Cyfarfod Grŵp Cynghori ar Grancod a Chimychiaid: 29 Gorffennaf 2025

Bethan Jones, Fisheries Division, Welsh Government (BJ) – Chair
Keith Neil, Recreational Fisher (KN)
Bekah Cioffi, Head of Marine, Fisheries, Aquaculture Science, Welsh Government (BC)
David Harries, Recreational Fisher (DH)
Matt Sayer, Fisheries Division,
Welsh Government (MS)
Greta Hughes, Commercial Fisher (GH)
Lisa Roberts-Clarke, Fisheries Division, Welsh Government (LRC)
Mark Gray, Welsh Fisherman’s Association (MG)
Jim Evans, Welsh Fisherman’s
Association (JE)
Carl Davies, Commercial Fisher (CD)/ Jack Thomas (JT)
Julie Hill, Exporter (JH)
Colin Charman, Natural Resources Wales (CC)
Lissa Clayton, Exporter (LC)
Nicola Cusack, Marine Conservation Society (NC)
Natalie Hold, Bangor University (NH)
Samira Anand, Seafish Industry Engagement Manager- Wales (SA)
Holly Kaiser, Seafish (HK)

Apologies: Huw Baker, Commercial Fisher, and Martin Robinson, Recreational Fisher.

Chair welcomed all to the third meeting of the crab and lobster advisory working group. This replaced the one in May which was cancelled due to the good weather.

BJ confirmed the minutes were circulated to the group and asked if there were any amendments. Due to time constraints JE requested for any changes to be sent to Fisheries Division after the meeting, which BJ agreed.

ACTION: Members to provide any amendments to the previous minutes in writing to Fisheries Division.

The actions from the last meeting were:

Minutes of the previous meeting to be published on Gov.Wales website - done.
BJ to feedback JE’s concerns regarding prioritisation of science spend to colleagues in Fisheries Division - done. BC was made aware of this.
JG to share historic logbook information with NH - not as yet.
All to complete the prioritisation management measures exercise - done and for discussion today.
ToR to be updated to include a definition of unacceptable behaviour - done.
LT to share information on berried hens - done.
BJ to get clarity of what iVMS data can be used for - being considered.
 

Clarity on iVMS data was discussed. CD raised a concern about the difficulty in accessing his own data to provide to planning bodies. JE was aware of the size of vessel could be a factor and data sharing could be an issue for under 12m vessels.

ACTION: BC to raise the query about accessing data with the digital data team in Fisheries Division.

BJ thanked the group for their contributions to the prioritisation exercise. To be able to score the priorities for the management measures, rate their importance and to differentiate between high, medium and lows BJ confirmed a tally was taken. To rank the highs and mediums a cumulative was added. This was over 14 rated as High (shown highlighted in red), over 10 was medium (in brown) and under 10 as low (in green).
BJ confirmed the scores had been considered in the drafting of the goals, actions and potential measure of the FMP. The results from the exercise were:

Proposed measure for commercial and recreational fishers - 
overall measure ranked as

Prohibition of landing scrubbed or berried hens - high
Pot, catch or effort limits - high
Review of gear selectivity – escape gaps and biodegradable catches - high
Harvest strategies based on scientific evidence balancing economic and environmental sustainability - high
Prohibition on use of soft-shell crab as bait - medium
Take steps to reduce ghost fishing – traceability of gear - medium
Harmonisation of management of recreational fisheries across south and north Wales with improved data collection - medium
Implementation of permitting system to implement some of the above management measures - medium
Species specific minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) review / Minimum Landing Size (MLS) increase - low
Temporal or spatial fisheries closures - low
Ban on landing crawfish (time bound or seasonal) - low
Carbon audit of the fleet - low.

GH shared concerns about the larger berried lobsters, their contribution to the stock and the need for further evidence. NH confirmed scientific study on the tagging of lobster and the work for frequency of reproduction could help in the next few years. There was a study site in north Wales and two in south Wales.

ACTION: NH to share information with GH about the lobster larvae work being done by Bangor University.

CD explained the larger American lobster were a different species to those caught in Wales. A 7lb lobster had been caught in a net off Pwhelli. From observations these were noticeably aggressive and would cause more damage in the pots. CH had undertaken work on v-notching lobster and had seen male lobsters recaught as a result. JE considered the order of priorities within the exercise. Some activities would require longer to gather evidence but overall, the activities would fit together considering the short and medium to long term measures. GP observed more medium sized lobster coming through and their aggressive behaviour in pots.

In the vision for the FMP, BJ confirmed the crab and lobster fisheries in Wales would be managed in a way that ensured the long-term sustainability of the stocks. This should run implicitly through all goals and include the social and economic importance of the supply chain and coastal communities. The 5 goals were as follows:

GOAL 1: Improved stock monitoring and assessment

BJ explained the potential actions to help achieve the goal. Short-term actions were 1-3 years and medium to long term as 2-6 years. Possible measures to deliver management goals included introduction of recreational permitting system in south Wales with mandated catch returns for recreational potting activities to harmonise management across all of Wales.

Members of the group were asked to feed back by the middle of August for each of the 5 goals. JH raised concerns relating to recreational fishers and using pots close to the shore with often undersized lobster caught. BJ requested JH to provide a location where this occurred to follow up.

GH was disappointed the practice of vessels being given stickers for their catch was no longer practiced. DH confirmed there was a lack of enforcement around the Llyn area. LC queried the location of where the undersized shellfish was being taken from. DH stated the recreational catch was not being sold.

ACTION: BJ to raise these concerns with Control and Enforcement colleagues in Fisheries Division.

GOAL 2: Sustainable harvesting in line with scientific evidence

Potential short-term actions to achieve this goal were discussed and included a ban on the sales of soft-shelled brown crab as bait. Discussion included the ban of sale of Peeler crabs by angling suppliers. KN advised these were crabs in a pre-molt stage of their lifecycle, and they can belong to any species.

BJ confirmed with the short term actions the ban of sale of soft-shell brown crab as bait was going to be consulted on in parallel with the FMP consultation. JE referred to the cross-boundary issues for example in Ireland and England and legislation had been introduced in the last 18 months. CC queried the wording for the measures to deliver the actions and suggested ‘use and sale’. BJ explained the wording was in response to amending older legislation.

BJ set out the medium to long term actions would be a review of minimum landing size within the scope of data deficient species; and to monitor recreational effort and harmonisation of management across Wales. Members were asked to send any further comments following the meeting.

GOAL 3: Minimise impacts on the wider marine ecosystem
For this goal BJ confirmed the need to review the available evidence to identify how to minimise use of gear on the ecosystem, and use of escape gaps which had biodegradable elements. In the longer term, to review impact of use of tangle nets.

GOAL 4: Development of Harvest Strategies

Building on the first and second goals, reviewing existing harvest strategies with input from industry the potential actions would be development of strategies such as effort limits, catch limits and spatial closure to protect stocks or environment.

BJ set out the possible measure could be engagement with advisory groups and stakeholders to explore this further. Longer term actions could see introduction of a permitting system with conditions that adapt and sustainably manage the fisheries.

GOAL 5: Mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change

Within the prioritisation exercise completed, this goal scored lower than the others. However, better understanding of the carbon footprint of the fishery in scope of the FMP would identify the hotspots and reveal opportunities for decarbonisation.

BJ confirmed the carbon audit of the Welsh fleet was underway as part of Welsh Government’s wider work. A desk-based review by Seafish of existing and emerging technologies to identify behavioural changes to reduce emissions would be carried out. It would improve the resilience of the catching sector and also link to the climate change objectives within the Fisheries Act.

SA, Seafish’s Industry Engagement Manager for Wales joined the meeting and introductions were made.

BC updated the group on the work completed as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the crab and lobster FMP. The Screening and Scoping reports together with the Evidence Report and Environmental Assessment were produced. The final SEA would be published with the draft crab and lobster FMP.

BC confirmed the relevant legislation was set out in the SEA (Wales) Regulations 2004, and required qualifying public plans, programmes and strategies to undergo screening for a SEA during their preparation. The screening exercise included consultation with Cadw, Natural Resources Wales and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Views from the consultees looked at effects of the plan on biodiversity, geology and sediments, water, climatic factors and cultural heritage and therefore required support from these statutory consultees.

The completed evidence report for crab and lobster included the status of the fisheries; existing fisheries management; economic overview; landings profile (2008 – 2022), size and abundance estimates, exploratory stock assessment outputs (which NH’s team had been revieing) and initial stock status.

JH queried what the status of the fishery meant. BC confirmed that it was the level of exploitation. Additionally, there was monitoring data which dated back to the 1980’s but was incomplete. NH confirmed pre 2006 there were no sales notes available to review.

Scoping of issues such as human health was proposed.CD asked whether the mental health of fishers would be considered as part of the FMP. BJ confirmed there would be an opportunity to include that point into the consultation.

LC asked for confirmation on the process to be used for the consultation. BJ advised the intention was to contact the supply chain. There could be possible use of workshops to promote the work and via enforcement officers, WFA, Seafish newsletter and Welsh Government website and social media. The timing was expected during late autumn to end of 2025.

NH advised Bangor University colleagues would be able to ask fishers about their preferred method of receiving communications and how best to reach processors. NH would share details of the consultation and about WFA’s animateurs project to assess those in the industry who were not able to engage digitally.

BC concluded the Environmental Assessment would look at the positive and negative effects of the FMP. The aim being to send to Natural Resources Wales and Joint Nature Conservation committee for informal feedback and more would be known towards the end of August.

ACTION: BJ agreed for the presentation slides be shared with the group and for comments to be sent by mid-August.

BJ asked whether members objected to the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB) be invited as a representative body to future CLAW meetings. Members agreed SAGB should be invited.

ACTION: BJ agreed to contact David Jarrad to invite SAGB to future meetings and share previous meeting papers with him.

BJ thanked members for their contribution and the date of the next meeting would be expected towards the end of September.