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- Despite weathering significant challenges over the past years, with a combined landings value in excess of £110 million in 2021, brown crab and lobster fisheries are among the UK’s most economically important fisheries.
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Oct 14, 2023 · A Marine Conservation Society spokesperson has said the lobster fishing industry in the UK at the moment "is not in great shape," saying it will take more support from the government to make a ...
- Shingi Mararike
May 31, 2022 · In our April 2022 update we reviewed crab and lobster in parts of the UK. The review found that there is now only one place in the UK catching green-rated, Best Choice brown crab: Shetland. Similarly, when it comes to lobster, the only sustainable choice in the UK is from Jersey.
- Executive summary
- Foreword
- Introduction
- Context
- Scope of the crab and lobster FMP
- Current status of the English crab and lobster fisheries
- Shared shellfish principles
- Crab and lobster fishery management objectives
- Brown crab fisheries management objectives
Context
Our sea fish and shellfish stocks are an important natural resource. We aim to work with the fishing sector and wider stakeholders to ensure these stocks are harvested sustainably and supported by a healthy marine environment, so they continue to provide benefits into the future. Fisheries management plans (FMPs) are a requirement of the Fisheries Act 2020 (‘the Act’), the UK Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS), and a commitment in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 for England. FMPs assess the status of stocks and must set out policies to restore stocks to, or maintain them at, sustainable levels. The crab and lobster FMP has been prepared for the purpose of meeting the requirements set out in the Act. It was prepared in partnership with the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) in collaboration with the Crab and Lobster Management Group (CMG), which brings together industry, government and scientists. Feedback from the CMG and from the wider sector, during stakeholder engagement events, showed the need for better management of crab and lobster fisheries in England. Defra undertook a public consultation on the draft FMP in July 2023 in accordance with the requirement set out in Schedule 1 Part 3 of the Act. Defra prepared this first published version 1 of the FMP having had regard for the representations received during that consultation.
What is an FMP?
An FMP is an evidence-based action plan that charts a course to sustainable fisheries for current and future generations. The FMP is a long-term plan that must be reviewed and, if necessary, revised at least every six years. It sets out both a longer-term vision and goals for the fishery (or fisheries), together with the policies and management interventions necessary to achieve these goals in the shorter term. While having a primary focus on achieving sustainable stocks, Defra intends to use FMPs to help tackle environmental, social, and economic issues associated with our fisheries. FMPs will significantly enhance our ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management and secure the economic and cultural benefits we gain from fish and from fishing. To remain effective, plans will be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure they respond to new evidence and practical experience.
Why an FMP for crabs and lobsters?
The crab and lobster industry recognised in 2019 that action was needed to better manage harvesting of our crab and lobster stocks. With support from Seafish and Defra, the CMG was formed in 2020 to consider specific actions. This early work and engagement allowed the decision to be taken to channel the work into an FMP. Crab and lobster have been prioritised for an FMP due to the stocks’ vulnerability to over-exploitation, the economic value of these fisheries, and a lack of evidence to properly assess and monitor the state of the stocks. The Crab and lobster fisheries in English waters contribute socially and economically to coastal communities through employment and recreational fishing interests. Improved management action is therefore needed to protect crab and lobster and secure their future and the future of the industry that depends on them.
The crab and lobster FMP sets out the road map to achieve long-term sustainable management of brown crab and European lobster stocks in English waters, in line with the objectives in the Fisheries Act 2020 (‘the Act’). The FMP has been prepared in partnership with the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) in collaboration with the Crab and Lobster Management Group (CMG) – a collaborative forum that brings together industry, researchers, and government regulators and policy makers. The CMG is part of the overarching Shellfish Industry Advisory Group (SIAG). Seafish, on behalf of Defra and the CMG, has also engaged more widely with coastal communities, supply chain businesses, environmental NGOs, and other government agencies on the development of the management objectives detailed in this FMP. Defra gathered further views through a public consultation that included stakeholder engagement events around the coast and on-line.
While the primary focus of this plan is brown crab and European lobster, it also includes within its scope select data-limited shellfish species for which there is currently no formal stock assessment applied. These are spider crab, crawfish, common prawn, and velvet swimming crabs. Collectively this plan is focused on managing shellfish fisheries which contributed £122 million to the UK economy and accounted for 31,000 tonnes of landings in 2021.
Both crab and lobster fisheries have fishery independent time series of core biological data, and there has been some success in establishing biological reference points. However, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of these important fisheries, which is hampering attempts to manage them effectively. Specifically, there is a lack of accurate fishing effort data. There are also still significant uncertainties and assumptions in current stock assessment methodologies (such as a lack of a clear understanding of crab migration), which means outputs may be less certain. This creates a clear challenge in trying to accurately assess the impact that current fishing effort is having on long-term stock viability.
This FMP aims to build on existing research and management for crab and lobster fisheries and to progress to a point where management is driven by a comprehensive harvest strategy underpinned by a reliable stock assessment methodology. This methodology in turn will be supported by a consistent data collection and research programme.
The management objectives in this FMP describe the key stages on that journey and set out the shared commitment that industry and government have for these important fisheries, over the next 6 years. A core principle driving the implementation of the FMP objectives will be adaptive management. This means that as the evidence base improves, management interventions will be more responsive.
The FMP’s shared shellfish principles and crab and lobster fishery objectives are presented in two parts: Shared shellfish principles common to all fisheries, and crab and lobster specific objectives for this FMP.
The overarching vision for the crab and lobster FMP for English waters is that brown crab, European lobster, and select data-limited shellfish species, for which there are currently no formal stock assessments applied, are managed to ensure their long-term sustainability and economic profitability, while maintaining public confidence in the management of this important resource.
The crab and lobster FMP collates all known and available information on the biological, socio-economic, and environmental status of crab and lobster fisheries in English waters. It establishes the approach that will be taken to ensure that both fisheries are being managed in line with the requirements of the Act and, specifically, the steps that will be taken to address evidence gaps, improve assessment methodologies, and ensure fishing effort is aligned with the health of individual fish stocks. Alongside this, the FMP seeks to ensure that these fisheries are economically viable over the long term, and that both wider community and national benefits are realised from this important resource.
Achieving sustainable crab and lobster stocks, profitable fisheries and a healthy marine environment will mean changes to how and where crab and lobster fishing occurs (input controls[footnote 2], and the amount of crab and lobster that can be caught from one year to the next (output controls[footnote 3]).
The purpose of this FMP is to ensure that the most appropriate management measures, based on the best available science and evidence are developed, in collaboration with the CMG, and implemented in consultation with wider stakeholders.
The crab and lobster FMP has been prepared for the purpose of meeting the requirements set out in the Fisheries Act 2020.
The 2018 Fisheries White Paper: Sustainable fisheries for future generations set a clear ambition for sustainable stewardship and management of UK fisheries that committed to deliver – ‘a more competitive, profitable and sustainable fishing industry across the whole of the UK, setting a gold standard for sustainable fishing around the world’.
The Act requires each FMP to set out policies designed to restore the stock(s) to, or maintain them at, sustainable levels.
The Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS), published in November 2022, sets out further details of the policies the UK fisheries authorities will follow to achieve or contribute to achieving the 8 fisheries objectives in the Act. It includes a list of FMPs, setting out the lead authority for each FMP, the stocks covered and timescales for publication.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the Act, the FMP also supports the implementation of wider commitments on protecting the marine environment, restoring biodiversity, and addressing climate change. In particular, the Environment Improvement Plan 2023 for England highlighted the requirement to deliver FMPs. Each FMP also supports commitments under the UK Marine Policy Statement, the UK Marine Strategy, the marine wildlife bycatch mitigation initiative, and the Climate Change Act 2008.
Further details on the requirements of the Act and wider commitments, and how these relate to this plan were set out in the ‘Environmental considerations’ section of the FMP Annexes document published for the public consultation in 2023.
Species
The crab and lobster FMP relates to all brown crab (Cancer pagurus) and European lobster (Homarus gammarus) fishing activity in English waters, including activity from other UK, EU, and other coastal state vessels. Any measures adopted in accordance with this plan must be consistent with the requirements of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), including Article 496[footnote 4] and any relevant decisions made via the Specialised Committee for Fisheries (SCF), such as the adoption of any multi-year strategies (MYSts) for shared non-quota stocks. Additionally, there are several data-limited species also included in this FMP for which there is currently no formal stock assessment applied. These are: crawfish (Palinurus elephas) velvet swimming crab (Necora puber) common spider crab (Maja brachydactyla) common prawn (Palaemon serratus)
Fleet characteristics
Inshore crab and lobster fisheries are located across the UK. Most vessels fishing for crab and lobster (over 80% in 2021) are 10 metres or under in length and tend to operate as day boats in inshore waters. There is also a larger offshore fishery located in east, northeast and southwest England, targeted by larger potting vessels capable of fishing multi-day trips (also referred to as vivier vessels). Ports in east and northeast England are especially reliant on crab and lobster fisheries, with a high proportion of the total value of landings occurring in this area. Ports in the southwest, particularly larger ports, receive more mixed seafood landings, and a lower proportion of total landings (in terms of value) are made up of crab and lobster. In the northeast of England, landings are primarily from pots, while in the southwest there is a higher (but still small) proportion of landings made using nets. The most productive area for crab and lobster fishing in English waters is to the east of England, adjacent to the Humber estuary.
Fishery and fishing methods
Most of the species included in the crab and lobster FMP are caught in targeted pot and trap fisheries predominantly by the 10 metres or under vessel fleet. Crawfish and spider crab are also caught in both mixed and targeted tangle net fisheries. All species may also be landed as a bycatch of trawl fisheries. Crab and lobster pot fisheries can be highly selective in utilising variations in pot size and shape, mesh size, and the design of entries and escape panels. Two main shapes of trap are used to target brown crabs: the inkwell-shaped trap (Figure 1), favoured by larger vessels, and a standard D-shaped trap with entrances on either side or on top (Figure 2). D-shaped traps (also called creels) with parlour sections (separate sections designed to retain catch) are also popular with larger vessels, particularly on the east coast of England. However, different traps are favoured by individual fishers across different areas of the UK. The D-shaped trap with 2 entrances (Figure 2) is favoured by lobster fishers. However, lobsters may also be caught as bycatch in the inkwell-style pots (Figure 1) used in crab fisheries. Crab, lobster and crawfish are generally targeted, with velvet and spider crabs caught and landed in a mixture of targeted and non-targeted fisheries. Figure 1: Ink-well trap (Seafish, 2023) Figure 1 description: an inkwell-shaped trap with an open top entrance typically used to catch brown crab. Figure 2: D-shaped creel (Seafish, 2023) Figure 2 description: a D-shaped trap with an entrance on each side used to catch crab and lobsters. Figure 3: Creels on the seabed (Seafish, 2023) Figure 3 description: a fleet of creels deployed on the seabed. The main landing sites for crab in England are located on the east, northeast and southwest coasts. English ports of particular significance are Grimsby, Bridlington, Newlyn, Salcombe and Scarborough. Collectively these 5 ports accounted for 61% of all brown crab landings from English waters in 2021. The main landing ports in England for lobster are Bridlington, Scarborough, Whitby, Newlyn and Hornsea. Collectively these accounted for 50% of lobster landings from English waters in 2021. More information on crab and lobster landings by port and fleet metier was set out in the ‘Evidence statement’ section of the FMP Annexes document published for the public consultation in 2023.
Landings profile
The landings profile for crab and lobster can be summarised as follows. Crab Overall landings for brown crab from English waters were stable between 2016 and 2019, ranging between 13,641 tonnes and 14,877 tonnes. However, in 2020 landings dropped by 19% to 11,575 tonnes, probably impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Landings remained similarly low in 2021, totalling 11,683 tonnes. In 2021 the highest tonnages were landed from International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) rectangles off the northeast coast of England – specifically 36F0 off the coast of Bridlington, which accounted for 26% (3,022 tonnes) of total landings. Other significant ICES rectangles in terms of crab landings are located off the southwest coast of England, specifically 29E4 and 29E6, which saw landings of 952 and 891 tonnes respectively in 2021. Lobster Overall landings for lobster from English waters were steady between 2016 and 2021. Within this period, lobster landings ranged between around 1,500 tonnes and 2,000 tonnes, with a peak of 1,919 tonnes in 2017 and a low of 1,492 tonnes in 2020 (again, probably impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic). Moderate annual fluctuations were observed, whereby lower landings were recorded following a year of higher landings, and vice versa. Some fluctuations may be explained by extreme cold weather events, such as in 2018, which resulted in mass mortalities in the North Sea. In 2021 recorded landings were 1,772 tonnes. The highest tonnages were landed from ICES rectangles off the northeast coast of England – specifically 36F0 off the coast of Bridlington, where 30% (523 tonnes) of landings originated in 2021.
Stock status
Both crab and lobster fisheries benefit from a reasonable understanding of the biological parameters of each species and, at a broad level, current exploitation rates. However, differing levels of evidence are available across the different crab stocks. Sufficient evidence is available to carry out a stock assessment for the Central North Sea and Southern North Sea stocks and to determine a proxy for maximum sustainable yield (MSY) using length cohort analysis. Sufficient evidence is available to carry out a stock assessment for female crabs in the Western Channel and Celtic Sea stocks, to determine a proxy for MSY (length cohort analysis), but there is insufficient evidence to assess the MSY proxy for male crabs in these stocks. There is insufficient evidence to carry out a stock assessment for the Eastern English Channel stock. Likewise, levels of evidence vary across lobster stocks. Sufficient evidence is available to carry out stock assessments for 5 out of 6 lobster fishery units (Northumberland and Durham, Yorkshire Humber, East Anglia, Southeast South coast, and Southwest) and to determine a proxy for MSY (length cohort analysis). There is insufficient data available to carry out a stock assessment for the Northwest lobster fishery unit. Data have not been collected in this area due to low fishing effort and landings. Challenges remain in providing reliable assessments of stock status. While there are management measures in place, primarily relating to managing species by size and protecting females, these are fragmented and lack a sufficient regional approach to deliver effective management at a fishery level. In contrast there is limited available data on the data-limited shellfish species and, outside selected IFCAs, there are few management measures. Both crab and lobster fisheries have a time series of scientific biological data around stock status and there has been some success in establishing biological reference points for MSY. The following reference points – a proposed target reference point and an initial limit reference point – apply to crab and lobster. The proposed target reference point is defined as the exploitation rate that would produce 35% of virgin Spawner per Recruit (SpR), which is a proxy for the fishing rate that will tend to produce MSY. Crab and lobster fisheries should be managed such that the stock biomass fluctuates around this point. An initial limit reference point has been suggested by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) at 15% of virgin SpR. Fisheries operating beyond this level are less likely to be sustainable. Having fisheries operating below this threshold increases the risk of impaired reproduction, compromises long-term stock sustainability, and reduces yield to the fishery. In some management jurisdictions, if a stock moves below the biomass-based limit reference point the stock is assessed as to be at risk of collapse and the fishery is closed, or at least severely restricted, and a rebuilding plan implemented. There is an agreed stock assessment methodology in use for brown crab and European lobster fisheries but there are specific uncertainties that limit the level of certainty of the assessment results. At the time of publication, Cefas does not currently present precise estimates of fishing mortality or stock size. These uncertainties include the following issues. A lack of understanding of growth and natural mortality rates. A lack of appropriate fishing effort data. Pot hauls or total pot numbers are not recorded at the stock level, meaning that fishing effort must be estimated from sales notes (supplemented by monthly shellfish activity return (MSAR) forms). Estimates of fishing effort are given as number of days at sea, which is considered an imperfect metric for static gear fisheries, as it gives no indication of total fishing effort exerted on the stock. This is because gear can continue fishing while the vessel is not at sea, and effort in terms of pots and hours fished can vary within a day. Representativeness of landings used to collect length samples. Scientific officers visit individual ports to measure individuals from catches for length cohort analysis and to determine ratios of landings by sex. The assumption is that these catches are representative of population structure. However, this makes no allowance for behavioural differences or catchability of different size and different sex crabs or lobsters in pot fisheries. If catches are not representative of the wider population, then stock size assessments based on these samples will be inherently biased. There is some uncertainty around the base assumptions (such as constant spatial coverage of population, equal availability of different animal size ranges), which can lead to inaccuracies in the assessment results. Exemptions from reporting requirements for recreational fisheries means that estimates of fishing mortality used in assessments are likely to be lower than actual fishing mortality levels, as not all removals can be accounted for. Despite this, models are considered reliable enough to give indicative figures for stock size against reference points and indicate whether exploitation rates are low, medium or high. Future models will utilise emerging technologies, such as further consideration of remote electronic monitoring (REM) for the purpose of assessment. Overall stock health is determined based on an assessment of exploitation rates – level of fishing pressure on the stock – and the assessment of stock status (spawning stock biomass) across each crab and lobster fishery unit (CFU and LFU, respectively). CFUs and LFUs are stock units defined based on understandings of larval distribution, hydrographic conditions, and distributions. CFUs and LFUs are assessed by Cefas as part of their stock assessment programme. See Table 1 below and the maps of CFUs and LFUs (figure 4 and 5).
Exploitation rates
Based on the 2019 stock status reports, current exploitation rates have been assessed as follows. Crab Exploitation rates for crab remained relatively constant between 2017 and 2019. In 2019 exploitation was high (above the limit reference point) in the Southern North Sea CFU, and moderate (at the limit for males) in the Central North Sea. Exploitation rate was moderate (between target and limit reference points) in the Western English Channel and Celtic Sea. There is no status available for the Eastern English Channel, and in the Western English Channel stock status is only available for females. Lobster Exploitation rates were above target MSY reference points in all 5 LFUs assessed in 2019. In Northumberland and Durham, Yorkshire Humber and East Anglia LFUs, exploitation was high (above the limit reference point) for at least females. In the Channel (Southwest and Southeast South Coast LFUs), exploitation was moderate (between the target and limit reference points). There have been some minor improvements recorded since the 2017 assessment. Exploitation levels were very high in Northumberland and Durham and Yorkshire Humber in 2017, and these are now assessed as high. Similarly, the exploitation rate in the Southeast South Coast decreased from high to moderate. This suggests that exploitation rates in some LFUs decreased between the two most recent stock assessments. However, in 2019 stocks were still exploited above the fishing rate likely to deliver MSY. Effort data Available effort data for crab and lobster fisheries is based on EU logbooks and MSAR forms, which record days fished rather than numbers of pots fished. This means available effort information lacks sufficient detail to accurately assess the impact fishing effort is having on stocks. Anecdotal information from some fisheries suggests that there have been significant increases in both pot numbers and spatial distribution of fishing effort in recent years, but the lack of fine-scale effort data mean these increases in effort are not necessarily reflected in the landing data. Because fishing effort is estimated using days at sea, large increases in landings can be misinterpreted by current modelling approaches as increases in spawning stock, because there is no consideration of total numbers of pots fished at a given time at sea (for more detail, see the Cefas Crab and Lobster stock assessments 2019).
The nine overarching shared shellfish principles developed by the SIAG are set out below. These principles have been designed to address key management, social and economic issues that face all shellfish fisheries in English waters.
The SIAG brings together government, regulators, researchers and industry stakeholders to discuss national-level strategic management of shellfish fisheries. Many issues facing the sector are not specific to individual shellfish species. These principles recognise common challenges and issues and have been reflected in each of the shellfish FMPs.
While these principles are non-statutory, and the associated actions go beyond the legal obligations for FMPs in section 6 of the Act, Defra welcomes these industry commitments to complement and support the delivery of the FMPs and objectives in the Act.
The SIAG will maintain responsibility for the principles and the actions set out to deliver them.
The shared principles are:
1.Formalise the structure and operation of the SIAG and associated sub-groups, and ensure effective representation, so that it becomes a focal point of engagement on shellfish fisheries management in England.
The crab and lobster-specific objectives are management objectives for crab and lobster fisheries in English waters. These are outlined in more detail in the following sections.
For each objective, we have set out the rationale, the activities that will help to deliver it, and how it links to objectives in the Act. Some crab and lobster FMP objectives go beyond the Act but are included here for completeness.
These species-specific objectives are designed to address key fisheries management issues facing specific fisheries in English waters. Species-specific objectives for English brown crab and lobster fisheries were collaboratively developed by the CMG FMP working group and reflect feedback received during the stakeholder engagement events. The species-specific objectives were also reviewed by the CMG science sub-group. A draft evidence and research plan was published for the public consultation in 2023 to show how the evidence requirements to support delivery of these objectives would be met. Defra will continue to revise and maintain the evidence and research plan through the lifetime of the FMP.
These objectives also reflect industry priorities and the desire to deliver environmentally sustainable shellfish fisheries which continue to deliver socio-economic benefits to communities and the wider supply chain.
These objectives relate specifically to the management of crab fisheries in English waters. While most objectives identified are necessary to meet the requirements of section 6 of the Act, some objectives and the actions suggested to deliver them go beyond these requirements but are included for completeness. Responsibility for delivery of these ob...
Oct 9, 2024 · The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said they could be flagship species for sustainable fishing in the UK. However, several brown crab and European lobster fisheries saw a dent in their ratings in the charity’s Good Fish Guide.
Our Good Fish Guide includes 26 ratings for brown crab, and 28 ratings for European lobster caught in UK seas. However, there is currently only one green-rated crab fishery, in Shetland, and one green-rated lobster fishery, in Jersey.
Dec 20, 2023 · Despite weathering significant challenges over the past years, with a combined landings value in excess of £110 million in 2021, brown crab and lobster fisheries are among the UK’s most economically important fisheries.
Dec 14, 2023 · The crab and lobster fisheries management plan (FMP) covers stocks in English waters only. Defra prepared the crab and lobster FMP in partnership with the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish).
