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Report on research commissioned by Seafish to inform its planned development of a training and guidance programme to support aquaculture

Velvet swimming crabs are traditionally consumed by southern European nations where crab fisheries have collapsed - this has enabled development of the velvet crab fishery in Northern Ireland as a commercially significant sector. There exists, however, virtually no data on which to base the sustainable exploitation of this fishery. This research will pursue studies of populations and individuals of the velvet crab to provide critical information to inform and guide policy in this important fishing industry in Northern Ireland, and will potentially develop local economies and jobs. We will: (1) conduct field surveys of abundance and population structure of velvet crab; (2) assess effects of fishing methods and by-catch on sustainability; (3) examine the welfare of individuals with physiological measures to enhance survivorship and welfare during transportation, thus improving meat yield and quality.

he Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Seafish and the Northern Ireland (NI) Scallop Association have recently completed a report investigating the optimal areas for scallop reseeding in the Irish Sea. This work was commissioned due to an increase in exploitation of scallops around the NI coastline and a desire by industry to be proactive in enhancing long-term sustainability of stocks. Sites selected through industry engagement as proposed reseeding sites were examined by AFBI scientists to ensure that they met the characteristics required for successful settlement of scallops. Seabed habitat maps were combined to provide information for the full sea area under consideration. Scallop catches from the annual AFBI scallop survey were mapped with the full habitat map to determine the areas where scallops were present and identify the underlying habitat type. This allowed a map to be created which showed the suitable habitat for adult scallops within NI waters. All of the proposed reseeding sites fell within areas of suitable habitat. To examine further characteristics of the proposed sites, a combination of measured and modelled data was used. Salinity, food availability, bed stress (natural physical disturbance of the seabed by wave action and/or tidal currents), particulate inorganic matter, suspended particulate matter, abundance of predators, spawning season, larval dispersal and hydrodynamic models were all considered. The above information was presented to the project steering group, and using the data provided, the steering group selected the most suitable sites for reseeding from the original 13 proposed sites. Three reseeding sites (Whitehead, Drumfad Bay and South Bay) have initially been proposed, with a fourth, Roaring Rock, having potential for any future reseeding plans. The NI Scallop Association will now present the results of this work to DAERA to ask for regulation to assist in the protection of these new areas through a ban on mobile fishing gear.

The results of a survey of personnel responsible for sourcing seafood in the processing, retailing and restaurant sectors will be used in the development of the Seafish responsible sourcing guides.

A social and economic impact assessment of cockle mortality in the Burry Inlet cockle fishery, south Wales UK.

Mortalities of larger, more valuable cockle 2 and 3 year-classes have recurred on the Burry Inlet (Loughour) Estuary (BI) since 2002 and on the nearby Three Rivers Estuary (TR) since 2005. The aim of this report is to estimate the economic impact of the mortality on the south Wales cockle industry, related businesses and wider Welsh economy. Stakeholder interviews, direct observation, secondary literature, production and price data supplied by industry and government agencies is used to characterise value-chains, historic livelihood, regulatory and production trends.

A report on the Study Group on Electrical Trawling (SGELECTRA).