2009/2010 programme
This programme is the second in the latest three-year commitment of Defra to the FSP initiative, and a further £1m has been allocated for the year. The established time-series surveys of Northeast cod, Western anglerfish, Irish Sea roundfish and Western Channel sole and plaice (west) are scheduled to complete a seventh year of surveys by March 2010. The new North Sea whitefish time-series survey agreed for commencement in 2008-09 will start the first survey in June/July 2009.
New one-off projects, which have been agreed to be undertaken during this year are:
- North Sea "Eliminator" Type Gear Trials
- Sussex Whelks
- South Wales Bass Square Mesh Panels
- CCTV development on western Irish Sea Nephrops vessels
- Eastern Irish Sea razorfish
- Cod Tagging north Thames region
The 2009/10 Projects:
Project 3. North East Cod and Whiting
Purpose: To extend the time-series of surveys of NE coast cod carried out in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 in order to provide year-on-year comparative information on distribution, relative abundance and size/age composition of cod, and to obtain additional information on distribution, relative abundance and size/age composition of whiting and haddock off the NE coast.
Timing: October
Vessel: Abbie Lee (PDF, 1,011 KB)
Project 4. Western Channel Sole and Plaice
Purpose: To extend the time-series of surveys in the Western English Channel in order to provide information on distribution patterns of sole, plaice and other commercial by-catch species, trends in abundance and age composition of sole and plaice, and additional information on the by-catch of species such as cod.
Timing: late August to October
Vessel: Carhelmar
Carhelmar (PDF, 1.00 MB)
Project 5. Western Anglerfish
Purpose: To extend the time-series of surveys to provide data on the distribution, catch rates and length distribution of anglerfish, lemon sole, sole and cod caught using commercial gear off Southwest England.
Timing: September to November
Vessels: Billy Rowney and Twilight III (PDF, 1,532 KB)
Project 6. Irish Sea Roundfish
Purpose: To repeat the FSP surveys of cod, haddock and whiting in the western and eastern Irish Sea carried out since 2004, maintaining the time-series. The target species are cod, haddock and whiting.
Timing: February/March
Vessels: Isadale and Benaiah IV
Project 7. North Sea Whitefish
Purpose: A time-series to develop a North Sea survey to compare the catch rate of our whitefish species using an otter trawl on hard grounds and a scraper trawl on soft grounds. Detailed measurements will be made of cod, whiting, haddock and possibly plaice.
Timing: June/July
Vessel: Allegiance S (PDF, 260 KB)
Project 10. Sussex Whelks
Purpose: To initiate a joint Cefas/SFC/Industry programme to obtain up-to-date data relating to the biology of exploited whelk stocks on the south coast of England. The information will be used to supplement management advice for stocks off the Sussex coast and the methods developed in the project should have application to stock management issues elsewhere in England & Wales.
Timing: June - August.
Vessels: Tomkat of Selsey and Beachy Head (PDF, 747 KB)
Project 11. North Sea "Eliminator" Type Gear Trials
Purpose: To provide new information on comparative catch profiles of the "eliminator" trawl to those from a conventional trawl fitted with belly cod-escape panels. And to address industry concerns that the "eliminator" trawl is not the only trawl design, which can effectively reduce cod catches in the North Sea.
Timing: June/July.
Jubilee Quest and Our Lass II (PDF, 1,444 KB)
Project 12. Bristol Channel Bass Square Mesh Panels
Purpose: To reduce catches of undersized bass through the use of square mesh panels.
Timing: June - August
Cerulean (PDF, 2,019 KB)
Video
Project 13. CCTV Development on Western Irish Sea Nephrops Vessels
Purpose: To develop a cost effective method in monitoring the amount of cod by-catch within the Irish Sea Nephrops fishery by using CCTV.
Timing: July - September
MFV Supreme (PDF, 303 KB)
Project 14. Eastern Irish Sea Razorfish
Purpose: To obtain information on razorfish in the eastern Irish Sea by identifying the potential for a razorfish fishery. The information may be used to assess the status of the stocks in the area and help provide management advice.
Timing: June - November
Project 15. Trials with an Eliminator-type trawl in the North sea Saithe Fishery
Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an Eliminator-type trawl in the North Sea saithe fishery.
Timing: June - November
MFV Farnella (PDF, 584 KB)
Project 16. Cod Tagging North Thames Region
Purpose: To investigate the movements of cod in the locality of the north Thames region and Shipwash area to help describe how they fit into the cod sub-structure of the North Sea.
Timing: January - March 2010
