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Fishery: Thames Blackwater Herring Drift-Net Fishery
(Clupea harengus)
Status:
The certification body, Moody Marine Ltd., has released the 2nd annual surveillance report for the Thames Herring fishery.
Please refer to the downloads section for a copy of the report.
Last updated: 04 April 2008
Location:
The driftnet (a small floating gillnet) fishery for spring spawning herring is located in the Greater Thames Estuary within the 6 mile limit in the United Kingdom.
Fishing Method:
The stock is fished by both driftnets and mid-water trawls. Trawl fishing for herring is prohibited from a designated area within which only gill netting for herring is allowed. Only the driftnet fishery is certified.
Management:
The fishery is regulated by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which is responsible for setting and monitoring the TAC (total allowable catch limit). In 1999 to 2000 the TAC was set at 121 tonnes. DEFRA contracts CEFAS, a government research agency, to undertake stock assessments and provide management advice. The Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee, a local management body, makes bylaws to protect the fish stock. These include the regulation of mesh size, and the prohibition of trawling over spawning grounds.
Fishing Season:
The fishing season runs from November to March.
Main commercial market:
Thames Herring is sold by fishermen to merchants who sell the fish to processors for distribution to supermarkets, fishmongers' shops or export markets. The market for Thames Herring is best in the spring when there is a gap in the supply of North Sea Herring and at times when poor weather prevents offshore fishing operations.
Assessment details:
The initial assessment began in March 1999 and certification was awarded in March 2000. The fishery began re-assessment in December 2004 and was awarded a certificate of achievement in December 2005.
Client and contact:
James McHoul
Fisheries Partnerships Officer
Colchester Borough Council
PO Box 885
Town Hall
Colchester CO1 1ZE
UK
Tel: +44 (0)1206 506475
Fax: +44 (0)1206 282711
E-mail:james.mchoul@colchester.gov.uk
Certification Bodies:
Initial assessment
SGS Norway
Eidsvågv. 150
N-5105 Eidsvåg
NORWAY
Tel: + 47 404 00 404
Fax: + 47 55 13 38 16
www.sgs.com
Contact: Mrs. Sandhya Chaudhury
Email: sandhya.chaudhury@sgs.com
Re-assessment
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
E-mail: ahough@moodymarine.com
Website: www.moodymarine.com
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