New publication: The coastal fisheries of England and Wales, Part V: a review of their status 2005-2006
Science Series Technical Report no.140
This review updates the description of the inshore fisheries around England and Wales provided in Pawson et al. (2002), which in turn succeeded Gray (1995), Pawson and Rogers (1989) and Pawson and Benford (1983). The original structure that started with Pawson and Benford (1983) has been retained. A general overview of each fishery sector (for demersal and pelagic fish, shellfish, and migratory species) within each of twelve Sea Fishery Committee (SFC) Districts is provided, with a résumé of the fishing activity undertaken from each port or landing place. Though the descriptions of fishing gear given in Gray (1995) have not been replicated, a brief discussion of the management framework is given, as is the distribution of the major commercial shellfish species around England and Wales, updating those featured since Pawson and Benford (1983).
Whilst previous reviews noted the steady increase in the relative importance of English and Welsh inshore fisheries in the last quarter of the 20th Century, a comparison with Gray (1995) reveals a general downturn in activity in many of these fisheries. Some, such as the eel trawl fishery in the Thames Estuary have lapsed due to a lack of resource, whilst others, exemplified by the coastal net fisheries for salmon, are being deliberately phased out to protect resources. In contrast, the production from inshore fisheries for sea bass and shellfish has been maintained, and the fishing fleet in England and Wales still contains a large number of small vessels capable of operating a wide range of fishing gears in seasonal and opportunistic fisheries close to their home ports.
