We need to talk about commercial fishing and why its important we understand what’s happening with and to our fishing industry

by anoceanwarriorfisheries 101, ocean sciencePosted on No Comments

In 2022, there were around 8,000 registered commercial fishermen,
a decline of over 2000 in 10 years.

UK fleet landed 680,000 tonnes in 2023

85% of seafood caught in the UK is exported

The UK imports almost all of the seafood it eats

On the surface, fisheries statistics show what we take out of the ocean, who catches it and where it goes, but it’s so much deeper than that. They reflect real-world issues, changes and challenges; they show shifts in policy, changes in the environment and increasing pressures on species and livelihoods. Understanding what’s happening with and to our fishing industry on a deeper level is essential if we are going to protect ocean health, secure sustainable food systems, and support coastal communities. 

That’s where I come in. With fisheries management and commercial fishing being complex, technical and rarely explained in a way that’s accessible to everyone, I’m here to break it down, simply, clearly, and with real-world relevance. The more of us who understand how fisheries are managed in the UK and why, the better equipped we are to make informed choices, challenge misinformation and support a future where both the ocean and coastal communities can thrive. 

Below is the first video in the ‘Fisheries 101’ series, a short animated video covering 9 facts about UK seafood and commercial fishing with added context from my time working with the UK fishing fleet.

Video transcript

In 2022 there were around 10,000 commercial fishermen in the UK, But their numbers have been reducing, and have declined by over 2000 during the last 10 years, losing predominantly single manned under 12m vessels. 

There are around 5500 fishing vessels that hold a commercial fishing licence in the UK, with nearly 80% of them being under 10m In length. 

Despite making the majority, around 85% of the seafood landed in the UK, is done so by vessels over 10m in length. 

On a whole, the narrative is that larger vessels catch more fish because they are more capable, able to stay at sea for longer and catch larger amounts at a time which whilst true, is not the full extent of the issue.

Larger vessels can catch more fish because they are literally allowed to do so, over 10m vessels despite, making up only 21% of the UK fleet, are allocated 95% of the UKs fishing quota. 

Quota disparity is a real issue for the survival of the smaller, more sustainable, inshore fishermen, and is a topic we’ll cover further in future videos!

So what seafood does the UK eat?

The top 5 species make up 85% of the seafood consumed, and unfortunately despite the fact the UK fleet landed 680,000 tonnes of seafood in 2023, the top 5 species landed doesn’t match the top 5 eaten in the UK.

This makes The uk a net importer of seafood products – which means they import more than they export. 

The top 5 species imported, matches the top 5 species eaten. Highlighting a need for us to learn how to swap out our past favourites for options coming from UK waters, caught by UK fishermen. 

But why do these facts matter?

It’s important that we understand what’s happening with and to our fishing industry, this allows us to drive the market – by supporting the sustainable fishing that is currently happening, it increases demand for sustainable seafood products, which in turn drives innovation  and further adoption of sustainable methods 

To transition to even mbetter sustainable management the fishing industry will need support,

We can support them by purchasing local, and by purchasing seafood products that utilise lower impact methods. 

If you’ve enjoyed this video and want to learn more about the UKs fishing industry, look out for our ‘fisheries 101’ series on our YouTube channel or head to anoceanwarrior.com and sign up for the newsletter to be sure to receive the latest ocean science content!

Thank you to all my subscribers, and I’ll see you next time, Ocean Warrior!

Sustainable fishing, does it really exist?

by anoceanwarriorocean sciencePosted on One Comment

What does ‘sustainable fisheries’ really mean?

Across the internet, debates are being undertaken regarding the definition of ‘sustainable fisheries’. Some argue that whilst there is still room for improvement, some fisheries are well managed and are seeing stock improvements. Others argue we aren’t currently going far enough to be sustainable truly. Others argue that sustainable fishing doesn’t exist at all and that it never will. Then you have some who will say it’s not sustainable fishing unless it leaves the fishery better than it started. This is regenerative fishing, and I am all for it. But it’s a separate type of fisheries management, which I’ll cover in another set of content. 

It can be difficult to confirm the consensus, so I thought I would craft a post using my real-world experience of ‘sustainable fishing’ and what the phrase means to me as a marine biologist and commercial fisheries consultant. 

So, what does ‘sustainable fishing’ mean to me?

To ‘sustain’ means to enable something to continue, to maintain it in a way that ensures it always exists. To continue without interruption.

That’s easy enough, but laying ‘sustain’ over fisheries can become more nuanced. A fishery managed to below its Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and supported with management such as closed periods, closed nursery areas or restocking enables the stock to exist much as it does, forever. It can ‘sustain’ its health.  

However, we cannot determine sustainability by looking at stock size alone. A fishery might have a healthy stock, able to sustain both a commercial fishery and its stock size, however the impact it is having on other fisheries might not be sustainable. Without forethought and eyes on the larger picture, interactions of one fishery with another could be detrimental.

To be truly ‘sustainable’ a fishery must look at not only its impact on stock numbers and health, but its impact on the environment and other species dependant on it, as well as its interactions with other fisheries, and its social importance to coastal communities. 

So, no, it isn’t easy to define—and it isn’t easy to manage fisheries sustainably. 

But it isn’t impossible – and it is happening already!

I will cover sustainable fisheries and fishing techniques more in the coming months, with UK examples of real-world sustainable fisheries management. 

DEFINITIONS

A sustainable fishery is managed and maintained in various ways to ensure fish populations stay at a healthy level and avoid population decline. 

Sustainable fisheries management ensures the stock is maintained for the health and balance of the ocean and can ‘sustain’ both its population size over time and a low-impact, artisanal fishing industry, providing a sustainable food source long into the future.

Sustainable fishing is the use of fishing methods that are able to limit or remove their impact on the marine ecosystem. These fishing methods should be able to sustain a commercial artisanal fishery, but not leave lasting impact on the marine ecosystem. 

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY): is defined as the maximum catch (in numbers or mass) that can be removed from a population over an indefinite period.

Artisanal: small-scale fishing practices, usually operated by individual fishermen from coastal communities operating with low capital and low technology.