Minutes of the 13th meeting of the Freshwater Fisheries Forum Steering Group held in Conference Room No.2, The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency Building. 1 Roddinglaw Road, Edinburgh EH22 9FJ on 27 September 2006
In attendance:
Gordon Brown - SEERAD (Chairman)
David Dunkley - SEERAD
Richard Slaski - SEERAD
Stuart Baxter - SEERAD
Christine McGregor - SEERAD
Neil Swanson - SEERAD
Mabel McDowall - SEERAD (Secretariat)
Andrew Wallace - Association of Salmon Fishery Boards
Hugh Campbell Adamson - Association of Salmon Fishery Boards
Jonathan Swift - Association of Scottish Stillwater Fisheries
Sarah Bayley - Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland
Seymour Monro - Atlantic Salmon Trust
David Bassett - British Trout Association
Willie Miller - Consultative Committee on Protection Orders
Peter Maitland - Fish Conservation Centre
John Armstrong - Fisheries Research Services
Alastair Stephen - Institute of Fisheries Management
George Holdsworth - Salmon and Trout Association
Ronnie Picken - Scottish Anglers National Association
Ron Woods - Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling
Colin Bean - Scottish Natural Heritage
1. Introduction
The Chairman welcomed the Steering Group (SG) members and introduced Christine McGregor and Neil Swanson, Economists from SEERAD.
He advised that the main focus of the day was to be the Framework Plan and it would give the group the opportunity to stake stock of the work undertaken, to date, before moving on to more detailed work.
He put forward the suggestion that it might be useful to invite someone from the Environment Agency (EA) to come along to the next meeting. It would give the group the opportunity to make contact with EA colleagues and also give them the chance to discuss common issues. SEERAD had approached the EA who had indicated that they would be keen to send a representative along to the November meeting should the group agree.
Group members were happy with the suggestion.
Action - SEERAD to make arrangements for a representative from EA to attend the November meeting - update Dr Dafydd Evans , Head of Fisheries has agreed to attend.
2. Apologies:
Brian Davidson - Association of Salmon Fishery Boards, Roger Brook - RAFTS, Craig Campbell - NFU Scotland, Willie Shearer and Bob Ritchie - Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland, Callum Sinclair - Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Miranda Lindsay - Scottish Rural Property and Business Association and Manson Wright, David Ford, Alistair Prior, and Dave Wyman - SEERAD
3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Minutes have been agreed electronically and have been posted on the web site.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 Disinfection of electro-fishing/netting equipment
SEERAD have been in touch with FRS and have been advised that guidance will be issued shortly.
4.2 Vision Statement - dealt with under item 5
4.3 Regulating the introduction of fish in inland waters
Useful feedback had been received from some of the SG members and the group were advised that any further comments would still be welcome. The following update was given by SEERAD.
Risk-based approach, in terms of endangering natural biodiversity, to categorise fish species:
1) Existing natural or commercial species for restocking purposes.
2) Naturalised species but still a danger to native species e.g. Pike.
3) Alien or non-native species e.g. for research use, already controlled under existing legislation.
Introduction of Fish Under Licence:
1) Register suppliers and recipients and each to record movements with no obligation to notify individual movements - relating to category 1 species. New fisheries could be subject to an initial assessment to ensure working to best practices.
2) License applications in advance to SEERAD for category 3 species - Risk assessment required before issue, record keeping etc.
3) License application for category 2 species - Risk assessment required before issue.
4) Thought required for trans-border movements especially Brown trout.
Regulators: The only suggestion so far and SEERAD will continue to scope options e.g. self-regulatory through code of good practice through to police
1) Possibility of national or regional fisheries management bodies, accountable to SEERAD.
· Continue to develop thinking
· Will keep stakeholders closely engaged
· Also keeping in touch with the Environment Agency as they further develop their thinking
· Important that what is developed is deliverable by both Executive and the industry.
It was recognised that it would be useful to know how many fish movements took place within and into Scotland and the SG were asked for help to determine numbers. It was suggested that it should be possible for some members of the group to collect information from members of their respective organisations and also that FRS might have information on movements within Scotland. The group were advised that as there is currently legislation on the transportation of live fish therefore, records should be available.
Action - David Bassett agreed to look at the possibility of collecting information from members of his organisation. All to send comments to SEERAD by the end of October.
The issue of health certificates was raised and the group were advised that although fish health was one of the corner stones of the whole process they needed to be careful about straying into fish health issues and should be aware of EU legislation.
Normally fish are purchased from reputable and respected suppliers; however concerns were raised about the need to make sure that mechanisms are in place to guarantee that only healthy fish are moved.
Concerns were also raised regarding the implications of moving fish into areas where they previously did not exist and also the possibility of transferring undesirable alien species such as signal crayfish. One of the main problems being that water is often discharged along with the fish and this water could easily contain alien species. Any movements of fish would involve a high level of risk and would require a high level of management.
Action - SEERAD to give thought to the problem and report back at the next meeting.
Next Step
SEERAD to continue to gather information and pass to SG members for comment as it becomes available.
Action - SEERAD to circulate information to members of the SG, for comment and set out options for consideration by the SG by the end of December '06. Final paper to be presented at the January meeting.
4.4 Predation
Advisers have been contacted and have agreed to give short presentations at the November meeting.
SANA advised that they appreciated being given the opportunity to discuss predation with the Minister recently. They intimated that they would be delivering a petition to the Chairman at the end of the month. The chairman confirmed that this would be passed on to the Minister.
5. Framework Plan
Richard Slaski gave a short presentation, updating SG members on the work that has been undertaken since the last meeting and thanked everyone for their valuable contributions. Good progress has been made and further meetings of the sub groups have been planned for mid October. The plan is to pull everything together into one draft document by 3 November and circulate to SG members for discussion at the next meeting on 14 November. A copy of the presentation has been circulated to SG members.
The Chairman advised that as the framework progressed the group would need to think about developing a plan of action, looking at how issues could be prioritised and who would take the various actions forward. He emphasised the fact that it was important to get things right and not rush into making decisions.
Action - Draft document to be circulated to SG members by 3 November
The Chairman highlighted the importance of making sure that plans complemented the Executive's Sustainable Development Strategy and that reference made to this plan where possible. He also advised that a useful document had been produced by SEERAD recently and that both this document and the link to the Scottish Executive Sustainable Development web site should be circulated to SG members.
Action - Secretary to forward document and link to SG members. Update - documents circulated - action cleared
In the Economic sub group discussions members had found it difficult to come up with details of any 'high level' ambitions. It was recognised that there would need to be further discussions looking at how the industry could grow how this could be achieved.
It was suggested that it may be worth looking at the visions of The Angling Tourism Development Group which has been set up to promote the marketing of angling in Scotland and abroad.
It was also suggested that when developing the strategy that the different species of fish and types of fisheries would have to be taken into account as well as the number of anglers that might be involved. Sustainable levels for each of these fisheries would have to be considered as well as putting structures in place that take account of sustainability in fisheries management planning. It was recognised that there could be difficulties setting targets and milestones and that there had to be a fundamental link to the ability to sustain levels of exploitation. These difficulties, however, should not apply to rainbow trout fisheries as they would be able to sustain any levels.
The group were advised that it would not make sense for the strategy to be a one size fits all but, instead, they should realise that there are differences between fishing sectors and regions of the country and thus different solutions. There are a number of strategies already in place within the Executive (aquaculture, sea fisheries etc) that could almost be used as a template to be built upon. Similarly, the sustainable development strategy should be acknowledged in the freshwater one and reference made where possible.
The group were advised that they would need to be careful about setting targets and indicators especially if the SE can not influence them. Two problems were highlighted; firstly, the need to know the current number of anglers so that it would be possible to measure the level of increase and establish what percentage increase of X% had been achieved. Secondly, not being able to influence the target in question i.e. an example of an export target, the SE cannot influence this as it does not have any control over exchange rates. The group were also advised of the need to be aware of the fact that if you promise something in a strategy you can be held accountable for it and if you can't achieve or measure it, this will reflect badly. The message relayed to the group was that they should be realistic and give a lot of thought to the targets and indicators that will be developed.
It was suggested that, it may be useful to have an economic study to examine basic data such as employment and in what areas, particularly if it is in remote communities. It was noted an economic study has already been done and any future work would have to make sure it was not repetitive and add value.
The group were advised that the Tripartite Working Group were looking at similar issues to those raised above and it was agreed that they should kept in the loop to avoid duplication.
A point was raised, by e-mail, about the economic value of salmon netting compared to rod and line.
Action - To be put on the agenda for the November meeting
The issue of sea angling and where it sits in relation to the framework was raised. It was recognised that this was a grey area and although the general feeling of the group was that this aspect should be kept separate it was agreed that SEERAD should speak to colleagues in sea fisheries to clarify what the fishing rights were and if there is any legislation that might affect the framework plans.
Action - SEERAD to investigate and report back to the group
6. A.O.B
6.1 Date of the next Forum
It was agreed that the December Forum should be postponed and that a new date would be agreed at the November meeting.
6.2 Future Steering Group Meetings
Steering Group - 14th November 2006 in Conference Room 004, Pentland House, 47 Robb's Loan, Edinburgh
16th January 2007 - Venue to be announced later. Update - It has been agreed that the meeting will now be held on 25th January 2007 at the SASA Building, 1 Roddinglaw Road, Edinburgh.