Minutes of the Fourth meeting of the Seafish South West Advisory Committee Held at Jurys Inn, Plymouth On Tuesday 4 th October 2016 Present: Edward Vidler (EV) Independent Chair Gus Caslake (GC) Seafish Mel Grounsell (MG) Seafish Libby Woodhatch (LW) Seafish Daisy May (DM) MMO Carly Daniels (CD) National Lobster Hatchery John Balls (JB) North Devon Fishermen s Association Nathan de Rozarieux (NdR) Falfish Mark Webber (MW) Ocean Fish Beshlie Pool (PT) South Devon and Channel Shell fishermen Andy Matchett (AM) Coombe fisheries Paul Trebilcock (PT) CFPO Ross Jolliffe (RJ) Cefas Jim Portus (JP) SWFPO Karen Pringle (KP) SWFPO Malcolm Large (ML) Seafish Angus Garrett (AG) Seafish Apologies From Sam Davis (SD) Tim Robins (TR) Mark Machin (MM) CIFCA D&S IFCA Samways 1. Introduction Ed Vidler commenced proceedings with round the table introductions and thanked everyone for attending. Ed commented on the size of the turnout for the meeting. 2. Seafish News RFS Update Mel Groundsell Mel started with her update on Brexit and the recent workshop at the Humber Seafood Summit. Seafish are looking to collate the issues from industry stakeholders and feed back to Defra, providing Clarity on things such as legislation & Economic Data to inform business where appropriate. Next event will be the CLG in London next week. Mel mentioned the Seafood 2040 strategy set up by George Eustice with 3 key areas. 2 SW representatives Dave Cuthbert & Andy Pillar. 1. Full collaboration with industry
2. Issue of UK based Consumption and Exports 3. Looking at Science across the supply Chain This group will feedback to the minister in due course. This is an England only Task Force. JP- Jim mentioned that on the task force Andy Pillar represented the big trawler and large pelagic vessels and Dave represented the smaller under 10 s and that there is an area of vessels being missed in the middle, so far as the channel and the SW. MG- said she would feedback Jims comments but noted that there are only 12 representatives to cover the Seafood sector. JB Mentioned Dave Parker may be a possible representative as the NFFO SW representative. PT noted that the group had learnt lessons from previous work such as the RFS about better engagement with Industry. BP commented that she hoped that the Shellfish industry is represented MG noted that David Jarrett was on the group representing the SAGB MG - gave an update on the sector panels. The current corporate plan is halfway through so we will be commencing the plan for the next corporate plan. The panels came together to start on the 2018-21 plan. Seafood Week was well supported last year, the branding is neutral and supported by the co-op, Sainsbury s, Morrison s, saucy fish company among others. Also Hiltons hotel and Jamie Oliver s and Libby has the parliamentarians on board doing a seafood based event. JB -mentioned that there was working going on in N Devon to promote Seafood with bringing youngsters into the industry. GC 2 events in the SW, one in Brixham market in association with the market tours and also an event at Petroc College in North Devon for the general public to promote locally sourced fish. Libby Woodhatch Update on RFS- quick recap on the RFS, it s about getting it right in the UK first. Series of workshops around the UK to hear the issues from industry regarding the RFS, the biggest issue seen was the paperwork involved with the process, 190 vessels in the process currently 28 certified & 6 awaiting catch audits. The application pack has been tweaked with skippers able to download the specific elements of the RFS relevant to them. Chain of custody will be piggybacking on current supply chain audits. Group scheme being trialled in Orkney as a pilot. NdeR asked what is the result of the board decision to run the RFS externally LW Seafish will remain the standard holder but the expertise needs to be pulled together to deliver the RFS trough the stand alone body. MG commented that this process was still being scoped out by the board LW - commented that it will still be business as usual as and when the process is complete.
NdeR Focusing on the SW, the RFS is a big deal for vessels and processors in the SW It would be useful to have more details on uptake in the SW and it applicability for the smaller vessels. LW mentioned that the event in Brixham was positive though there were a few issues with the paperwork involved. The process will obviously take time to sign up vessels though there are groups of larger vessels signing up though uptake is low for the smaller vessels. EMFF funding being looked at. DM -offered to add RFS info on the next MMO mailing AP1 Email Daisy the latest RFS update for inclusion in their mailing to license holders. EV Ed asked is there a format for updating the group on the RFS for future meetings NdeR noted that it would be useful to have an uptake level from the SW LW -commented that numbers were low in the SW, greatest momentum in Scotland. The standard needs to be robust and this will take time to bed in. NdeR Intelligent stats on boats required. What was missing from the process was some expectation management for the retailers. LW we have spent a lot of time with M&S they are in no illusions about the time scales involved MW noted that the biggest issue is getting people on board with the scheme. We are expected as a processor to do something about that. LW -noted that with any standard we are at tipping point of getting people on board and setting up the required logistics to meet the industry need. MW commented that we need to be seeing adoption from vessels MG a lot of the team s efforts are put into engaging with retailers. JB the biggest problem with small vessels is they do not see the benefits financially of joining. LW When the RFS was originally launched the retailers were not interested in RFs so it lost traction from the supply chain. MG we have had a positive reaction with EMFF funding and the paperwork should be easier. JB - fishermen want to see the value of the stamp on their fish. I have not renewed this year due to it being an added expense that does not add value LW- it is another cost to the business but it may provide an access to market. PT- it could be seen as a barrier to market. Concerned why the standard has been taken up by corporate boats rather than the SW fleet. Is there an option to review if it does not work.
LW there needs to be one standard, how you get to the standard might be through different routes. If things do not work they have the ability to be changed. Boxes need to be ticked to meet the standard just as the MSC Hake vessels in the SW PT I would be concerned on the low uptake. Can it be looked at fundamentally and what is the aim of the independent organisation to run the standard and how might this affect costs LW you will still have the oversight board and committee rather than it being Seafish it will be an independent organisation running the scheme. PT can Seafish guarantee that there will be no cost rises? LW -if we have a standalone entity cost will be a big driver in order not to disadvantage UK fishermen. There is a cap on cost from a vessel point of view. PT -how long is price guaranteed for? LW -there will be a control on price through the oversight board. MG Seafish will not allow the RFS to be taken on in any way that will disadvantage the UK Industry. NdeR the RFS does not seem fit for purpose. MG -the RFS is a benefit to the SW industry. PT -the way the current standard is run is causing concerns in the SW. It is a positive place to get to and Seafish need to listen to industry LW -Seafish cannot change the standard as it need to go through the oversight board in consultation with industry. PT -lets review the standard and manage expectations. LW -we will listen to the concerns from both catchers and processors. EV what are the targets for the RFS. How many do you expect to add in 12mths time? LW -we established a target early and we are currently below the target but this will be revised. EV it would be good to set out what we plan to do, and where we plan to be in the future MG -we can do that and return to the group LW -yes we can update the group in 6 months with progress from all the regions. EV thank you for the updates and moving forward with Malcolm. ML one thing to bring up on the industry panels, there to recommend work program for Seafish. It would be good to use the SWAC as a panel for the SW. 20 project currently underway with Gus at present. Is there a better way of working? Should we be looking more strategically? Some of the other regions have looked at this. Malcolm showed the strategy developed by Wales and the vision
for the Seafood industry in Wales. Is this something that we could explore for the SW? This is an alternative way forward than the ad hoc project process we currently adopt. Do you think this a valid way forward? EV this was the message from Marcus last time he intended JP if we were to do this for the region I would like to see an emphasis on wild capture in the SW. We also need to keep an eye on Brexit and also be aware of other nations wanting to increase and perhaps poach fish landing to increase processing capacity NdeR the approach is sound. But we need to broaden the stakeholders in the room and bring in other parties who can help to deliver the strategy. ML hopefully that will be addressed under the developed strategy. DM part of my exposure to fishermen it may be difficult for some fishermen to understand what is required. ML there are seafood training academies to help deliver the solution to these problems. There can be one for the SW. GC it has been muted in the SW but there was not a great demand from SW colleges. RJ the notion that we this group could achieve what has been set out in the welsh strategy is very ambitious and it may be better to think of one thing that needs to be changed and to focus on that. ML the Welsh strategy is only an idea. If you agree with the principle gus could set out a sub group to map out the strategy EV who would be responsible for delivering the plan and where would the money come from. ML the strategy need to built within the current budget going forward a strategy would assist in drawing funding down from the panels. We should not be signing up to something that is not deliverable. MG there are 2 set s of resources one regional and one the wider Seafish resources. BP I am a little concerned that it should be joined up with other partners carrying out work in the SW. EV I am going to draw a line under that and we will break for coffee. 3. Gus SW Update & Budget overview Gus update on work carried out over the last 6mths Currently Chair of the Cornish Sardine management. Working towards MSC re-certification and the drawing up an action plan in conjuction with the Spanish and French PFD s being rolled out with support for introduction to fishing courses Engagement with the SW MSC FIP projects for Monk, Scallop, Lobster & Crab Selectivity work on Haddock and also working with Cefas on the Selectivity of Squid & Whiting
Temperature and depth work on the Lady Maureen Tag filled to the lady Maureen to automatically collect data during fishing operations Stands at Dorset seafood festival and Newlyn fish festival 2 events on the cards for Seafood week Work with Blue marine RFs course to be delivered with Mick Bacon Attendance at Brussels seafood expo Work going forward Second part of selectivity trials Whiting/Squid trial with Cefas Ray ID leaflet coming out Net Recycling project still awaiting draw down of budget. Hirtshalls training upcoming in the New year. Budgets Overview sent out to the group spend cut from 75k to 55k. Due to reduction from Seafish funds ML Budget was not only cut in the SW but in other areas of Seafish as well due to EMFF funding bid not coming through. GC two key areas of spend in the SW, one being selectivity work and the other promoting consumption work carried out at the seafood festivals. There is an overview of budget spend by area included in the meeting notes. In a recent visit to the SW by Marcus Coleman, Andy Pillar mentioned the issues Plymouth market was currently having and whether it would be possible to look at doing an economic assessment of the port to assess the overall value to the Seafood sector in the SW. The group was asked if this would be a good allocation of funds NdeR commented that although it may be useful spend needs to be analysed to see where we are getting our biggest bang for the buck. PT noted that it would be more realistic to carry out an assessment of the 3 markets in the SW as a whole rather than just focus on Plymouth. GC if it is to be a bigger project it could be looked under next year s budget. AP2 Gus to circulate areas of work for 2017_18 to members prior to the 2017 meeting EV taking the project in turn is the Dorset Seafood show value for money? JP would the Dorset show be of any less value if Seafish did not attend? MG Seafish have a lot of requests for attendance at shows around the country. Due to budget constraints not many of these opportunities can be taken up. Very difficult to assess the value for money. RJ maybe we should look at this under the strategic look. Also can we look at doing one thing well perhaps all the budget put into it.
EV -on the second point of Plymouth what are the thoughts. GC If we are going to do it, it would be useful as Paul mentioned to do all 4 markets as one project. ML it would be worth Scoping out the cost of such a piece of work. RJ what will be the outcomes of this piece of work. GC Plymouth are keen to show the value of the port and its ability to draw down funding and how the land could be maximised for fisheries use. EV I suggest gus to write a summary of the specifications that would be required. AP3 Gus to spec out economic analysis for SW ports JB is there any further news from Plymouth on the Epirb and PFD application GC yes it has been put forward to Plymouth council for the funding of personal location devices and PFD s EV Moving on to Carly s presentation 4. Lobster Grower II Carly Daniels (Lobster Hatchery) Carly gave the group an overview of the Lobster grower II project and an update of work distributing information to the group. The background to the project is that traditionally lobsters are grown in the hatchery the idea behind this project is to grow on lobsters in a more natural environment. The lobster grower project is based down in St Austell bay. Can lobsters be reared commercially in a natural environment? The idea to field test at sea the designs created by the previous project. All lobster for the market comes from capture fisheries this may provide an option for delivering a different supply source at possibly a different size to the current landing size. JP could the lobsters be harvested at langoustine size CD yes that would be the idea due to the length of time for a current market size lobster 5-7 years and the current length of aquaculture is generally 2-3 years a more appropriate time frame for langoustine size lobsters JB what is the IFCA s take on the legislative side of things. How will you segregate wild from cultured. GC - the size is already graded with wild Bass against farmed bass in the SW processors. LW there could be a market for the smaller sizes as some of the European lobsters landed are too big for the market. RJ is there any results from the current hatchery realise work CD very difficult to tag and track the lobsters once released to analyse the impact. No definitive answers currently.
LW -does anyone else rear lobsters in a similar way.? CD -yes the Norwegians tried a recirculating system but with no great success as yet. 5. Horizon Scanning & Risk Mapping (Angus Garrett Seafish) Angus gave a brief overview of the risk mapping exercise carried out with different groups such as the Seafish Industry panels. Due to the time constraints on the meeting and the need to allocate enough time to fully address the issues, it was thought that the risk mapping work would be better carried out during a bespoke meeting sometime in the near future. 6. A.O.B EV any other business people would like to raise? AM Coombe fisheries have been working with the Devon & Severn IFCA regarding the imposing of a larger whelk size for the area. Anybody interested please let Andy know, work still on going JP next Mon/Tue there is a scallop workshop in Brixham. Register with Jim if you wish to attend. JB North Devon fishermen meeting with Phil Haslam regarding quota for N.Devon trying to enhance the fishery DM MMO moving to Hayle and also to have a presence in Newlyn EV Thanked all for attending 7. Date of Next Meeting A doodle poll will go out for the date of the next meeting