Consultation on Three Joint UK Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) for Pelagic Stocks

Background: Fisheries Management Plans

Why are we publishing FMPs?

The Act sets out the legal framework to manage fisheries in the UK, including the provision to prepare and publish FMPs. FMPs are intended to support the protection of fish stocks and, where necessary, the recovery of fish stocks, which in turn will support a sustainable fishing industry and safeguard the environment.

What are FMPs?

FMPs are documents prepared and published under the Act that set out policies designed to maintain relevant stocks of sea fish at sustainable levels, or where necessary, restore them to sustainable levels (or contribute to this). They are evidence-based action plans that support delivery of sustainable fisheries for current and future generations. FMPs are strategic plans that must be reviewed and, if necessary, revised at least once every six years. They set out both a long-term vision for the fishery (or fisheries), together with the policies and management interventions necessary in the short to medium-term to achieve this vision. Where appropriate, FMPs may identify actions to address wider issues identified during their development such as environmental, social and economic considerations.

How FMPs work

The management of fisheries is a devolved competency, currently managed through regulation, byelaws, licence conditions and voluntary measures. FMPs may lead to changes to these management measures.

National Fisheries Authorities (in this case the Scottish Government, Defra, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and DAERA) are legally required to act in accordance with the policies set out in these plans and will work with a range of organisations and relevant stakeholders on implementation of the actions contained within the plans.

FMPs identify a range of policies and actions. Plans are intended to be adaptive and developed over time as further evidence is gathered, and measures are implemented. Whilst each FMP focuses on specific stock(s), they will often need to be considered in a holistic manner, particularly where there are strong stock interactions and connections between different fisheries.

FMPs actions are intended to be implemented over their lifetime to have an impact on how fisheries are managed. It may therefore take some time to show benefits in terms of improving the sustainability of stocks and fisheries.

FMPs and other coastal States

FMPs provide a long-term framework for managing fishing activity, with the policies and actions focused on ensuring stock sustainability and a healthy marine environment. The policies and actions within the FMPs reflect and respect the international management arrangements that are in place for each of the FMPs covered by this consultation.

The UK, whilst having regulatory autonomy over its fisheries, is committed to working with other coastal States, building on our strong and constructive relationships to ensure sustainable management of shared fisheries resources. In order to deliver the objectives of the Fisheries Act, the policies and actions in current and future FMPs will be implemented, and iterated where necessary, to reflect commitments made through annual consultations with the EU and other coastal States as well as negotiations in multilateral and bilateral forums.

The FMPs state that comprehensive TAC sharing arrangement between the coastal States to support the distribution between coastal States is important for securing the long-term sustainability of the shared stocks and is an action set out within a number of the pelagic FMPs.

These plans may inform multi-year strategies for conservation and management of shared stocks, including those proposed by the UK and EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Regulatory measures to implement FMPs will apply to all vessels fishing in UK waters. The UK will notify the EU of any changes affecting EU vessels. The UK will also be working with other partners to promote sustainable management of international fisheries through bilateral and multilateral forums.

Approach to the development of the FMPs

Developed in a collaborative and transparent way, our aim is to ensure that FMPs are relevant to the fishery or fisheries in question and support a practical and flexible approach to fisheries management tailored to species, locations, and fishing activities.

FMPs are being developed across the UK in different ways, allowing us to try new approaches and test how best to develop the plans and engage with stakeholders.

Why FMPs for horse mackerel and greater silver smelt?

The three fish stocks covered by these FMPs are of limited importance to the UK fishing industry. They are landed in relatively small quantities by UK vessels, and either they make up only a small part of the catch for the fleets that target them, or they are mainly taken as bycatch in other fisheries.

However, despite the UK having little direct commercial interest in these stocks, it is still important to manage them sustainably. The FMPs set out actions to help ensure these stocks remain or are restored to a healthy and productive status in the future. They also play a role in the wider marine ecosystem and, given their presence in UK waters, it is important that appropriate management measures are put in place.

Pelagic stocks are typically widespread and occur across International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) subareas^[9] 1–14. Within UK waters, the management of pelagic fisheries under the three FMPs covered by this consultation is as follows:

• The proposed North Sea horse mackerel FMP covers two separate horse mackerel stocks: horse mackerel in UK waters of ICES Division 4.a, which forms part of the Western^[10] horse mackerel stock, and horse mackerel in UK waters of ICES Divisions 4.b–c and 7.d, which form part of the North Sea horse mackerel stock.
• The proposed North Sea greater silver smelt FMP covers the North Sea GSS fishery in UK waters of ICES Subarea 4 and Division 2.a (North Sea).
• The proposed West of Scotland greater silver smelt FMP covers the West of Scotland GSS fishery in UK waters of ICES Division 6.a (West Coast of Scotland) and Division 5.b (Faroes Grounds).

The areas covered by these FMPs have distinct issues and challenges that warrant separate consideration. Whilst each area has its differences, there are also similarities across FMPs to ensure consistency in management approaches.