A coalition of British, Irish and Polish fishing companies has launched a fisheries improvement project (FIP) for the Eastern Central North Sea brown crab fishery, responding to sharp stock declines since 2019.
Recent assessments by the UK's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science indicate a sharp decline in brown crab stocks around British waters, coinciding with increased market demand.
"The decline in brown crab stocks is not yet fully understood," said David Markham, the FIP chair and managing director of Devon-based Blue Sea Food Company. "Possible causes include increased fishing effort, the effects of other fisheries on crab grounds or changes in the environment, such as increasing sea water temperature due to climate change."
The FIP, which is managed by AC Marine Consultants, will focus on data collection and developing new management controls. A key challenge will be coordinating with Danish, German, and Dutch authorities, as the fishery spans multiple jurisdictions.
"Given the relatively small number of vessels within the fishery and high level of interest from the catching operators, there is a real opportunity to reach consensus on management measures," said Alex Caveen, the FIP project manager.
Project partners include major industry players such as Macduff Shellfish Scotland, Blue Sea Food Company, and Sea Farms. The initiative, which started in December, aims to qualify for the Marine Stewardship Council's improvement program by early 2027.
The first phase will focus on analyzing catch and landings data from participating vessels to develop a long-term stock monitoring strategy.
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