Report on the Pilot Observer Programme in Irish Pelagic Trawl Fisheries: Implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 812/2004 John Boyd, Ian O’Connor and Simon Berrow Marine Biodiversity Research Group Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Dublin Road Galway May 2012
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Report on the Pilot Observer
Programme in Irish Pelagic Trawl
Fisheries: Implementing Council
Regulation (EC) No 812/2004
John Boyd, Ian O’Connor and Simon Berrow
Marine Biodiversity Research Group
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Dublin Road
Galway
May 2012
Executive Summary
A pilot fisheries bycatch observer programme was carried out during the
2011-2012 pelagic fishing season in Ireland to meet the requirements of the EU
Bycatch Regulation.
A team of five observers carried out a total of 15 fishing trips ranging in
duration from two to 13 days. A total of 90 days at sea were accompanied
with 75 days fishing and 85 hauls. Vessels ranged from 22 to 62 meters in
overall length and the majority of coverage took place in ICES areas VIa, VIIj
2 and VIIk 2. Over 10% of albacore tuna national quota was observed, 6.2% of
the horse mackerel quota and 2.4% of the boarfish quota but less than 1% of
the mackerel quota.
No cetacean bycatch was observed during any of the fishing trips. Important
commercial bycatch recorded included three bluefin tuna and one swordfish.
Biological data on five fish species was collected including length-frequency
distributions which will contribute to national sampling targets for albacore
tuna.
A total of 59 cetacean sightings were recorded for 314 individuals of at least
eight species. Most sightings were of fin whales, with at least 18 sightings
with common dolphin being the most abundant species recorded. Most
sightings were of animals in the vicinity of the fishery though not considered
to be interacting with fishing operations. Two sightings of killer whales were
associated with the mackerel fishery in VIa north, and thought to be targeting
the same aggregations of fish.
The results of this study were consistent with a similar study carried out in
2010 and 2011. Over the course of the two studies no cetacean bycatch was
observed or reported for a combined total of 171 hauls.
The overall coverage achieved was 60% of that targeted. There were
difficulties in finding vessels to place observers on which could be attributed
to vessels operating from overseas ports and uncertainties as to which
overseas port landings would be made in. Other difficulties encountered
included shortage of berths and boat operators being unwilling to take
observers. To ensure full coverage, it is recommended that specific
undertakings to accommodate observers on a boat by boat basis should be
agreed prior to the start of each observer study. This should be done in
consultation with Fish Producers Organisations and other relevant
APPENDIX 3: LENGTH FREQUENCY SAMPLING SHEET ...........................................40
3
Introduction
Incidental capture in fisheries is acknowledged as a significant threat to many
populations of marine mammals worldwide (Northridge 1991). In the
northeast Atlantic concern has been expressed at the impact of both gillnet
and pelagic trawl fisheries on marine mammals, (Morizur et al. 1999; Ross
and Isaac 2004). This concern led to the EU agreeing Bycatch Regulation
(812/2004) which aimed to assess bycatch rate in a range of fisheries and
reduce bycatch of some species through the use of pingers.
In Ireland significant cetacean bycatch has been reported in gillnet fisheries
(Tregenza et al. 1997a 1997b; Rogan and Mackey, 2007) and some pelagic
fisheries (Couperus et al. 1995). Those pelagic fisheries operating in Irish
waters that which have been monitored include the Celtic Sea herring fishery
(Berrow et al. 1994; Morizur et al. 1999) and Dutch mackerel and horse-
mackerel fishery (Couperus et al. 1995). Although operating outside of Irish
waters, Irish registered vessels fishing albacore tuna have been monitored by
BIM (BIM 2000).
The current pilot programme is a continuation of the programme initiated in
2010 in response to EU Council Regulation No. 812/2004 addressing the
incidence of bycatch of small cetaceans in European fisheries (McCarthy et al.
2011). The regulation requires member states to monitor on an annual basis
the incidence of cetaceans taken as bycatch on pelagic trawl and gillnet
fisheries.
The aim of the current phase of the programme is to meet the legal
requirements of regulation EC 812/2004 through the use of independent
observers. For Irish pelagic trawl fisheries the required observer effort is 10%
of fishing effort in ICES subareas VI, VII and VIII from December to March.
Irish pelagic fisheries target a wide range of fish species including:
• albacore tuna Thunnus alalunga
• blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou
• boar fish Capros aper
• herring Clupea harengus
• mackerel Scomber scombrus
• horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus
• sprat Sprattus sprattus
• Sardine Sardinus pilchardus
4
The majority of landings for pelagic species by Irish fishing vessels are made
by vessels licensed as pelagic or polyvalent. For the purposes of this report a
pelagic vessel is considered to be one whose fish holding capacity is entirely
defined by refrigerated sea water tanks (RSW) while polyvalent vessels are
defined by vessels with both RSW tanks and a dry hold. In each case the
fishing method is with mid water trawls that are towed by a single vessel or
by a pair of vessels. Irish pelagic and polyvalent vessels prosecute fisheries for
allocated quotas in waters extending from the Bay of Biscay to the Norwegian
Sea.
GMIT Fishery Observer Team Personnel
The GMIT observer team consists of administrative staff and a panel of
observers. The composition of this team is shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1: GMIT fishery observer team personnel
Name
Role
John Boyd Project Coordinator
Dr Ian O Connor Project Advisor and Administrator
Dr Simon Berrow Project Advisor and Administrator
Aleksandra Borawska Observer
Randal Counihan Observer
Joan Hayes Observer
Enda McKeogh Observer
Conor Ryan Observer
Criteria for employment as an observer in the present project included
previous offshore experience on fishing or research vessels, experience in
identification of cetacean species in Irish waters and a third level qualification
in a marine related science. Observers were additionally required to hold a
personal survival techniques certificate (STCW 95) and a current ENG 11
medical certificate.
5
Methodology
Observer placement on vessels
Vessel contact details were obtained from the Irish South and West Fish
Producers Organisation (ISWFPO), the Irish Fish Producers Organisation
(IFPO) and the Killybegs Fisherman’s Organisation (KFO). The project
coordinator attended meetings with the representative of each of these
organisations to secure cooperation and to outline the duties of observers on
board fishing vessels. Resulting from these meetings, vessel and contact
details were obtained.
For vessels affiliated to the ISWFPO observers were placed onboard through
direct liaison with the ISWFPO. For KFO and IFPO members observers were
placed onboard through direct contact with the vessels concerned. Medical
(ENG 11 and Personal Survival Techniques (STCW 95) certification for each
observer were supplied to vessel owners prior to observers going onboard. To
ensure the anonymity of participating vessels it was agreed to ascribe to each
vessel a numeric code.
Observer duties onboard vessels
The principal duties of the observer were to record spatial and temporal data
on fishing operations, incidences and identification of cetacean bycatch,
estimates of catches of targeted species and record incidences of non cetacean
bycatch including fish and megafauna. Additional duties included catch
sampling of commercial catches and conducting watches for the incidence of
cetaceans while in transit, searching for fish and in area surrounding fishing
operations.
Spatial and temporal data was taken from the wheelhouse GPS and consisted
of the time of shooting and hauling and global position of each of these events
and other environmental data.
Observation of catches was made from the deck or the wheelhouse of the
vessel according to which station offered the most comprehensive view. This
is an important point with safety and practical considerations. Safety
considerations take into account the dangers of heavy machinery on an
unstable platform and the demands that the safe operation of these make on
crew and observers alike. Practical considerations dictate that a deck
segmented by raised hatches and machinery may not afford the best view of
fishing operations to an observer who must by necessity stand apart from
them. On all vessels that took observers onboard deck operations were either
6
visible directly from the wheelhouse or by closed circuit television monitors
in the wheelhouse. Fishing took place with single pelagic trawls and pair
pelagic trawls. For catches taken by the partner vessel to the observer vessel,
observations were made from the wheelhouse of the observer vessel and
through radio contact with the other vessel.
Observers were supplied with personal protective equipment, identification
keys for marine mammals and fish, measuring boards for length sampling of
catches and data collection sheets for recording details of each fishing
operation on the trip. (Data collection sheets are shown in Appendices 1-4).
For the albacore tuna fishery catch at length data collected are to be included
in the national fishery report to International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the assessment body for Atlantic
tunas.
7
Results
Fishing Effort Observed
Observations were made for a total of 19 vessels over 15 trips on pelagic pair
trawl teams or single pelagic trawlers. This encompassed 90 days at sea and
75 days fishing. A total of 85 fishing events or hauls were observed either
directly or indirectly. There were 58 hauls made to an observer occupied
vessel, the primary vessel, and 27 hauls made to the partner vessel in a pair
trawl team (PPT). Only three of the vessels operated as single pelagic trawlers
(SPT). Vessel lengths ranged from 22 to 62 meters overall length. ICES sub-
areas covered extended from VIa southwards to VIIg with observer effort in
these areas being dictated by availability of berths on boats and development
of fishing effort in each area. The coverage of observer objectives is shown in
Table 2. Details of hauls are shown in Table 3.
Table 2. Total coverage by month targeted and achieved.
Month
Area
Targeted
Days at Sea
Achieved
Days at Sea
% Coverage
Achieved
Aug-Oct Albacore 30 34 113%
Oct-Nov VIIg - 7 -
Dec VIa, VIIb, VIIh+j 25 16 64%
Jan VIa, VIIb, VIIh 30 20 67%
Feb-Mar VIa,b, VIIc,g,h+j, VIIIa 65 13 20%
Total
150 90 60%
Table 3: Summary table of GMIT observer coverage of pelagic fisheries from August 2012 to March 2013
Trip
Number Duration Year Primary Vessel Partner Vessel
Days
at
Sea
Days
Fishing
No.
Hauls
Primary
Vessel
No.
Hauls
Partner
Vessel
Target
Vessel
ICES
area
Gear
Type
Cetacean
Bycatch
Observed/
Reported
1 Aug 9th to Aug 17th 2011 Vessel 1 Vessel 4 9 8 4 3 Albacore
Tuna VIIk2 PPT 0
2 Aug 11th to Aug
19th 2011 Vessel 6 Vessel 15 9 7 5 0*
Albacore
Tuna VIIk2 PPT 0
3 Aug 25th to Aug 31st 2011 Vessel 3 Vessel 16 7 7 6 5** Albacore
Tuna
VIIj2,
VIIk2 PPT 0
4 Aug 25th to Sep 2nd 2011 Vessel 4 Vessel 1 9 9 6 7 Albacore
Tuna
VIIj2,
VIIk2 PPT 0
5 Oct 30th to Nov 1st 2011 Vessel 11 Vessel 17 3 2 3 1 Herring VIIg PPT 0
6 Oct 31st to Nov 1st 2011 Vessel 9 Vessel 13 2 2 1 1 Herring VIIg PPT 0
7 Nov 6th to Nov 8th 2011 Vessel 13 Vessel 9 3 2 1 1 Herring VIIg PPT 0
8 Dec 9th to Dec 11th 2011 Vessel 10 none 3 2 2 NA Horse
Mackerel
VIa,
VIIb SPT 0
9 Dec 14th to Dec 20th 2011 Vessel 5 Vessel 19 7 7 5 3** Horse
Mackerel VIa PPT 0
9
Table 3 continued: Summary table of GMIT observer coverage of pelagic fisheries from August 2012 to March 2013
* haul was split between vessels
** Positional data not available
Trip
Number
Duration Year Primary
Vessel
Partner Vessel Days
at
Sea
Days
Fishing
No.
Hauls
Primary
Vessel
No.
Hauls
Partner
Vessel
Target
Vessel
ICES
area
Gear
Type
Cetacean
Bycatch
Observed/
Reported
10 Dec 14th to Dec 18th 2011 Vessel 7 none 5 4 4 NA Horse
Mackerel
VIa SPT 0
11 Jan 7th to Jan 10th 2012 Vessel 2 none 4 4 4 NA Horse
Mackerel
VIa,
VIIb
SPT 0
12 Jan 8th to Jan 16th 2012 Vessel 7 none 9 8 6 NA Horse
Mackerel
VIa SPT 0
13 Jan 11th to Jan 14th 2012 Vessel 8 Vessel 14 4 3 3 1 Mackerel VIa PPT 0
14 Jan 17th to Jan 19th 2012 Vessel 12 Vessel 18 3 2 1 1 Mackerel VIa PPT 0
15 Feb 26th to Mar 9th 2012 Vessel 5 Vessel 19 13 8 7 4 Boarfish VIIb,
VIIj2
PPT 0
Totals 90 75 58 27 85 tows in total
10
Spatial Coverage of Fisheries Spatial Coverage extended to five ICES areas and 27 statistical rectangles (Fig.
1). The majority of coverage took place in ICES areas VIa, VIIj 2 and VIIk 2,
the areas where fishing for horse mackerel, albacore and boar fish was
concentrated (Fig. 2).
Figure 1. ICES Areas and ICES statistical rectangles covered during GMIT
observer coverage of pelagic fisheries from August 2012 to March 2013
11
Fisheries Coverage
Horse mackerel and albacore were the most the effectively monitored
fisheries. In the case of albacore we were greatly assisted by the direct
intervention of the fish producer’s organisation. For both albacore and horse
mackerel, trips had the same ports as points of departure and landing and this
facilitated placing observers on board.
The albacore tuna fishery operated from Castletownbere, Co Cork and Dingle,
Co Kerry with fishing taking place in ICES areas VIIk 2 and VIIj 2 from the 9th
of August to the 2nd of September. The location of observed fishing hauls and
catches are shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Horse mackerel trips were secured through direct contact with boat owners
and skippers with all trips departing from and finishing in Killybegs, Co
Donegal. Fishing operations were concentrated in ICES area VIa and VIIb in
December and January.
One trip of thirteen days in February was observed for boarfish with the point
of departure being Killybegs and the landing port being Skagen in Denmark.
Fishing operations took place in ICES areas VIIb and to a much lesser extent
in VIIj 2.
Three observed trips for herring were made from Cork in October and
November to ICES area VIIg.
Mackerel trips were limited to two trips of three and four days in January in
ICES subarea VIa.
Difficulties in achieving the targeted coverage stemmed primarily from:
• Boats operating from overseas ports for extended periods with
consequent difficulty in maintaining communications.
• Short notice of departure.
• Shortage of berths for observers on individual boats
• Unwillingness to take observers onboard.
12
Figure 3. All observed fishing hauls, by species, covered during GMIT observer
coverage of pelagic fisheries from August 2012 to March 2013.
13
Figure 4. Distribution of observed fishing catch during GMIT observer coverage of
pelagic fisheries from August 2012 to March 2013.
Mackerel
Celtic Sea herring
Albacore tuna Horse mackerel
Mackerel
14
Figure 4 (cont). Boarfish hauls observed during GMIT observer coverage of
pelagic Fisheries from August 2012 to March 2013.
Incidental capture of cetaceans
No cetacean bycatch was observed during any of the 80 hauls reported. This
zero rate of bycatch comprises an indicative 2.9% of the combined national
quotas for all fisheries for which there was observer coverage. Coverage was
highest for albacore and horse mackerel at 11.5% and 6.2% of national quotas
respectively. Coverage for boarfish was 2.4% of the national quota but this is
in the context of an increase of 148% from 2011 to 2102.
Herring coverage was 1.3% of the quota for the Celtic Sea. This is in a context
where for technical reasons on one of the three trips observed no catch was
landed. These technical reasons are described as errors in targeting and gear
malfunctioning.
Observer coverage of the mackerel fishery was less than one percent of the
national quota of almost 55,000 tonnes.
These data are presented in Tables 5 and 6.
15
Table 5: Observer coverage as percentage of quotas for each species.
Quota
Year
2011
quota
2012
quota
2011 quota 2012
quota
2011/2012
quota1
Month Albacore Boarfish CS Herring Mackerel Horse
Mackerel
Grand
Total
1 445 742 1187
2 340 340
3 1000 1000
8 351 351
9 57 57
10 252 252
11 155 155
12 1510 1510
Est. Catch
tonnes
408 1340 155 445 2504 4852
Quota 3553 56666 12115 54956 40361 167651
% Quota 11.48 2.36 1.28 0.81 6.20 2.89
Bycatch 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 average of 2011 and 2012 season
Table 6. Fishing effort over hauls with complete data sets.
Species Albacore Boar Fish Herring Mackerel Scad Total
No. Hauls 22 12 8 6 21 69
Catch (tonnes) 408 1340 155 445 2504 4852
Total Decimal
Hours Towed 66 41 10 8 87 211
Average catch
per haul tonnes 18.6 111.7 19.4 74.2 119.2
mean 68
t/haul
Average catch per
decimal hour tonnes 6.2 32.9 15.1 55.0 28.9
mean
55t/dh
Cetacean bycatch 0 0 0 0 0 0
Avian and other megafauna bycatch
There was no avian or other megafauna bycatch observed. Other bycatch of
ETP (Endangered, Threatened or Protected) species such as large marine
turtles, that have previously been recorded as bycatch in pelagic fisheries,
were not observed.
16
Sightings of Cetaceans
A total of 59 sightings of at least eight cetacean species were recorded during
this study comprising an estimated 314 individuals. Sightings were
concentrated around the Porcupine Seabight where albacore catches were
made in August. Sightings data is displayed in Table 7 and Figures 5 and 8.
Most sightings were of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), with at least 18
sightings, but many of the unidentified large baleen whales and large whales
were most likely of this species. The only other mysticetes positively
identified were minke whales, (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) with four sightings.
The most frequently sighted odontocete was common dolphin (Delphinus
delphis) with seven sightings of a total of 194 individuals. Long-finned pilot
whales, (Globicephala melas), were the second most frequently recorded species
but five other odontocete species were also recorded including killer whales,
(Orcinus orca), and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). Only killer whales
were recorded interacting with the target fishery, feeding it is thought on
mackerel being targetted by the observed fishery. Common dolphins were
reported bow-riding fishing vessels but not interacting with the fishery. All
other sightings of cetaceans were observed either in transit to the fishing
grounds or on the fishing grounds, but not interacting with the boat or
apparently with the fishery.
Other species positively identified included harbour porpoise, (Phocoena
phocoena), and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). The sightings of
harbour porpoise were notable in that neither were coastal with one sighting
made off the shelf edge at the Porcupine Seabight.
Observed fishery interactions were restricted to a pod of killer whales
(estimated at 20 animals) on 17 December 2011 associating with a large fleet of
pelagic trawlers and pelagic factory trawlers targeting mackerel north of the
Butt of Lewis. Elsewhere in much less favourable sighting conditions killer
whales were in sighted from the 7 January to 10 January 2012 again in the
vicinity of the mackerel fleet. This confirmed fishing industry information of
killer whales associating with mackerel fleets in this area at this time of year.
Images of killer whales with pelagic freezer trawlers in the background from
the 17 December 2011 are shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7.
For boarfish there were no sightings associated with fishing activity or indeed
throughout the trip and this was with and a highly experienced observer and
under favourable fishing conditions.
17
There were no reported sightings of cetaceans during herring fishing
operations. Bottlenose dolphins were sighted in transit from the fishing
grounds. These were short trips where a considerable portion of the time
onboard was during hours of darkness or in otherwise unfavourable sighting
conditions.
Table 7. Observer sightings of cetaceans by odontocete and mysticete species
Species No.
sightings
Est. no. of
animals
Group size
(mean)
Area Comments
Odontocetes
Harbour
porpoise 2 5 5
Offshore from
Dingle and
Porcupine Seabight
Definite id
Common
dolphin 7 194 4-100 (36)
Coastal to
Porcupine Seabight
Sighted in passage and
bowriding while in
passage
Bottlenose
dolphin 1 5 5
Coastal Mine Head
Area Sighted in passage
Long-finned
pilot whale 4 24 1-10 (6)
Porcupine Seabight
and shelf south of
Cork
On fishing grounds but
not interacting with fishing
Killer whale 1 20 20 Shelf Edge, West of
Donegal
Associating with mackerel
fishery
Sperm
whale 1 1 1 Porcupine Seabight
On fishing grounds but
not interacting with fishing
Mysticetes
Fin whale 18 28 1-5 (1.6) Porcupine Seabight On fishing grounds but
not interacting with fishing
Minke
whale 4 4 1 Porcupine Seabight
On fishing grounds but
not interacting with fishing
Unidentified
large whale 1 1 1 Porcupine Seabight
Very large blow from long
range
Unidentied
large whale 13 20 1-3 (1.5)
Porcupine Seabight
and Shelf west of
Kerry
On fishing grounds but
not interacting with fishing
Unidentified
whale 7 12 1-23 (1.7)
Porcupine Seabight
and Shelf west of
Kerry
Passage and fishing
grounds but not
interacting with fishing
Totals 59 314
18
Figure 5: Observer sightings of odontocete species August 2011 to January
2012. Species include common dolphins, long finned pilot whale, bottlenose
dolphin, killer whale and sperm whale. Please note scaling differences
between maps.
19
Figure 6. Killer whales with pelagic freezer trawlers in the background
north of the Butt of Lewis at approximate location is 59°18’N, 6°20'W on 17
December 2011.
Figure 7. The same killer whale pod as above with block from observer vessel
in foreground on 17 December 2011.
20
Figure 8. Observer sightings of mysticete species August 2011. The most
frequently sighted species were fin whales with a smaller number of sightings
for minke whales. Sightings of unidentified large whales are also presented.
21
Separated Fish Bycatch, commercial and non-commercial
Commercial bycatch separated and retained from the target catch was
restricted to bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius).
Bluefin tuna bycatch was in compliance with the regulations of the EU multi-
annual recovery plan for blue fin tuna1.
Separated non commercial bycatch from the albacore fishery was composed
of sun fish (Mola mola), black fish (Centrolophus niger) and rough pomfret
(Taractes asper). Incidences of such bycatch were low. This confirms the
related experience of fishermen that when targeting is effective the incidence
of bycatch of any kind is low. It is worth noting that observers onboard
commercial fishing vessels provide information on the spatial and temporal
distribution of these species and other species that might not otherwise be
recorded and that this in itself is a considerable justification for observer
schemes. Two blue shark (Prionace glauca), described as small were caught
and discarded in the Celtic Sea herring fishery. Data for separated bycatch is
presented in Table 7.
Table 7. Separated fish bycatch from GMIT observer programme
1 Council Regulation (EC) No 302/2009 of 6 April 2009 concerning a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, amending Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1559/2007