Clean Catch seeks new fishery partner for bycatch mitigation trial in England

• Clean Catch is all about collaborative working to help monitor and minimise the bycatch of sensitive marine species in UK fisheries, and to exchange knowledge globally.
• As part of an expansion in scope, we’re seeking to partner up with a fishery in England to run a new bycatch monitoring and mitigation trial – and are asking for help to find them.
• The trial will focus on one or more species groups including marine mammals, seabirds, sharks, skates, and rays.
• Collaborative on-the-water trials are crucial to Clean Catch’s aim to find ways to minimise bycatch of sensitive marine species, by testing measures in real-life conditions to ensure they are effective and practical to use.
• Learning gained from the trial is expected to benefit the fishery and to feed into wider efforts across the UK and beyond to enhance fisheries sustainability. 

How exactly will the fishery benefit from getting involved?

For fisheries experiencing an issue around sensitive species bycatch, the trial represents the opportunity to address this as part of a fully-funded project supported by a team of researchers. In the longer-term, being part of the trial could lead to competitive advantages such as marketing appeal, gaining or maintaining ecolabel certification, and cost savings (i.e. by reducing gear damage, catch processing time and/or damage to catch resulting from bycatch).

We’re already running a cetacean bycatch mitigation trial with small-scale gillnetters in Southwest England. The fishermen involved in this have reported that they benefit enormously from the collaboration and have appreciated the opportunity to test out new technologies and provide critique based on their unique and hard-won insights. They’ve even represented Clean Catch internationally, speaking at the Small-Scale Fisheries Regional Symposium for Europe in July this year (see an article on the conference here).

What will the collaboration for the new trial involve exactly?

It’ll involve working with the Clean Catch team for two years – which includes co-designing and then starting the trial in early 2025, running the trial for 12 months, and providing feedback after its conclusion. The trial will be with a single fishery, although we recognise that this could involve multiple partners, such as individual skippers or vessel owners, an association, and other local individuals or organisations.

The precise design of the trial hinges on the type of fishery and the sensitive marine species we’ll test bycatch monitoring and mitigation measures for. But essential elements will include collecting data, and testing modified fishing gears, technologies, or practices. This is the same as for the ongoing cetacean bycatch mitigation trial in the Southwest; there, skippers are trying out pingers to prevent bycatch of dolphins and porpoises, and are providing data via a self-report app as well as hosting remote electronic monitoring on their vessels to improve our understanding of how and why bycatch happens.

How will the fishery partner(s) be selected?

The criteria below will be used to guide the selection of the fishery partner(s) – although we recognise that no fishery will meet all the criteria. Essentially, we’re looking for a fishery that:

• Is experiencing an issue with bycatch of any of the following types of species: marine mammals, seabirds, sharks, skates, and/or rays,
• At least partly involves English vessels/ports/waters, and
• Has a genuine appetite to work collaboratively with the Clean Catch team to develop practical, effective methods to minimise bycatch.

The full criteria can be viewed here. These aren’t yet finalised, and we welcome feedback on how to refine the criteria ahead of the selection process.

What’s the timeline for selection of the fishery and the trial, and who’s involved in this?

• Expressions of interest from fisheries, and suggestions of suitable fisheries from those in the fishing industry and beyond, are welcomed up to 20 September 2024.
• In October 2024, Clean Catch will shortlist the most suitable fisheries partners.
• In November 2024, Defra – Clean Catch’s funder – will make a final decision on selection of the partner(s), taking into consideration input from Clean Catch’s governing bodies.
• In early 2025, Clean Catch will begin working with the selected fishery to co-design the trial.
• In Spring 2025, Clean Catch and the fishery will commence the trial.

How to submit an expression of interest or a suggestion?

To submit an expression of interest, or a suggestion, please fill in this form. If you have any questions about the trial or the selection process, please contact us at secretariat@cleancatchuk.com.

As noted above, you can also provide feedback on the draft criteria which will be used to select the fishery partner(s). While the criteria are constrained to an extent by practicalities and the requirements of the UK Government, we’ll incorporate your feedback wherever possible.

Following the end of the selection process, we’ll be back in touch with everyone who has provided input, ahead of announcing the selected fishery partner(s).