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FISP projects: grants and contracts awarded in round 1 of the scheme

Updated 17 July 2023

1. Grants

Organisations that have been awarded grants through FISP part A to fund the development of a research proposal. These grants can be used to apply for a contract later in the scheme through FISP part B.

The following project summaries were provided by the applicants.

1.1 Cefas

In partnership with:

• the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation
• South Western Fish Producer Organisation Ltd
• Western Fish Producers’ Organisation
• Interfish Producer Organisation Ltd
• National Federation Fishermen’s Organisations

Name of project: Addressing specific challenges facing the Celtic Sea demersal trawl mixed fisheries

Amount of Award: £19,000

Length of project: 5 months

Project aims

The demersal trawl fisheries in the Celtic Sea are highly mixed, catching upwards of 20 commercial species in a trip. This project aims to bring together key fishing industry actors with fisheries scientists to identify priority industry-science actions which address challenges facing Celtic Sea demersal trawl mixed fisheries.

Action

It will develop one or more full research proposals based on discussions on challenges in mixed trawl fisheries which address the Lot 2 requirement to reduce discards and bycatch of non-target species and improve selectivity. It will co-design innovative projects to meet the UK catch and discard objectives and reduce pressure on overfished stocks.

Expected outcome

In initial feedback, industry partners have identified evidence gaps that if addressed would help to meet challenges, including the need to understand:

• interactions among quota and non-quota stocks caught in the fisheries (for example seabass, lemon sole, cuttlefish) and optimal fishing effort on stocks
• uncertainty in data for assessments and mixed fisheries assessments for the species caught together, including the need for enhanced information for data-limited stocks
• how improved account and understanding of spatial and seasonal dynamics in fisheries can support better targeting of catches of the different stocks
• the contribution of novel methods (for example, remote electronic monitoring) in supporting data collection

The project team is composed of leading experts with knowledge and experience of fishing in the Celtic Seas a network with wider industry to bring forward a diverse range of ideas and solutions.

Status

Completed.

1.2 Fishtek Marine

In partnership with:

• the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
• Seafood And Eat It Processing Ltd
• SeaScope Fisheries Research Ltd

Name of Project: Above-water deterrents: mitigating seabird bycatch In set net fisheries

Amount of Award: £15,600

Length of Project: 5 months

Project aims

Bycatch in gillnet fisheries is a global conservation issue, costing the life of nearly 400,000 seabirds each year. In the UK, set nets off the UK’s coast have been identified as potentially important bycatch hotspots as a key wintering area for great northern divers, black-throated divers and Slavonian grebes – all of conservation concern in the UK.

Above-water deterrents have recently been developed as tools to mitigate bycatch of seabirds in set nets. This emerging technology has shown significant promise with regards to deterring diving birds from the proximity of set nets. The efficacy of these devices is limited to preliminary trials conducted in the Baltic Sea. There is a need to understand if these findings could translate into reduced bycatch in an operational fishery.

Action

The successful award of this grant will enable the consortium (comprised of fishing industry, gear technologists and ornithologists) to prepare and submit a full research proposal for funds. These will be used to develop a UK-wide project to collect data on the efficacy of these technologies at reducing seabird bycatch.

By undertaking an assessment on the efficacy of such bycatch mitigation technologies, the application will also seek to collect important (and currently missing) data on seabird bycatch numbers. This will be done using remote electronic monitoring.

Expected outcome

This fund will enable the development of a FISP research proposal to provide new information on:

• UK seabird bycatch
• the efficacy of above water deterrents in mitigating this bycatch

Status

Completed.

1.3 Seafish

In partnership with:

• Bangor University
• Macduff Shellfish Ltd
• Waterdance Ltd

Name of project: Shellfish Research

Amount of award: £17,750

Length of project: 5 months

Project aims

In 2019 UK landings of crab, lobster, and whelks were valued at £71 million, £46 million, and £26 million respectively. Despite their economic importance, these species are still considered data deficient and, in the case of whelks, lack any form of stock assessment on which to base management decisions.

It is important to undertake scientific research in this area to provide robust, reliable evidence to support sustainable management of these important fisheries.

Action

The project will develop a number of research proposals in the following areas:

• development of improved data collection programmes for crab, lobster, and whelk fisheries
• improved provision of baseline information for management of UK whelk fisheries to support development of wider fisheries management measures
• improving understanding of the wider environmental impacts of static gear fisheries to help reduce negative impact
• management of some of the UK’s most economically important shellfish fisheries to deliver long-term sustainability
• contribute to delivery of objectives laid out in the Fisheries Act 2020 and draft fisheries management plans for brown crab, lobster, and whelks
• build on work carried out via the industry-led Shellfish Industry Advisory Group and species subgroups

Expected outcome

A collaborative approach will bring together industry representatives and the research community. This will ensure that outputs:

• meet industry requirements and expectations
• are scientifically sound
• are aligned with existing UK fisheries legislation and longer-term objectives

Status

Completed.

2. Contracts

Organisations that have been awarded funding for contracts through FISP part B to carry out a full research project.

The following project summaries were provided by the applicants.

2.1 Holderness Fishing Industry Group

In partnership with:

• Bangor University
• Cefas
• Heriot Watt University
• Orkney Sustainability Fisheries

Name of Project: Use of new technology to address data deficiencies in assessment of static gear crustacean fisheries

Amount of Award: £299,661

Length of Project: 24 months

Project aims

The aim of the project is to improve the quality and quantity of data available for stock assessments of data-poor crab and lobster fisheries in 3 UK fisheries using fisheries-dependent monitoring with dedicated in-creel imaging systems.

The data gathered through this project aligns with the sustainability objective of the Fisheries Act 2020, the draft crab and lobster Fisheries Management Plan, the Scottish Government Future Fisheries Management Strategy’s aims to build the fisheries evidence base and the Isle of Man’s sea fisheries strategy.

Action

The project will deploy creel-mounted camera systems within key lobster and crab fisheries around the UK (Holderness, Orkney and Isle of Man). The aim addresses the need for an effective abundance index by recording crustacean presence within and in the vicinity of creels to aid stock assessments and de-couple the link between catch statistics and abundance estimates.

The project brings together 3 distinct lobster and crab fisheries and a consortium of experts from fishing industry bodies and scientific organisations. The wealth of experience allows for wide scope, significant contribution and the ability to engage the industry with the aims of the project from conception to delivery.

Expected outcome

The project benefits individual fishers directly and for the coastal communities that rely upon a stable and sustainable fishery. The project also allows for training within the fishing industry in at-sea data recording protocols and undergraduate and MSc student level via university partners and links to regional universities.

Status

Ongoing.

2.2 North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NEIFCA)

In partnership with Holderness Fishing Industry Group

Name of project: European Lobster Settlement Index

Amount of award: £264,264

Length of project: 24 months

Project aims

The inshore lobster fishery within the NEIFCA is the biggest in Europe and has an important economic and social value for the region. Current management of the fishery is primarily based on quayside sampling for length cohort analysis of adult lobsters. This kind of monitoring stock status limits fisheries to reactive management approaches, often years after changes in key status indicators become evident.

This project aims to develop the monitoring equipment and methodology required to establish an ongoing survey programme, assess key parameters such as seasonality of larval settlement and gather baseline data from which future models may be derived.

Action

Cobble-filled bio-collectors will be used. They are powerful tools to collect decapod crustaceans and also small demersal fish.

There is a gap in knowledge of the link between the settlement of UK lobster and crab species from their planktonic phases and their subsequent recruitment into a fishery. Understanding this link can provide key data to enhance both the understanding of the settlement or recruitment mechanism and provide evidence to directly support assessment of the stocks.

Expected outcome

The development of a predictive stock indicator will greatly enhance the ability of NEIFCA to implement adaptive fisheries management measures. It will help to achieve the sustainability objective of the Fisheries Act 2020 by ensuring the long-term sustainability of the fishery and contributing to the achievement of economic, social and employment benefits.

Status

Ongoing.

2.3 Seafish

In partnership with:

• Bangor University
• Heriot Watt University
• Holderness Fishing Industry Group
• South Devon and Channel Shell Fishermen Ltd
• Western Fish Producers Organisation
• Welsh Fishermen’s Association

Name of project: Improved Shellfish Data Collection Project

Amount of award: £274,325

Length of project: 24 months

Project aims

Brown crab, lobster, and whelk fisheries have seen considerable expansion over recent years to become some of the UK’s most economically important fisheries. All 3 species are currently considered data deficient, with lack of seasonal and spatial coverage of catch and length frequency data being a key limitation to assessment. The aim of this project is to increase the spatial and temporal coverage of catch composition data for UK shellfish fisheries.

Action

Currently, catch composition relies on observer and port sampling which is limited in coverage, both spatially and temporally. Port sampling also only collects data on the landed part of the catch.

Improved data collection will be achieved by deploying a number of autonomous sampling systems on active fishing vessels, or at processing sites in the case of whelks, to gather data on catches of crab, lobster and whelks. Imagery is analysed by computer vision technology providing data on quantity, size and sex of shellfish catches. The project will look to apply improved data gathering practices to fisheries management.

Expected outcome

The project contributes to the Crab and Lobster Management Group (CMG) and Whelk Management Group (WMG) shared objective of improving the management of shellfish fisheries to ensure long-term sustainability and improve our understanding of shellfish stocks.

The project will also contribute to the delivery of objectives listed in the draft crab, lobster and whelk fisheries management plans (FMPs).

Status

Ongoing.

2.4 Seafish

In partnership with:

• Bangor University
• Heriot Watt University
• Leach Fishing Enterprises
• Brighton & Newhaven Fish Sales Ltd
• Macduff Shellfish (Scotland) Ltd
• Orkney Fisheries Association
• Lynn Shellfish Ltd
• Western Fish Producers Organisation

Name of project: Combined whelk data improvement project

Amount of award: £247,998

Length of project: 24 months

Project aims

The aim is to build understanding and improve the sustainability of the UK whelk fishery. Whelk are currently considered data-deficient. It is imperative that significant data and knowledge gaps are addressed to facilitate the design and implementation of more appropriate management measures to prevent unsustainable exploitation and reduce wider ecological impacts of the fishery.

The issues addressed by this research project are considered key barriers to improved assessment, management, and sustainability of the fishery.

Action

The following interlinked research activities will be carried out:

• using fisher ecological knowledge – gathering, analysing, and mapping anecdotal information on whelk populations using the ecological knowledge of fishers
• selective trapping – investigating pot design configurations to minimise bycatch of undersize whelks, reduce levels of post-release mortality of undersize whelks and gather accurate fishing effort data by fitting pots with Passive Integrated Transponder tags
• whelk bait alternatives – assessing the effectiveness and economic viability of using chemical attractants as alternatives to traditional whelk baits, such as brown crab and finfish

Expected outcome

The project has been co-developed by the industry-led Whelk Management Group (WMG) which directly contributes to objectives listed in the draft whelk fisheries management plan. It will:

• establish a suitable scale for managing whelk stocks
• assess the impact of whelk fisheries on the wider marine environment
• explore the need for management measures around bait provisioning

Delivery of these objectives is a fundamental part of working towards improved, sustainable management of whelk fisheries.

Status

Ongoing.

2.5 SafetyNet Technologies (SNTech)

In partnership with:

• Fishing into the Future
• Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland (AFBI)
• Scottish White Fish Producers Association Ltd
• Vessels: Virtuous, Lee Rose II, Golden Ray

Name of project: Piscesgate

Amount of award: £281,943

Length of project: 24 months

Project aims

Piscesgate is an industry science partnership project seeking to investigate the effectiveness of using artificial lights (SNTech’s Pisces lights) as a means of changing fish behaviour and ultimately making nephrops trawls and targeted squid trawl fisheries more selective and thus more sustainable. SNTech conducted limited commercial trials on 3 vessels in 2021 (Golden Ray in Northern Ireland, and Virtuous and Lee Rose II in Scotland). The project will build on the lessons from this work.

Action

The project will develop sampling protocols for comparative catch sampling on the twin rig trawlers deploying Pisces lights under defined conditions, varying location on the gear, colour, brightness and flashing rate.

A sampling protocol will be created for the targeted squid fishery. This will gather valuable data on the catch composition, including bycatch. It will form the foundation of a new data set that will be used by scientists and fishery managers to evidence the selectivity and productivity of the fishery.

Full selectivity trials will be carried out where scientists will be able to control many of the variables and produce statistically significant results to evaluate the effectiveness of the lights to reduce unwanted bycatch.

Expected outcome

A communications strategy will be implemented, with the findings and results shared with the wider industry. Fishing into the Future will pay a pivotal role by reaching far beyond the project partners of the sector of industry involved.

Status

Ongoing.