Mud.Fish, fishing and fisheries management in the

Severn Estuary

Dr Elizabeth (Libby) RossSenior Environment Officer

Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

Severn Estuary Forum, Bristol 2015

What is an IFCA?

Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities will lead, champion and manage a sustainable marine environment

and inshore fisheries, by successfully securing the right balance between social, environmental, and economic

benefits to ensure healthy seas, sustainable fisheries and a viable industry.

IFCAs replaced Sea Fisheries Committees as the statutory managers of inshore fisheries (commercial and recreational) out to the 6nm line. There are 10 regional IFCAs around England’s coast with a shared vision:

Devon and Severn IFCA

• The Authority comprises of representatives from Local Authorities (12 members), statutory agencies (3 members) and MMO appointees (14 members)

• MMO appointees span commercial fishing, recreational fishing, academic and conservation interests

• 4,522 km2 of sea• 1,314 km2 of coastline• 9,141 km2 of land• 1,110 km2 of Marine Protected Areas

The Severn Estuary – how do we define it?

From a fisheries perspective• Fish distributions in

estuaries; constantly changing

• ‘Migratory’ applies to nearly all fish in estuaries

• Estuary use – feeding, physiological/ energetic, behavioural

For purposes of today’s talk – extending to Minehead

What do fisheries look like?

Not in the Severn!

Why are Severn Estuary fisheries different?

• Not because there aren’t any fish!• Estuarine fish populations typically less stable

than fully marine environment• Tidal Range – excludes many methods which

allow fishing on a commercial scale economically viable

• Fish diversity – limited consumer demand • Dynamic estuary environment -dangerous• Restrictions due to sensitive species &

habitats• Perceptions e.g. pollution & heavy metals

But fisheries DO exist

Photos: By kind permission, Nigel Phillips, Somerset Wildlife Trust

Seven Characteristics of Severn Estuary fisheries 1. Unique methods have evolved

Seven Characteristics of Severn Estuary fisheries 2. Great heritage value

Seven Characteristics of Severn Estuary fisheries 3. Temporally very variable

Seven Characteristics of Severn Estuary fisheries 4. Small scale

Recreational = valuable

• 5% of the population in the South West are sea anglers

• Total direct spend of £1.23 billion in England in 2012

• Directly supports 10,600 jobs

Seven Characteristics of Severn Estuary fisheries 5. High levels of recreational activity

Seven Characteristics of Severn Estuary fisheries 6. Hard to detect

“Estuarine habitats are unique in that in addition to being important in their own right, they also provide links between other marine,

coastal, freshwater and terrestrial areas…..Changes within estuaries, therefore will ultimately affect the health of sea fisheries”

Elliot 2002

Seven Characteristics of Severn Estuary fisheries 7. Part of a much wider system

Key Messages

1. Severn Estuary fisheries are different. Traditional methods of measuring the ‘value’ of fisheries aren’t easily applicable. This does not mean that

fisheries do not exist, or that they are not important.

2. The Severn Estuary is linked to a much wider system. We must always apply an ecosystem approach to the management of fish stocks and

fisheries which extends well beyond the various reported estuary extents.

Future IFCA work

• Further work to map and understand fisheries• Bass PhD – distribution of nursery areas within the Severn

Estuary and distribution and ecology of other life-history stages

• Ray distribution and ecology, movement between Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel – tagging programmes

• Habitat and fisheries interactions in sensitive habitats• Assessment of new Burnham, Berrow and Brean Angling Zone• Netting consultation for new permitting byelaw

Thank you

www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uke.ross@devonandsevernifca.gov.uk

Twitter: @DevonSevernIFCA

Thanks to Nigel Phillips, John May and Roy Igglesden for additional photos