Proposed Northern Shelf Hake Fisheries Management Plan

Glossary

CO2e - Carbon Dioxide equivalent

A metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential.

ICES - The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

Global organization that develops science and advice to support the sustainable use of the oceans.

MSY - Maximum Sustainable Yield

The maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for a given fish stock means the highest possible annual catch that can be sustained over time, by keeping the stock at the level producing maximum growth. The MSY refers to a hypothetical equilibrium state between the exploited population and the fishing activity. When discussing “MSY”, it is essential to distinguish between 3 closely related concepts: MSY, BMSY and FMSY.

MSY Btrigger

MSY Btrigger is the parameter in the ICES MSY framework which triggers advice on a reduced fishing mortality relative to FMSY

BMSY - Biomass Maximum Sustainable Yield

MSY is supported by a stable population size known as BMSY (= “biomass MSY”). Consequently, “reaching MSY” means rebuilding fish populations to the BMSY level, in order to be able to support the level of annual catches known as MSY

FMSY- Fishing Mortality Maximum Sustainable Yield

FMSY (= “fishing mortality MSY”) is a catch rate (resulting from dividing MSY – an annual catch - by BMSY – a population size). When the fish population is at BMSY and the fishing fleet is catching an annual amount of fish equal to MSY, then the resulting fishing mortality is FMSY.

CFP - Common Fisheries Policy

The CFP is a set of rules for managing European fishing fleets and for conserving fish stocks. Designed to manage a common resource, it gives all European fishing fleets equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds and allows fishermen to compete fairly. The CFP aims to ensure that fishing and aquaculture are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable and that they provide a source of healthy food for EU citizens. Its goal is to foster a dynamic fishing industry and ensure a fair standard of living for fishing communities.

Coastal State

Under the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (UNCLOS), a Coastal State has responsibilities which involve joint management of fisheries resources, have an obligation to set an allowable catch and to grant other States fisheries access if (and only if) they [do] not have the capacity to harvest the entire allowable catch themselves. A Coastal State by default controls its own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) out to 200 nautical miles. Access to these waters can be traded on an annual basis. Traditionally, in return for quota where another Coastal State is authorised to catch an amount of its quota share in another Coastal State’s waters. This is helpful when the stock is seasonal or migratory in nature.

Choke species

Choke refers to a situation that may occur when the quota opportunities for one stock in a mixed fishery may limit the ability of fishing vessels to maximum catches of another stock because the available quota is limited. Fisheries policy authorities take account of potential choke problems as part of the setting of quota opportunities.

Fisheries 2020 Act

Of most relevance to this consultation, we note the 2020 Act creates a legal requirement for the UK’s four national fisheries policy authorities (Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Scottish Ministers, Welsh Ministers, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland) to produce a Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) that will lay out how the objectives set out in the Act will be met.

Fisheries Policy Authorities

The Secretary of State, Scottish Ministers, Welsh Ministers and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland.

Fishing quotas

Fish quotas are the amounts of fish of different species that may be legally landed by EU Member States. The purpose of quota management arrangements in Scotland is to enable the fishing industry to make full use of the fishing opportunities which we receive every year from the EU, while ensuring that quotas are not exceeded.

FMP - Fisheries Management Plan

An FMP is a document prepared and published under the 2020 Act that sets out policies designed to restore one or more stocks of sea fish to, or maintain them at, sustainable levels or contribute to the restoring or maintenance at sustainable levels. It is an evidence-based action plan that supports delivery of sustainable fisheries for current and future generations. The FMP is a long-term plan that must be reviewed and, if necessary, revised at least once every six years. It sets out both a vision for the fishery (or fisheries), together with the policies and management interventions necessary to achieve this vision.

FLim - Limit reference point for fishing mortality

Limit reference point for fishing mortality (mean over defined age range)

GES - Good Environmental Status

Good environmental status (GES) means the environmental status of marine waters where these provide ecologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas which are clean, healthy and productive within their intrinsic conditions, and the use of the marine environment is at a level that is sustainable, thus safeguarding the potential for uses and activities by current and future generations.

JFS - Joint Fisheries Statement

The JFS sets out the policies of the fisheries policy authorities for achieving, or contributing to the achievement of, the Fisheries 2020 Act’s eight fisheries objectives and forms part of the UK Fisheries Management and Support Framework (the Fisheries Framework). The JFS sets out the ambition of the UK to continue delivering world class, sustainable management of fisheries in line with those objectives and how it will do so. The JFS defines how the fisheries policy authorities have understood the fisheries objectives and how we will apply them to fisheries policy.

MAP - Multi Annual Plans

Multi Annual Plans (MAP) - MAPs are a tool used to manage fisheries with the goal of ensuring the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks and which aim to maintain fish populations at levels that can produce a maximum sustainable yield

MPAs - Marine Protected Areas

Marine protected areas are one of the mechanisms used to ensure protection of some of the most vulnerable species and habitats. In Scotland, the MPA netwok covers aproximately 20% of Scottish seas.

UK Marine Strategy Regulations 2010

The UK Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 require the UK to take the necessary measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) through the development of a UK Marine Strategy.

OSPAR - Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic

OSPAR is the mechanism by which 15 Governments & the EU cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.

PMFs - Priority Marine Features

Priority marine features (PMFs) are habitats and species that are considered to be marine nature conservation priorities in Scottish waters.

REM - Remote Electronic Monitoring

REM cameras are used for monitoring fishing activities, collecting data and assuring best practice.

Scottish (territorial) waters

Scottish waters come under the jurisdiction of Scots law, and are also used for defining the area of operation of Marine Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, and other Scottish Government agencies and public bodies.

SSB - Spawning stock biomass

Total weight of all sexually mature fish in the stock.

SSFI - Scottish Sustainable Fishing Index

The Scottish Sustainable Fishing Indicator (SSFI) summarises the recent trends in fishing mortality for these stocks, as compared with the estimated fishing mortality rates that should lead to the maximum sustainable yield.

TACs - Total Allowable Catches

Total allowable catches (TACs) or fishing opportunities, are catch limits (expressed in tonnes or numbers) that are set for most commercial fish stocks. The Commission prepares the proposals, based on scientific advice on the stock status from advisory bodies such as ICES and Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).