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Fishery: South West Mackerel Handline Fishery (Scomber scombrus)
Status:
The certification body, Moody Marine Limited has announced that the South West Handline Mackerel Fishery will shortly be undergoing an annual surveillance audit. During the audit, South West Handline Mackerel will be speaking with representatives of the fishery, fishery management bodies and other stakeholders of the fishery. Meetings will be carried out over the period 12/13/14 March 2008 in Penzance and Newlyn, Cornwall, UK.
Please refer to the downloads section for further details.
Last Updated: 11 February 2008
Location:
The fishery is located off the south west coast of England, from Start Point to Hartland Point within UK territorial waters and this falls within the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) areas VIIe,f,g & h. Most of the fishing occurs within 8 nautical miles of shore. The main ports are Newlyn, Looe with landings also taking place in Plymouth, St Ives, Mevagissey and other ports.
Fishing Method:
The handline method uses either braided twine or strong nylon lines to which hooks are attached. Coloured plastic or feathers are attached to these hooks to attract fish and the line is weighted with lead. Each handline has 25-30 hooks.
Management:
The stock is targeted by trawlers and purse seiners throughout the east Atlantic. Within the area of the South West Mackerel Box only handliners are permitted to target mackerel. This area was set up at a time of high fishing effort in the area in 1981 by Council regulation to protect juvenile mackerel, as the area is a well known nursery. The area of the box was extended to its present size in 1989.
Fishermen are not permitted to catch fish below the minimum landing size of 20 cm.
Within the UK, the overall quota is managed by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) with recordings of landings made by DEFRA fishery officers. Regulations including the minimum landing size are enforced by DEFRA Fisheries Officers and the Cornish Sea Fisheries Committee. DEFRA officers record landings data into a central database on a weekly basis. This allows the fishery to be closed when the quota has been reached.
The fishery has an individual quota of 1,750 tonnes or 0.83% of the UK quota, whichever is the larger. Up to 150 vessels can be fishing in winter. Larger vessels land mainly in Newlyn, Falmouth, Looe and Mevagissey. Smaller vessels land their fish in the coves and harbours around Cornwall.
Fishing Season:
The main fishing season runs between September and April. There is also a smaller commercial summer fishery located mainly around the Lands End Peninsula between Newlyn and St. Ives.
Main commercial market:
The bulk of fish is sent to wholesalers around the UK who sell it to retailers and restaurants nation-wide. A large percentage of the fish are also exported to the continent, particularly France and Italy.
Assessment details:
The full assessment began in March 2001 and the certificate was awarded in August 2001. Re-assessment began in March 2006.
Client and contact:
South West Handline Fishermen’s Association.
David Muirhead
Triss Rose Cottage,
The Lizard
Helston
Cornwall
Telephone: 01326 574 988
Mobile: 07977 597 644
Fax: 01326 563 828
Email: bh@borlase-co.co.uk
Certification Body:
Moody Marine Ltd
Moody International Certification
Salisbury House
Stephenson's Way
The Wyvern Business Park
Derby DE21 6LY
UK
Tel (Direct): +44 (0) 1633 401092
(Office): +44 (0) 8707 529002
Fax: + 44 (1332) 675 152
Contact: Dr Andrew Hough
ahough@moodymarine.com
www.moodymarine.com
MSC's Chief Executive Officer:
Rupert Howes
Marine Stewardship Council
3rd Floor, Mountbarrow House
6-20 Elizabeth Street
London SW1W 9RB
Tel: +44 (0)20 7811 3300
Rupert.Howes@msc.org |
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Downloads:
Announcement: Annual Surveillance Audit - posted 11 February 2008
Re-assessment
Announcement: Issuance of Public Certification Report - posted 28 Feb 2007
Public Certification Report - posted 28 Feb 2007
Timescale extended to 28 Feb 2007 - posted 21 Dec 2006
Initial assessment
Surveillance Report No. 4 - posted 03 Aug 2006
Surveillance Report No. 3 - posted 23 May 2005
South West Mackerel Handline Surveillance Report No. 2 - March 2004
South West Mackerel Handline Surveillance Report No. 1 version 2 - June 2003
South West Mackerel Handline fishery Surveillance Report No. 1 - Aug 2002
South West Mackerel Handline Fishery Full Report May 2001 |
