Search results

Annual publication from the Kingfisher team at Seafish about offshore industries in the UK. Topics include mobile oil and gas moorings and highly protected marine areas.

This report focuses on emerging priorities for NGOs. It considers major industry impacts arising from NGO areas of focus and sets out areas where a response from industry and Seafish may be required and identifies areas of potential collaboration.

This profile is part of a series on the social risks associated with countries that are important to the UK seafood industry. It covers risks related to the production and processing of wild caught and farmed seafood.

The Minutes of the 18th Seafish Wales Advisory Committee (SWAC) meeting held on Thursday 14 October 2021.

Annual publication from the Kingfisher team at Seafish about offshore industries in the UK. Topics include increased cabling, oil and gas structures, unexploded ordnance and uncrewed survey vessels.

Minutes from Seafish Wales Advisory Committee (SWAC) meeting held on 17 May 2023.

This meeting looked at how improvements in precision farming, farming practices and profitability can be achieved with the help of data technologies, and how increased forecasting and modelling capabilities may improve management decisions.

Part of the Seafood 2040 aquaculture strategy for England - this summary document sets the scene, highlighting the opportunities and growth aspirations alongside a plan for delivery.

Exploring the trade-offs between new technology, mechanisation and traditional labour resourcing.

To raise their awareness on how to reduce waste and improve resource management we have produced introductory guidance primarily aimed at smaller processing businesses in Scotland. This guidance serves as an introduction to these issues highlighting current legislation and government strategy. It outlines simple steps processors can take to get started in better resource management and waste reduction. It also offers further guidance and signposting for businesses wishing to seek expertise and support from dedicated Scottish agencies.

Minutes from Seafish Northern Ireland Advisory Committee (SNIAC) meeting held on 5 April 2023.

The Annual Report provides a detailed Management Commentary and financial review of the activities undertaken by Seafish during 2012/2013 and information on future developments.

Since 2004 the price of diesel fuel oil has increased significantly, causing many fishing vessels to become unprofitable. At the same time biofuels has increased in prominence as a long-term replacement for non renewable fossil fuels. This report details a research and development project to investigate the potential of biofuels for the fishing industry, which took place between October 05 and Jan 08. In the project two types of fuel are studied, biodiesel and pure plant oil. Over the course of the study both fuels were tested on land and at sea and proved to be technically successful. The main driver for uptake of the alternative technology in the fishing industry is economic and our study found that in most cases fossil fuels will remain more cost effective for fishing business in the short to medium term. That said there may be some opportunities in more remote communities where used vegetable oil is available and the cost of transporting diesel oil into the area push the price above that of locally produced biofuels. In terms of environmental credentials biofuels are generally sustainable but there are a number of issues which perspective purchasers need to consider which may overall green credentials of their biofuel.

Minutes from the Seafish Wales Advisory Committee meeting on 3 November 2022.

This information note details the main provisions of the Marine (Scotland) Act. The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 applies to the inshore area in Scotland, and to some functions in the Scottish offshore area. The powers in the Act complement the provisions of the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, which created new responsibilities for Scottish Ministers on marine planning and conservation in offshore waters outside 12 nautical miles (nm). A separate information note is available covering the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, which applies primarily to England and Wales, and in part to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

This interim report covers progress against two goals determined by Seafood 2040 and how the programme is being taken forward.

Final note on the England Aquaculture Consultation/Working Group meeting held in London on 3 March 2016.

This document provides supporting information for an assessment of the ecological effects of commercial fishing in waters off Southwest England (ICES Divisions VII e,f,g & h).

This is a response to Defra's consultation on a marine planning system for England of 21 July 2010. The consultation papers are available here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/marine-planning/index.htm

Natural England consulted on draft policy on invasive non-native species. It explains Natural England’s belief regarding the threat posed by invasive non-native species in England; it sets out an approach to dealing with invasive non-native species; and it sets out that, where feasible, populations, habitats and ecosystems adversely affected by invasive non-native species should be restored. To read the consultation go to: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/inns_tcm6-10495.pdf

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 large scale growth in salmon production in the UK has resulted in most available near shore finfish sites being used up for finfish farming. The development of offshore sites or technology improvements alone hold the key for the sustained growth of the UK aquaculture industry. The offshore wind industry has been rapidly expanding in the UK and will occupy major amount of coastal offshore space when zoning plans are developed. The prospects for using the offshore wind farm areas for aquaculture production (finfish and other species) has the potential to open up new sites for finfish farming in the UK. This work examined the suitability of aquaculture in offshore wind farms from the point of view of all the stakeholders involved.

Kingfisher Talking Points - January 2020