The MMO has launched a ‘call for evidence’ on the impacts of fishing activity in 13 MPAs, reports Tim Oliver. It says the evidence call is to progress conservation efforts in the MPAs. It follows new byelaws to prohibit ‘damaging…
Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 Four byelaws prohibiting certain fishing gears within South Dorset Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), Dogger Bank Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and in specified areas within The Canyons MCZ and Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and…
New byelaws designed to protect four Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are to be introduced, reports Paul Scott. The MMO says that the four new byelaws will ban the use of ‘dredges, demersal seines and semi-pelagic trawls, collectively known as bottom-…
The MMO announced last week, in a statement posted on its website, a seven-week extension to the deadline for installation of IVMS terminals by English 10-12m vessels, and also reinstated the Maritime Systems terminal on its approved list. The suspension,…
With deadlines to fit new compulsory IVMS terminals rapidly approaching, English under-12m vessel owners were rocked last week when the MMO made a low-key announcement that one of the four type-approved terminals had been removed from the approved list, reports…
The MMO has rejected calls for boats within the under-10m fleet to be exempted from the requirement for all English under-12m boats to install inshore vessel monitoring systems (IVMS), reports Tim Oliver. NUTFA has been in discussions with the MMO…
A new and robust underwater camera system, developed to allow fishers to monitor gear performance underwater, or the behaviour of shellfish entering or approaching pots, has received MMO funding for six trials onboard a variety of UK commercial fishing boats.…
The MMO has dropped its prosecution of Greenpeace over the illegal dumping of boulders in the English Channel last year, reports Tim Oliver. The move follows a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court in January, where the judge suggested that the…
Enforcement of the controversial under-10m electronic Catch App for English boats will start in full on Monday, 28 February, the MMO has confirmed, reports Tim Oliver. The MMO said it has supported a period of adjustment to allow fishers to…
The UK has long imported more seafood than it exports. In 2019, according to MMO statistics, the UK imported 721,000t of sea fish, with a value of £3,457m. It exported 452,000t with a value of £2,004m – a net UK…
