The EU Commission has responded to NSAC and NWWAC advice on recreational fisheries
EU Commission Responds to NSAC and NWWAC Advice on Recreational Fisheries: A New Era of Regulation and Data Collection
In a recent communication, the European Commission addressed the joint advice provided by the North Sea Advisory Council (NSAC) and the North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) regarding the regulation and monitoring of recreational fisheries.
The Commission’s response underscores the significant socio-economic impact of recreational fishing on coastal communities and emphasises the need for enhanced regulation and data collection to ensure sustainable fishing practices.
Importance of Recreational Fisheries
Recreational fishing is not only a popular leisure activity but also a vital component of the socio-economic fabric of coastal regions. The Commission acknowledges the role of the NSAC and NWWAC in highlighting the importance of recreational fisheries in terms of the number of fishers, associated employment, and its overall impact on local economies.
New Control Regulation
Effective from January 9, 2024, the new Control Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/2842) aims to significantly improve data collection on recreational fisheries. This regulation is a pivotal step toward better understanding and managing the impact of recreational fishing on fish stocks, thereby enhancing conservation efforts and promoting sustainable exploitation of marine resources.
Key Provisions of the Regulation
The regulation introduces several critical measures to improve transparency, data collection, and reporting. Notably:
- Registration of Recreational Fishers: From January 10, 2026, coastal Member States must ensure that individuals engaging in recreational fisheries for species subject to Union conservation measures are registered.
- Daily Catch Reporting: Recreational fishers targeting specific species must record and report their catches daily via an electronic system. Member States are required to establish and maintain these electronic systems, which will be integrated with the Commission’s data collection framework.
- Annual Data Reporting: For additional species under Union fishing opportunities, Member States must collect relevant data and report it to the Commission at least once a year.
- Development of an Electronic System: The Commission will develop an electronic system to support Member States in meeting these new reporting obligations, ensuring consistency and facilitating a level playing field between recreational and commercial fishing sectors.
Engagement with Stakeholders
The Commission has been actively engaging with Member States and stakeholders from the recreational fisheries sector to address concerns and gather suggestions. Recent initiatives include:
– Pollack and Seabass Management: Efforts are underway to integrate recreational catch data into stock assessments for pollack and to update the seabass catch allocation tool. These initiatives aim to improve the accuracy and reliability of stock assessments and ensure that recreational catches are effectively managed.
Future Directions
The Commission’s response highlights a commitment to ongoing dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders to refine the regulatory framework and data collection methods. This includes addressing data gaps, improving reporting systems, and ensuring that recreational fishing practices contribute to the sustainable management of marine resources.
The response from the Commission marks a significant step towards enhancing the regulation of recreational fisheries, aligning with broader goals of sustainability and conservation within the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). By improving data collection and transparency, the Commission aims to foster a more sustainable and responsible recreational fishing sector that supports both the environment and coastal economies.
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. The new FV Quantus designed by Salt Ship Design will be fitted with the Brunvoll Retractable Azimuth Combi Thruster. Illustration by Salt Ship Design
Brunvoll with Yet Another Fishing Vessel Contract
Brunvoll has recently signed contract with Westcon Yards for the delivery of a wide array of products to the new fishing vessel for owner M.V. Quantus Limited and Peter & J. Johnstone Limited, based in Peterhead, UK.
Included is the Retractable Azimuth Combi Thruster, on its way to become an industry standard for fishing vessels. The vessel is designed by Salt Ship Design and will be delivered from the yard by the end of 2025.
The Brunvoll delivery for Quantus will consist of main propulsion and gear, the BruCon Propulsion and Thruster Control (PTC) system, an aft tunnel thruster, and a Retractable Azimuth Combi Thruster in the bow.
The main features of the Combi thruster are to act as tunnel thruster in upper position, and as azimuth manoeuvring and propulsion unit when lowered. The Retractable Azimuth Combi Thruster can provide value in various operations from added manoeuvring capability at port, to providing extra thrust and increased manoeuvrability in fishing operations by keeping the vessel on course in conditions which would else cause drift-off. The Combi thruster will also reduce fuel consumption by avoiding inefficient use of the rudder and main propulsion. The Retractable Azimuth Combi Thruster has reportedly been used to bring the vessel and crew safely to port in cases where other vital systems have been out of operation.
Brunvoll’s Retractable Azimuth Combi Thruster, becoming an industry standard for fishing vessels. Illustration by Brunvoll
Another reason for installing a Retractable Azimuth Combi Thruster is as a propulsion unit further away from the fishing gear during hauling or pumping, helps to avoid damage and disruption. Further, using the Retractable Azimuth Combi during pumping operation at stern can allow for completely stopping the main propeller and avoid trawl rotation in the flow out from the propeller, often called propeller wake.
The customers M.V. Quantus Limited and Peter & J. Johnstone Limited have also earlier installed Brunvoll thrusters for their fishing vessels. This time they are placing their trust in Brunvoll to provide an even broader range of products and systems for their new asset. The Quantus will be a pelagic trawler, built for low emissions, safe workdays, and high fish quality operating out of Peterhead (UK), which is one of Europe’s largest white-fish ports.