Devon & Severn IFCA A Voluntary Approach to Crab Tile Management in Devon

Transcription

1 Devon & Severn IFCA A Voluntary Approach to Crab Tile Management in Devon Sarah Clark Principal Environment Officer

2

3

4 Identifying Concerns Growing interest Growing concern Research projects Formation of crab tiling group Estuary officers, Natural England, Devon Wildlife Trust, Devon Sea Fisheries Meetings with crab tilers PhD looking at effects of crab tiling

5

6

7 Estuary Total number of crab tiles/pots 2003/04 Total number of crab tiles/pots 2000/01 Increase in number of crab tiles/pots Axe Sid Otter Exe 30,302 26,796 3,506 Teign 22,722 21, Dart 11,904 11, Salcombe & Kingsbridge Avon Erme Yealm Tamar Complex 8,165 8, Estimated 10% success rate Spring tides -12 possible days per month 12 months / year? Numbers of crab taken value Taw Torridge 3,741 4,864-1,123 Total for Devon 77,077 73,392 3,685

8 Voluntary Code of Conduct

9 Byelaw Management

10 Clearing up after byelaw Implementation 200 tiles appeared within the exclusion area Mud & Asbestos! 5,000 costs

11

12

13

14 Comparison of Survey Results for the Exe Estuary Area Number of Tiles /4 2000/1 EXE EXE EXE EXE EXE EXE EXE EXE EXE EXE EXE TOTAL % difference from Survey Number of Tiles Difference /1 26, /4 30, % , % , %

15 EMS Amber Risk Fishing gear type Site Name Designation Generic sub-feature Annex I Feature Corresponding subfeature in Reg 33 (NE regional advisers to provide guidance) EXE SPA Intertidal mud and sand Saltmarsh spp, Salicornia and Seablite Internationally important populations of regularly occurring migratory bird species Dark-bellied brent goose (Branta bernicula bernicula ) Mudflat and sandflat communities (excluding seagrass bed communities) Saltmarsh communities Seagrass (SPAs) Seagrass bed communities Evidence/Managemen t options required for LSE/AA (ambers, green) or IA (reds) Available evidence: Activity Available evidence: Impacts Available evidence: Subfeature location Evidence Gaps Identified Proposed Current ways to fill Management evidence measures gaps Proposed / Future Management Measures Available evidence: Activity Available evidence: Impacts Available evidence: Subfeature location Evidence Gaps Identified Proposed ways to fill evidence gaps Current Management measures Proposed / Future Management Measures Available evidence: Activity Available evidence: Impacts Available evidence: Subfeature location Evidence Gaps Identified Proposed ways to fill evidence gaps Current Management measures Proposed / Future Management Measures Crab tiling 4-yearly surveys on crab tile numbers, and locations. Most recent 2012 Studies by Sheehan, Exe disturbance study. Amber Audit trail. Cefas literature review. Reg. 33 advice (2001), State of the Exe Report (2006). GIS layers from NE Tonnage of Possible crabs being permitting Limitations on areas where removed byelaw tiles can be from the through IFCA placed though estuary per to assess year the landings of crab from the estuary and surveys of the crabs populations Byelaw 24. Voluntary Code of Conduct to not increase numbers on the estuary Byelaw Review - Hand gathering byelaw 4-yearly surveys on crab tile numbers, and locations. Most recent 2012 Studies by Sheehan, Exe disturbance study. Amber Audit trail. Cefas literature review. Reg. 33 advice (2001), State of the Exe Report (2006). GIS layers from NE Tonnage of Possible crabs being permitting removed byelaw from the through IFCA estuary per to assess the year landings of crab from the estuary and surveys of the crabs populations Limitations on areas where tiles can be placed though Byelaw 24. Voluntary Code of Conduct to not increase numbers on the estuary Byelaw Review - Hand gathering byelaw 4-yearly surveys on crab tile numbers, and locations. Most recent 2012 Studies by Sheehan, Exe disturbance study. Amber Audit trail. Cefas literature review. Reg. 33 advice (2001), State of the Exe Report (2006). GIS layers from NE Tonnage of Possible crabs being permitting removed byelaw from the through IFCA estuary per to assess the year landings of crab from the estuary and surveys of the crabs populations Limitations on areas where tiles can be placed though Byelaw 24. Voluntary Code of Conduct to not increase numbers on the estuary Byelaw Review - Hand gathering byelaw

16 Evidence Gathering Evaluate the research on impacts of crab tiling on features of the EMS bird disturbance rates, trampling on infauna & sediment, overwintering birds, eel grass Undertake a Test of Likely significant Effect and possibly an Appropriate Assessment Evidence gathering on landings / catch rates from the European Marine Sites in district Exe SPA and Plymouth Sound and Estuaries SPA & SAC Improved database of crabtilers and data on extent & numbers in all Devon s Estuaries not just EMS Stock assessments population dynamics Benefits of crab tiling?

17 Current Management Codes of conducts mostly worked Exe increase in 2004 led to Byelaw Current little control over fishery No involvement from landowners No stock management Overfishing? Important commercially & recreationally Value of fishery large

18 Future Management Reassess current voluntary measures Appropriate Management Temporal closures over wintering birds Permitting Byelaw on all Devon s estuaries Negotiations with landowners (relevant authority) Stock assessments Concerns - crab tiling & gang masters Value of fishery recognised Liaison with recreational and commercial fishers Collaboration / consultation with crab tilers, anglers, bait shops, national groups

19