in Wales- whose largest export trading partner is the EU- has been hit hard by the UK/ EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) which came into force January 1 this year.
Welsh fishers have suffered severe trade disruption, and many of our aquaculture businesses trading in live bivalve molluscs - such as mussels - have seen a total cessation of trade.
This disruption has exacerbated…
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The Seafood Response Fund (SRF) is designed to help UK fishing and shellfish aquaculture businesses that have been affected by the downturn of export and domestic markets for fish and shellfish due to the coronavirus pandemic and/or disruption to seafood exports earlier this year.
Please find the full guidance here and an updated press release here.
MMO will be contacting eligible fishing and aquaculture businesses in phases by email to invite them to provide their details via our online system.
Any business that has not heard from the MMO by 21st March and who thinks they are…
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The MCA are aware of recent cases of HRUs not correctly fitted.
They have added a link to Gov.uk with a diagram produced by the RNLI a few years ago that shows how to correctly fit an HRU.
Correct fitting of a HRU
Please circulate the attached link and post the picture in a suitable place where it might be seen.
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Please find below the link to the MMO Covid Financial Support Guide.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/963486/One_Stop_Shop_Covid_v7.pdf
As announced recently this is a UK gov scheme administered by the MMO, subject to eligibility criteria Welsh fishing, aquaculture and seafood export businesses are included and will be contacted directly by the MMO in a phased approach. The WFA is pressing for further details and will keep you informed.
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A link to Sunday night's programme on S4C 'Drych' featuring Llyn fishermen - the difficulties, tragedies and hopes for the future.
Well done to all involved.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0972j4j/drych-y-pysgotwyr
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Letter from the Marine Energy Hub in Pembrokeshire regarding Blue Gem Wind's floating offshore wind project 'Valorous'
Dear Sir or Madam,
On behalf of our client, Blue Gem Wind (BGW), we would like to introduce their proposed early‑commercial scale floating offshore wind project; Valorous.
Valorous is a proposed 300 MW floating offshore wind project in the Celtic Sea, approximately 47 km from the South West coast of Pembrokeshire. The key project elements include:
- 18 to 31 Wind Turbine Generator with an indicative nameplate rating of between 9.5 MW and 16 MW housed on floating (semi-submersible) platforms;
- A single offshore substation;
…
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A UK Government press release on increased support for fishing and shellfish businesses.
Increased support for fishing and shellfish businesses
- Expanded Seafood Response Fund for the UK’s fishing and shellfish aquaculture sectors
- Fund will draw on existing £23m fund but provide cash grants for more fishing businesses
- Scheme to target the needs of the whole UK fishing industry
The Government has announced enhanced financial support for the seafood industry with cash grants for fishing and shellfish aquaculture businesses across the UK.
In January, the Government made available £23 million for seafood exporters that suffered a financial loss because of delays…
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To subscribe and view the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fisheries newsletters go to:
https://www.fisheriesappg.org/newsletters
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Message from Jon Edwards (Swyddog Cyfathrebu – Pontio’r UE / Communications Officer – EU Transition)
Today, the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition published The New Relationship with the EU: What It Means for Wales, which analyses the impact of the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) agreed on 24 December 2020.
This new document can be found on the Welsh Government website:
The Counsel General and Minister for European Transition has also produced a Written Statement, offering more detail:
Please feel free…
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Thursday 25 February, 12:30pm to 4:30pm, Principles of Fish Quality Assessment. This training course is theory based and covers the mechanisms of spoilage, methods of assessing fish quality and focuses on the Torry assessment scheme for round fish, flatfish and salmon. There is an optional online 90 minute open book test which can be taken after the training course. Currently 50% funded for people working in the UK seafood industry, the funded cost per learner is £50.
Tuesday 16 March, 9:30am to 2pm, Introduction to HACCP. This training course covers prerequisites, hazards, low and high risk foods, legislation and the…
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Seafish Newletter can be found here: https://elinkeu.clickdimensions.com/m/1/75896458/p1-b21040-6d0ee5a3ddb74e709eab3467147c38f7/1/147/2c46c261-3b86-49a0-b398-cfcf9079078c
Featuring:
- Love Seafood campaign
- EU-UK Trade support updates
- Latest Kingfisher updates
- UK gear trial review
- Join our industry sector panels
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