Draft National Bass Policy

7/31/2019 Draft National Bass Policy

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DraftNationalManagementPolicyforAngling,

ConservationandProtectionofBass

PreparedbytheBassPolicyGroup

March2012

VersionDraftV0.4


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DOCUMENTCONTROLSHEET

NameofDocument:DraftNationalManagementPolicyforAngling,Conservationand

ProtectionofBass

Author(s): BassPolicyReviewGroup

AuthorisedOfficer: Dr.CiaranByrne

DescriptionofContent: DraftnationalpolicyonBass

Approvedby:

DateofApproval:

Assignedreviewperiod: 3years

Dateofnextreview:

DocumentCode IFI/2012/1-4093

ThisdocumentscomprisesTOC Text Listof

tables

ListofFigures No.

Appendices

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VersionControlTable

VersionNo. Status Authors(s) Reviewedby Approvedby Dateofissue

V0.1 Draft BassPolicy

ReviewGroup

IFISnrMgt

Team

IFISnrMgt

Team

27thMarch

2012


ReviewGroup

IFIBoard IFIBoard 29thMarch

2012


ReviewGroup

DCENR Mr.Denis

Maher.PO

DCENR

18thApril2012


ReviewGroup

IFINational

Forum


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TableofContents

Background 1

PolicyDevelopmentProcess 1

BassPolicyGroupObjective 2

CurrentBassManagementandProtectionRegime 2

StrategicPolicyAreas 2

Management 2

Protection/Conservation 3

StockAssessment 4

Education/Promotion/Communication 5

Bibliography 7

Appendix1(TermsofReferencefortheSeaBassPolicyGroup) 9

Appendix2(BassinIreland) 10


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BassPolicyReviewGroup

DraftManagementRecommendations

Background

BassisanextremelyimportantmarinesportanglingspeciesinIreland.ThesteepdeclineinbassstocksinIrelandinthemid-1970s,whichwasattributedbyanglersandtheCentralFisheriesBoard,tooverexploitationinathenunregulatedfishery,andtemperatureregulatedfluctuatingrecruitmentpatterns, resulted ina severedeclineof therenowned Irishbass anglingresource.Ultimatelythedeclineledtothecessationofthecommercialfisheryin1990toconservestocksthroughtheBass(Conservation of Stocks) Order, 1990. Since then bass have been regarded solely as an anglingspeciesandarerestrictivelymanaged.BassistheonlymarinespeciesinIrelandtobemanagedforangling.Inrecentyearsbassanglingtourismindices,includingincreasesinthenumbersofspecialistserviceprovidersandinfrastructure,suggestthatsomeofthepotentialofthesectorisnowbeingrealised.

Forthepastthreeyearssignificantattentionhasbeenfocussedonthepotentialofre-openingthebassfisherytoIrishcommercialfishingvessels.ThisarosefromtheperceivedimprovementinbassstocksinIrishwatersandcommentaryfromthecommercialfishingindustryregardingthelevelofbassdiscardingby alimitednumberof Irishboats. Otherfactorswere(a)limitationson thefleetduetoEUquotarestrictionsonmanyotherfishspeciesand(b)thefactthatUK,FrenchandothervesselsfishinginthesameareasasIrishvesselswerepermittedtolandbass.InNovember2011theMinister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, who has responsibility for the Irish fishing fleet,announced that hewouldnot allow commercial fishing for bass in the Celtic Sea and was notproposingchangesatthistimetocurrentarrangementsinrelationtobassfishing.RecentscientificadvicefromICESrecommendednoincreaseinexploitationlevelsacrossthewiderfishery.

Againstthisbackgroundandintheabsenceofanationalpolicyonbass,InlandFisheriesIreland(IFI),the statutory body which is tasked with advising the Minister for Communications, Energy andNaturalResources,onpolicyandnationalstrategiesrelatingtoinlandfisheriesincludingseaangling,formedtheBassPolicyGrouptoundertakethedevelopmentofadraftnationalpolicyonBass(ToRinAppendix1).Nopolicydocumenthasbeenpreparedspecificallyforbasspreviously.

PolicyDevelopmentProcessAn iterative consultative process, following IFIs ProcedureonPolicyDevelopment, involving,atdifferent stages, the IFI management team, IFI Board, DCENR, National Inland Fisheries Forum,statutory consultees and ultimately the Minister will result in the development of this nationalpolicy.Thereforeallsectorswillbeconsultedintheprocess.Itisintendedthatthepolicywillbe

reviewedin3-5years.PolicyimplementationproposalswillbedevelopedbyIFIinconsultationwiththerelevantauthoritiesandagencies.

TheBassPolicyGroupwasMichelHennessy(IFI,Macroom),DavidMcInerney (IFI,Clonmel),Dr.NiallMaoilidigh(MarineInstitute),ShaneOReilly(IFI,Swords),JohnQuinlan(anglingguideandIrishBassGroup)andDr.WilliamRoche(IFI,SwordsandChairman).SecretarytotheGroupwasSandra Doyle. The Group met on four occasions: 26/10/2011, 28/11/2011, 19/12/2011 &16/2/2012.ThisdraftdocumentwasunanimouslyagreedbytheGroup.Rationalmanagement of any resource requires development of effective coordinated policies toguidethemanagementprocessandimplementappropriatemeasures.Someofthebroadstrategic

directionsandmeasures outlined in this policydocumentwill requireresourcing.With significantbudgetary constraints facing all levels ofgovernance forthe foreseeable future, prioritisation for


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implementation of policy and actions will be required following assessment of overall sectoralbudgetaryandresourcepriorities.Thedevelopmentofasustainablebassresourcepolicyshouldberegardedasanopportunitytodemonstratebestuseofthenationalbassresource.

BassPolicyGroupObjective To develop a policy that will ensure the conservation and protection of bass and their

aquatichabitatandfacilitateslongtermsustainableeconomicandsocialbenefitforIreland

CurrentbassmanagementandprotectionregimeManagementofthebassfisheryinIrelandisprimarilydeliveredthroughfisheryregulations.ApartfromtheclosureofthecommercialfisherylegislationalsoprohibitsthetakingofbassusingnetsandIrishfishingboatsmustnothavebassonboardorengageintransshipmentofbass.Therecreationalanglingfisheryhasalsobeenheavilyregulated-abaglimitof2bassper24hrdayappliesinadditiontoaminimumsizelimitof40cm.Theanglingfisheryisclosedfrom15thMayto15thJunetoprotectspawningfish.Itisalsoprohibitedtosellorofferforsaleanybass(otherthanbasswhichhasbeen

importedintotheState).Protectionof thebass resource is currently delivered by IFI authorisedofficers andSea FisheriesProtectionAuthorityofficersundertheSeaFisheriesandMaritimeJurisdictionAct2006.Since2011IFI officers have beenauthorised to function as Sea Fisheries ProtectionOfficers to enforce thestatutory provisions in the control of fisheries for bass within Irish territorial seas and internalwaters. Enforcement of bass legislation by IFI officers involves land, estuarine and sea patrolsutilising a variety of boats, vehicles and surveillance equipment targeting priority locations andtimes.InrecentyearsseizuresofillegalnetsandtheircatchhavebeenmadeandsmallnumbersofillegallycaughtbasshavebeenconfiscatedbyIFIstafffromanglers.

STRATEGICPOLICYAREAS

Management

BasswillbemanagedsustainablytomaximiseitspotentialcontributiontotheIrisheconomy

BassisanimportantcomponentofIrelandsmarinebiodiversityandhassignificantpotentialinsocio-economicterms.Itisavaluableandimportantsportanglingspecieswhichhasbeenmanagedasananglingspeciessince1990andshouldcontinuetobemanagedaccordingly.NationallybassmustbecomeidentifiableasaspeciesonaparwithIrelandsexistingpriorityanglingspecies.

Thelackofdataforsustainablemanagementjustifiestheprecautionaryapproachandtherequirement to continue with the management status quo for Irish bass stocks. AcommercialfisherycannotbejustifiedastheconservationstatusofbassinIrelandislargelyunknown. The rapid decline of bass stocks in Ireland during the 1970s and its apparentfailuretorecovertopre-fisherylevelsdespitethecessationofthecommercialfisherysince1990 highlights the species vulnerability. ICES advice is consistent and advocates theprecautionaryapproachtolimiteffort,particularlywheredataarelimited.

Policiesshouldaimtomanagetowardsdevelopingasustainablestocki.e.thestockshouldmeetarequiredbiologicalreferencepoint(e.g.aconservationlimit)andanysurplusabovethisisavailableforthefishery.


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Anassessmentofthesocio-economicvalueofbasstotheIrisheconomymustbecarriedouttodetermineitscurrentvalue,andtoscalethelevelsofengagementandinvestment(publicandprivate)requiredtofullydevelopitspotential.Thisstudywillalsoprovideabaselinetomeasureprogressinsocio-economicpolicyperformance.

A key policy aim is to restore levels of abundance to those observed in the 1960s.Managementmeasurestoincreasetourismanglingrevenueshouldfocusonincreasingtheabundanceofallbassandspecificallybass>3kg(circa15yearsold).Enhancedmanagementhas the potential to consistently produce bass of this size giving Ireland significantcompetitiveadvantageinEurope.

Protectionofexisting bass angling revenuemust be a policy focus.This canbe achievedthroughbetterprotection,higherMinimumLandingSizeMLS)andreduceddailybaglimits.Operating on a precautionary basis, (which applies where stock data are limited),amendmentstoexistingbassanglingregulationsarerecommendedtoeffectgreaterlevelsofconservationonstocks.

o IncreasedMinimumLandingSize(MLS )from40to50cmtotallength(approx.1kg)to protect the youngest spawning cohorts from exploitation thus contributing toincreases in population size. The increased size limit is an attractive marketingprospectwhichalsosupportssustainabilityandfurtherpromotesthealreadywidelypractisedcatch-andreleaseaspectofthefishery.

o Reduced Daily Bag Limit from 2 to 1 fish in any 24 hour period to reduceexploitation. Thereafter catch and release would operate. Voluntary catch andrelease is widely practised in the bass fishery. Development of a best practiseguidelinesarerequiredtominimiseanymortalityduetopoorhandling.

o ReviewBassClosedSeasoncurrently15May15JuneandidentifiedasthebassspawningperiodinIreland.Scientificliteratureindicatesthatthespawningperiodcommencesearlier.Therevisedpolicyrecommendationisthatmandatorycatchandreleasewould apply over the full extent of thepotential spawning period ratherthanthecurrentclosedseasonwindow.ThepeakofspawningisovertheApril-MayperiodandtheGrouprecommendthisrevisedwindow.

o No-killzonesidentifywhere localstocksarevulnerableorlimitedandinvestigatewhereano-killpolicycouldbeoperated.

Funding funding must be sourced to manage and protect bass. The public sector willdeliverfundingwithinthelimitationsofexistingconstrainedbudgetsandresourcesandthe

privatesectorwillinvestingoodbusinessopportunitieswheresustainabilityisassured.

Protection/ConservationBassanditshabitatwillbeprotectedandconserved,undertheexistingandanyrevisedlegislative

framework,inamannerwhichmaximisessustainableeconomic,environmentalandsocialbenefitsto

allstakeholders

IFI andSFPAmust jointly developclearnationaloperationalguidelines,basedon national

policy,reflectingtheresponsibilitiesandlegislativerequirementsofbothbodies,todeliver

effective,efficientandconsistentprotectionofthebassresource.Neworrevisedlegislationshouldbeintroducedwhererequired.


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Investigatetakingofprosecutionsonascaled/gradedbasisusingon-the-spotfinesorthe

existing District court route for lesser offences thus removing /limiting DPP involvementfromtheprocess.MajorcaseswouldbeprosecutedunderSFPAlegislationthroughtheDPP.

IFImanagementshoulddevelopabassspecificprotectionstrategywhichallowsforstrategicassessmentandfocussesonhighriskperiodsforillegalfishingbasedonreliableintelligence.Identificationandinvestigationoftransportation,storageandpointofsaleofillegallycaughtbassshouldbecoreelementsofthisstrategy.

Bass protection activity must be visible in the community to demonstrate delivery offunctionandprotectionofasharedbassresource.

Adequateresourceswillberequiredtosustainabassprotectionservicewhichmustincludestaffandequipment,legalresourcesandsupportforforensicinvestigations.

At a high level stakeholders should be encouraged to engage fully with the protectionservicethroughexistingroutesandcontacts,andanynewanglernetworks,toadviseonsuspected illegal activity and assist in targeting available enforcement resources. On abroader scale the IFI 24-hr hotline should bewidely advertised as ameans of reportingillegalactivityinrelationtobass(andothermarinefish)aswellasfreshwaterfish.

The extent and impact of all bass exploitationmethods (poaching, angling, beach-lines,spear-gunfishingetc)requiretobemeasured.Irelandisobligedtoprovidedataonbasslandings in therecreationalanglingbass fisheryunder theEU DataCollectionFramework(DCF) toensure adequate data on fish stocksandtheir fisheries are collected tosupportscientificmonitoringandstockassessment.IFIwastaskedwithcollectinganglinglandings

datain2011.Thescaleofthelesswell-knownfisherieslikebeach-linesorspear-gunfishingisunknownbutitislikelythatlargebasscouldbeefficientlytargetedbyspear-gunfishers.

Closure of priority bass nursery areas juvenile bass aggregate in inshore areas forapproximately5yearspriortotheirspawningmigrationandmaybevulnerable,asbycatch,tocommercialfishingactivityandangling.Closureofprioritybassnurseryareastoallfishingactivity would protect undersized bass and contribute to conservation of the spawningstock.

Traditionalornewfisheries(e.g.inshoreherring/mulletfisheries),whichmaygeneratelargebassby-catchinpriorityhabitat,mustbemappedandanypotentialimpactmeasured.

Biosecurity anglers must adhere to guidelines on control of invasive species (plants,animals etc) which may be imported from other jurisdictions or locations to limit anypotentiallynegativeimpactonbassoritshabitat.

Stockassessment

Sustainablebassmanagementwillbeunderpinnedbyaregularbassstockassessmentprogramme

Regular stockassessmentsmustbeundertakentoprovide thenecessaryscientificdatatomanage the bass resource. These assessments should allow evaluation of pre-adult

(juveniles)andadultstockstatus.InthemediumtermtheecologyandbiologyofIrishbassshould be investigated to provide an understanding of current stock dynamics and to


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contribute to thedevelopment of predictive tools for stock assessment. Parallel outputsshouldincluderefiningtheissuesofstockdefinitionandstocksize.StudieswouldincludegeneticsandtaggingelementstorefinecurrentunderstandingofwhatconstitutestheIrishbassstock.

Thescale,scopeandfundingrequiredtodeliverthisbaselinestockassessmentprogrammemustbeidentified.Thebaselinewillprovideabasistomonitorchangeandalsotodeveloplong-termstockassessmentproceduresformanagementandreporting.

BassAnglerCatchCensusSchemeanglersasprimarystakeholdersintheIrishbassfisheryshouldbeencouragedtoreportcatchesforscientificmanagement.Scientistsrequirecatchreturnstoprovidebasicstockassessmentinformationwithwhichtoevaluatethestatusofstocksand toassess the level of sustainabilityof theresource. Fisherymanagers requirescientificadvicetoconserve,protectandmanagefisheriesrationally.Experiencehasshownthatanglersresponsibilityandinterestinmanagementisincreasediftheyarecontributingto theoverallmanagement function. Initially reporting canbe achieved by introducinga

voluntary catch report, similar to the UK based BASS scheme, whichwould encourageanglerstoengageinanglingfisherydatacollectionandfurtherincreasethegenerallyhighlevelofawarenessofanobligationtoreportandconserve.

Identificationanddesignationofprioritybassnurseryareasmustbeundertaken.Thesedataare essential to ensure that this habitat canbeprotected from potentially harmful land-basedorinshoredevelopmentworks,poorwaterqualityorsimilarthreats.

Education/Promotion/Communication

The economic, environmental and social benefits of sustainable bass stocks will be effectively

communicated

Governmentanditsagenciesmustgainabetterunderstandingoftheexistingcontribution(fromthe proposed socio-economicstudy)andpotentialof sustainablebassstocksto thedomesticeconomy,andparticularlytoregionaldevelopment.Bestvaluetotheeconomywillbe achievedby recreational bass angling tourismoperatingon theexisting precautionarybasis.Recreationalbassanglingrevenuehasbeenshowntobeworthmultiplesofthefirst-hand sale value of commercially caught bass. Visiting angler tourism generated 105mrevenuein2009andaconservativeestimateof28%ofthesevisitorswereseaanglers.

Stakeholdersandthewiderpublicshouldbeinformedoftheeconomic,healthandsocialbenefits oftheexistingbass recreational anglingfisheryandthepotentialwhichcouldbederived from an abundant bass stock supporting a well-managed fishery. The potential

contributionofsuchactivitytolocalheritageandasenseofpublicwell-beingshouldalsobeemphasised.

Education and enforcement programs should focus on encouraging positive changes inpublicattitudestowardsdevelopingastrongerconservationethos.

Encourage/supportdevelopmentof localbass informationnetworkswhichwouldprovideinformation on bass distribution, catches, etc. through liaison (two-way) with localprotectionofficers.Stakeholdersshouldberoutinelyinvolvedinsurveyingtosupportstockassessments. Non-destructive sampling of adult bass is often best achieved by angling.Angler network groups should be set up to monitor and report catches and to support

survey programmes. Involvement of stakeholders confers a level of stewardship for the


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resource andwill encourage responsibility in terms of contributing todata collection formanagement.

The angling tourism sector, particularly IFI and Failte Ireland, should continue to worktogether,toidentifyneeds/areasforgrowthandimproveinformationandinfrastructurefor

domesticandtouristanglers. AguidetothecurrentunderstandingofthestatusandbiologyofbassinIrelandshouldbe

produced.TheaimofthisguidewouldbetopresentthecurrentstateofknowledgeaboutbassinIrishwatersinanaccessibleformat.


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Bibliography

Anon.,2007.TheStockBook.MarineInstitute,November2007.

Anon.2011.AtlasofDemersalDiscarding,ScientificObservationsandPotentialSolutions,MarineInstitute,BordIascaighMhara,September2011.ISBN978-1-902895-50-5.82pp.CentralFisheriesBoard,1985.StrategiesDocument.CentralFisheriesBoard,Dublin.DataCollectionFramework(DCF)-CommissionRegulation(EC)No.665/2008ofthe14July2008DARDNI(2010)ConsultationPaper-ProposalsfortheintroductionofRegulationsfortheProtection

andConservationofSeaBass.2ndJune2010to24thAugust2010FailteIreland(2009)TourismFactsAngling2009.

Fitzmaurice,P.1978.Someobservationsonthelifehistoryofbass Dicentrarchus labrax(L.)IrishSpecimenFishCommittee:Reportfortheyear1978:36-52.

Fritsch,M.,Morizur,Y.,Lambert,E.,Bonhomme,F.andGuinandB.2007.Assessmentofseabass

(Dicentrarchuslabrax,L.)stockdelimitationintheBayofBiscayandtheEnglishChannelbasedonmark-recaptureandgeneticdataFisheriesResearchVolume83,Issues2-3,pp123-132.

ICES.2002.ReportoftheStudyGrouponBass(WGBASS2002).ICESCM2002/ACFM:11.ICES.2004a.ReportoftheStudyGrouponBass(WGBASS2003),Lowestoft,England,August2003.

ICESCM2004/ACFM:04.73pp.ICES2011.WidelyDistributedandMigratoryStocks-EuropeanSeabassintheNortheastAtlantic-

AdviceSeptember2011.9.4.23IFI,2011.PolicyDevelopmentGuidelines.IFI,DublinKennedy,M.andFitzmaurice,P.1972.Thebiologyofthebass,Dicentrarchuslabrax,inIrishwaters.

JournaloftheMarineBiologicalAssociationoftheUnitedKingdom,52:557597.MarineInstitute,2009.2009ScientificAdviceonSeaBass.MarineInstitute.

Marine Times, 2011. Coveney rejects sea bass commercial fishing proposal. Marine Times,November2011.

Pawson, M. G., Kelley, D. F., and Pickett, G. D. 1987. The distribution and migrations of bass

DicentrarchuslabraxL.inwatersaroundEnglandandWalesasshownbytagging.JournaloftheMarineBiologicalAssociationoftheUnitedKingdom,67:183217.

Parker-Humphreys,M., 2004. Distribution and relative abundance of demersal fishes from beam

trawl surveys in the Irish Sea (ICES division VIIa) 1993-2001. SCIENCE SERIES TECHNICALREPORTNumber120LOWESTOFT.


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Pawson,M. G., Pickett, G. D., Leballeur, J. Brown, M., and Fritsch, M. 2007. Migrations, fisheryinteractions,andmanagementunitsofseabass(Dicentrarchuslabrax)inNorthwestEurope.ICESJournalofMarineScience,64:332345.

Pickett, G. D., Kelley, D. F., and Pawson, M. G. 2004. The patterns of recruitment of bass,

DicentrarchuslabraxL.fromnurseryareasinEnglandandWalesandimplicationsforfisheriesmanagement.FisheriesResearch,68:329342.

UKBassSociety(2004)AReviewoftheRecreationalandEconomicStatusofBass( Dicentrarchuslabrax)inEnglandandWalesandProposalsforRevisedManagementoftheUKBassFishery-Report prepared by the BASS Restoration Committee For Submission to Defra, the UK

GovernmentandtheDevolvedAdministrations

WalmsleyS.andArmstrong.M.(2011)TheUKcommercialbassfisheryin2010.CEFASreport.Warnes,S.andJones,B.W.1995.SpeciesdistributionsfromEnglishCelticSeagroundfishsurveys,

1984to1991.MINISTRYOFAGRICULTURE,FISHERIESANDFOODDIRECTORATEOFFISHERIESRESEARCHFISHERIESRESEARCHTECHNICALREPORTNUMBER98,LOWESTOFT.


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Appendix1.TermsofReferencefortheSeaBassPolicyGroup

InlandFisheriesIreland(IFI)isanationalauthorityestablishedundertheInlandFisheriesAct2010.

The authority replaces the Central Fisheries Board and seven Regional Fisheries Boards. UnderSection7.1(b)&(c)ofthisactInlandFisheriesIrelandistaskedwithadvisingtheMinisteronpolicy

andnationalstrategiesrelating to inland fisheries including seaangling. To facilitatethis IFIhas

formedagroupusing internal andexternalexperts tosupport thedevelopmentofadraftpolicyon

SeaBass.ThemembershipofthegrouphasbeenapprovedbytheCEOandBoardofIFI.TheSea

BassgrouppolicydocumentwillbeconsideredbyIFIsManagementandBoard,IFIsNationalForum

andtheDepartmentofCommunicationsEnergyandNaturalResources,priortosubmissiontothe

Ministerforconsideration.ThisisinlinewiththeIFIPolicyDevelopmentProcedurewhichdefinesthe

processtobeusedindevelopmentofnationalinlandfisheriespolicies.

ThefocusoftheIFISeaBassPolicyGroupistodevelopapolicythatwillensuretheconservationandprotection ofSeaBassand theiraquatic habitat,whilealso facilitating longtermsustainablesocial

andeconomicvalueforallstakeholders.Thepolicywillfollowthebestprecautionaryprincipleswhile

beingcognisantofenhancingandconservingtheenvironmentforallspecies.

InpolicydevelopmenttheSeaBasspolicygroupshallhaveregardtothefollowing:-

(a) Bestpracticeinternationally;

(b) Obligations on Inland Fisheries Ireland under national, internationaland European legislative measures (e.g. Habitats Directive, Water

FrameworkDirective);

(c) Government policies and the legislative, budgetary and financialcircumstancesofIFIandthewiderinlandfisheriessector;

(d) Corporateandothergovernanceobligationsrelevanttothesector;

(e) How the private sector could best contribute to the promotion ofeffective conservation, management, development, and sustainable

exploitationoftheinlandfisheriesresource;

The Sea Bass policy group should consider the developmentofpolicies for themanagement and

development of Sea Bass angling and the conservation and protection Sea Bass. The group is

requested toconfine itswork tothe development ofpolicy. The implementationofpolicywillbe

consideredbyIFIatalaterstage.

TheSeaBassPolicyGroupwillbechairedbyDr.WilliamRoche,SeniorResearchOfficeratInland

FisheriesIreland.

Thegroupwilldeveloppolicythroughdiscussionandconsensus;itisexpectedthatapolicydocument

willbedeliveredtoInlandFisheriesIrelandwithin3monthsofthegroupsfirstmeeting.

Date:21September2011


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Appendix2.BassinIreland

Ecology-bassarealong-lived,primarilyinshorefeeding,shallowwaterspeciesthatcanliveforupto 25 years. Female bass achieve first sexualmaturity between 6-8 yearsold at about40 cm in

length.Theminimumlandingsize(MLS)is40cmwhicheffectivelyallowsbasstospawnatleastonceand contribute to recruitment. Irish bass spawn offshore and display high levels of fidelity tofeeding sites returning regularly to the same areas each year after spawning. Bass spawninglocationsareunknowninIrelandalthoughbasseggshavebeenrecordedofftheKerry,CorkandWexfordcoasts.

StockDefinition - evidence from tagging studies/seasonalmovement andgenetic studies suggestthat Irish bass should be regarded as a discrete stock for management purposes. The limitedcorrespondence between strong year-classes in Ireland and the UK previously emphasises thisdiscretenessbetweenstocks.

BassStockStatus/StockAssessment-bassarenotmanagedbytheEUundertheCommonFisheriesPolicyandnoformal(i.e.ICES)stockassessmentshavebeencarriedoutonbassinIrelandto-date.ICESalsostatethatdataareinsufficientinthewiderNortheastAtlanticArea,whichincludesIreland,toevaluatethestatusofbassandthat,onaprecautionarybasis,catchesshouldnotbeallowedtoincreasein2012.IrelandisobligedtoprovidedataonlandingsintherecreationalbassfisheryundertheEUDataCollectionFramework(DCF)toensureadequatedataonfishstocksandtheirfisheriesarecollectedtosupportscientificmonitoringandstockassessment.NoneoftherequireddataarecurrentlyavailabletoassessthestatusoftheIrishbassstock.DataforIrelandarelimitedtopreviousestuarinesurveysofjuvenilebass(fromtargetedstudiesandspuriousby-catch studies) and limited angling catch data which have not demonstrated any substantiveincrease in bass stocks. Anecdotally, bass numbers have improved somewhat, which wouldreasonablyhavebeenanticipatedgiventheclosureofthecommercialfisherysince1990.Anglingindustryrelated indicesover thepastdecadeincluding increases inthe numberof specialistbassangling guides and specialist angling accommodation and serviceproviders, particularly in primebass angling venues/centres, allied to increased coverage of thebass anglingproduct in anglingmagazinesindicatethatthefledglingnationalbassanglingindustryisdeveloping.Thereisgreaterawarenessofthe Irishbassanglingproductanditspotential. Thesedevelopmentswouldindicatethatbassstockshaveimprovedsince1990tosuchaleveltheycansustainthislevelofanglingandtheassociatedinvestmentinanglingtourisminfrastructure.In2011FailteIrelandidentifiedbassasapriorityspeciesformarketing.Commercial fishery - Irish territorial waters extend for 12 nautical miles (nmi) from the coastalbaseline.UK,FrenchandBelgianvesselsfishinthewiderExclusiveEconomicZone(EEZ)extendingfor200nmiandalsoexercisetheiraccessionrightstothe612nmizoneofftheIrishcoast.Theseboatscan landbass inhomecountries.Recentdatashowthatinternational landingsofbassfromshared fishing areas off the Irish coast are not significant. For example, evidence from UK basslandingsshowthatonly2.3%oftotallandingsof719tonnestakenbyUKvesselsin2010weretakenintheCelticorIrishSeaareas.The2010total landings,firstsalevaluewas5.1million,were thehighestlevelofUKbasslandingsovertheperiodforwhichdataareavailable(1984-2010).Meanannualbasslandingsbetween1984and2009intheUKwere71t.CommercialfishingforbassbyIrishvesselsisprohibitedsince1990.PriortothisIrishvesselscouldtakebassinallwatersincludinginsidethe6nmilimit.Pre-1990whennorestrictionsappliedatotalof4tonnesofbasswaslandedinIrelandoverasevenyearperiod.Morerecently,statisticaldatahasshownthatfewbasswereencounteredbytheIrishfleet.DiscardmonitoringbyMIoverthepast15


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yearshasrecordedinsignificantnumbersofbasstakenbytheIrishfleet;atotalof60fishoutof>2milliondiscardsmeasuredoverthisperiodwerebass.ThesedatashowthatoffshorebassstocksarelimitedofftheIrishcoast.Overthepastdecadetherehasbeenasubstantialincreaseintheconsumptionofbass.Thedemand

forbassasafoodproductisadequatelysatisfiedbyimportsoffarmedbass.

Recreationalangling fishery - therecreational angling fisheryoperates in all Irish inshorecoastalwatersbutprimarilysouthofa linefromDundalktoGalway.Itisayearroundfishery,apartfromthe closed season, which provides an important recreational outlet and generates substantialrevenueinmany differentcoastal locations.No catchor landingsdata arecurrently availablebutanglingis regarded asa relativelyinefficient capturetechnique.Over thepast decadecatch-and-releasehasbecomeafeatureofthefisheryasanglersoperateonamoreconservation-orientatedbasis.AlimitedsurveyrecentlyundertakenbyIFIestimatedthatapproximately70-80%ofbassarereleased.

Noempiricalsocio-economicdataareavailablefortheIrishfisherybutbasedonasimplistictourismrevenuemodel a conservative figure of 18million per annum is estimated from a preliminarysurvey.ThevalueofthisfisheryinEnglandandWaleswasestimatedtoexceed100millionperannumin2004.Theabsenceofacommercialfisheryprovidesacompetitivemarketingadvantagefor the angling tourism sector in Ireland and the management approach adopted by the IrishGovernment in 1990 is widely regarded as an excellent example of sustainable fisheriesmanagementwithinthesector.

Illegalfisherytheextentoftheillegalfisheryisdifficulttodeterminebutitisbelievedtooccuratspecificvenuesontheeast,southandsouth-westcoasts.Inshoregillnetsarethefavouredmethodandsomeseizureshavebeenmadeinthepast.Itissuspectedthat2fishdailybaglimitisexceededbysomeanglersbutdetectioncanbedifficultgiventheexpanseofcoastlineinvolved.SinceAugust2011IFIofficershavebeenauthorisedtofunctionasSeaFisheriesProtectionOfficerstoenforcethestatutory provisions in the control of fisheries for bass within Irish territorial seas and internalwaters.


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Documents

Draft National Bass Policy