Channel King Scallop

Formed in 2017, this year marks the seventh and final year of the English Channel King Scallop FIP.

80 different Steering Group members have contributed to progressing this work, representing 35 different organisations across the UK with an interest in seeing certified sustainable scallop fisheries. The project Action Plan identified 11 specific actions for the fishery to progress to demonstrate truly best practice fisheries management and be in a position to achieve MSC certification.

Summary

The priorities and challenges faced by this fishery are highlighted in the MSC Performance Indicator Graph (right) and correspond to the three principles of the MSC Standard.

Over the seven years of the project, significant financial and in-kind support have enabled key improvements to be made in the fishery, building scientific data and understanding in areas such as catch composition, fishery footprint and regulatory processes. The FIP’s Steering Group has contributed to the King scallop Fisheries Management Plan consultation in English and Welsh waters, and implemented a new scallop survey regime, which has redefined stock boundaries in the English Channel.

Annual progress against the FIP’s actions can be seen in the charts opposite.

Next steps

Following seven years of work, score increases for this FIP have been seen for many reasons. As well as the workflows mentioned above, they include changes in stock abundance, improvements in regulatory processes, and clarifying a plan for fisheries management.

There are still a number of key actions remaining, where improvements are necessary to ensure the fishery can aim for MSC certification.

These remaining actions are predominantly aligned with the objectives of the king scallop Fisheries Management Plan in English and Welsh waters, and it is hoped that those objectives will be delivered at pace. Among other things, a robust strategy to manage fishing effort and well-understood harvest control rules are of vital importance to this fishery for it to reach a level where it could achieve MSC certification. These areas, which fall under Principle 1 of the MSC Standard, would currently fail in an MSC assessment.

Implementing a formal way to record and report ETP interactions is also key, as are various actions which look at best practice habitat management. There has been a commitment from members of this FIP to continue working towards MSC certification. For the next chapter of fisheries improvements, Seafish will facilitate a new FIP while further opportunities are explored in the South West for future facilitation. A new Working Group has been established, and a broader Steering Group will drive the work of the FIP.

For a full list of the remaining actions, milestones, and MSC scoring indicators, please see the Year 7 Annual Review by Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management.

The Channel King Scallop FIP is supported by dedicated experts representing a range of stakeholder organisations.

Participants

Bangor University • Brixham Trawler Agents • Centre for Environmental & Fisheries Science (Cefas) • Coombe Fisheries • Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO) • Falfish • Fowey Shellfish • Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) • Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (Cornwall, Devon and Severn, Southern, Sussex) • Labeyrie • Macduff Shellfish • Marine Management Organisation • Marks and Spencer • Morrisons • Natural England • New England Seafood International • Posiedon • Sainsbury’s • Samways Fish • Scottish White Fish Producers Association • Seafish • South West Fish Producers Organisation • University of York • WWF