The response to the recent British consultation on spatial management measures for industrial sandeel fishing highlights the importance of a science-driven approach in managing sandeel fisheries. By incorporating precautionary measures and considering ecosystem needs, stakeholders aim to ensure the sustainable management of sandeel fishing while protecting the marine environment. The current management system for sandeel fishing is based on scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). This advice emphasizes the need for precautionary measures and sets catch quotas to safeguard sandeel populations and the wider ecosystem. By adhering to this advice, stakeholders demonstrate their commitment to responsible and sustainable fishing practices.

The current scientific support and certifications

The sandeel fishery management receives scientific support from reputable sources such as ICES. Comprehensive assessments, along with certifications like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and MarinTrust, validate the precautionary nature of the current management approach. These certifications ensure that the fishery operates in an environmentally friendly manner, with minimal impact on the ecosystem. The advice provided by ICES is widely recognized as scientifically sound, considering factors such as fish population abundance, status, and the overall impact of fishing on the ecosystem. Additionally, the ICES advice, which is considered the authoritative source for EU fisheries, sets quotas based on a robust management strategy evaluation that incorporates precautionary measures. The sandeel fishery management prioritizes the preservation of sandeel populations consumed by predators, aligning with the needs of the ecosystem. To ensure food availability for all sandeel predators, the sandeel natural mortality is predicted and set at a sufficiently high level, in line with ecosystem-based advice. The ICES advice recommends reducing fishing pressure when the sandeel stock falls below safe biological limits, such as the MSYBtrigger for long-lived stocks and Bescapement for short-lived stocks. For sandeel, the ICES MSY strategy, known as the bescapement strategy, aims to maintain a specific amount of fish (Bescapement) in the sea for the subsequent spawning season, rather than applying a constant fishing mortality rate. By avoiding excessive fishing pressure on large biomass and leaving smaller biomass unfished, this management strategy minimizes density-dependent declines in sandeel recruitment and mitigates potential impacts on other species. The Bescapement level ensures less than a 5% risk of negatively affecting recruitment in the following year. Furthermore, the biomass is predicted while considering the consumption of sandeel by fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, ensuring that natural predator mortality takes precedence over fisheries mortality. If achieving Bescapement becomes unattainable in a particular year, the closure of the fishery is recommended. Additionally, in years of exceptionally high recruitment, fishing mortality is capped to reduce pressure on large year classes. This management strategy aims to minimize density-dependent declines in sandeel recruitment, as well as the potential impact on other species, by avoiding excessive fishing pressure on large biomass and leaving smaller biomass unfished.

Looking Ahead

Ongoing scientific assessments, led by ICES, aim to establish a benchmark for the sandeel industry. Stakeholders recognize the importance of incorporating the latest scientific advice into future management decisions. Pending the release of updated ICES advice, MID has advocated that maintaining the current management strategy is recommended, ensuring decisions are based on the most up-to-date and comprehensive scientific assessments. MID has also advised that there is a limited or negligible likelihood of any direct positive outcomes or improvements in the ecosystem  resulting from the full closure of industrial sandeel fishing in English waters within the North Sea. This is primarily due to the fact that the existing management practices already adhere to the ICES ecosystem-based advice, which takes into account the ecosystem’s needs and ensures sustainable fishing practices. A balanced approach, considering scientific evidence, stakeholder consultation, and sustainable management strategies, will ultimately contribute to the ongoing preservation of the sandeel fishery and the surrounding ecosystem.

The European Commission has just published the 2023 edition of the European Blue Economy report. This report is the annual flagship publication, and gives an overview of how the economic sectors in EU have performed in relation to oceans and the coastal environment.

The 2023 version highlights the evolution of the blue economy sectors since 2010, and shows that despite negative impacts of the COVID19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, most of the analysed sectors increased their economic performances. The new edition includes now a chapter on the Energy Transition in the Blue Economy, and a section dedicated to Climate Change and Coastal Impact.

Finally, the European Blue Economy report will be connected to and incorporated into the EU Blue Economy Observatory, which offers more frequent and dynamic updates to the blue economy data.

Read more and find the full report here.

On Thursday 8^th June (10:00 am to 11:15 am), Food Nation organizes a Global Food Talk on “how can the seafood sector contribute to healthier and more sustainable food systems?”. This online event highlights where and how the fishing, aquaculture and processing sectors can be significant drivers towards securing a reliable and sustainable supply of seafood to consumers worldwide. Speakers from FAO, DTU AQUA, Tænketanken Hav, Oxyguard and Royal Greenland will debate on the two following topics:

• How do we ensure sufficient sources of protein for everyone?
• How can innovative solutions in the seafood sector drive the transformation towards a safe and reliable food system for current and future generations?

If you would like to attend this event, please sign up here.

Vi skal indledningsvist udtrykke vores undren over, at vi ikke er medtaget på høringslisten, da den foreslåede ændring primært vedrører fiskeforarbejdningsvirksomheder og vi har haft en lang forudgående dialog med Energistyrelsen og Klima-, Energi- og Forsyningsministeriet om det problem, at fiskeforarbejdningsvirksomheder ikke har adgang til støtte under Erhvervspuljen.

I svarbrev til os fra Margrethe Vestagers kabinet af 4. oktober 2022 (vedlagt) fremgår, at gruppefritagelsesforordningen (1388/2014) for fiskeri giver mulighed for denne støtte i medlemslandene, herunder i dansk fiskeindustri, og som du ved, har vi har stillet os helt uforstående over for, at denne EU-hjemmel først nu omsættes i en dansk bekendtgørelse, når muligheden har eksisteret i hele erhvervspuljens levetid. Det har sat fiskeindustrien bagud i energiomstillingsmuligheder i forhold til andre forarbejdningsvirksomheder, herunder også fødevareforarbejdnings- og fodervirksomheder, som vi er i direkte konkurrence med. Vi har vedvarende påpeget dette og bedt om, at der rettes op herpå – især i perioden med voldsomt høje udgifter til energi.

Vi hilser det naturligvis velkomment, at små og mellemstore fiskeforarbejdningsvirksomheder og fiskeauktionshaller nu inddrages under bekendtgørelsen, så de opnår samme adgang til tilskud til energibesparelser, energieffektiviseringer og CO2-reduktioner som alle øvrige erhvervsvirksomheder.

Men vi skal kraftigt opfordre til, at også store virksomheder medtages i bekendtgørelsen og altså i udkastet til ændret bekendtgørelse. I det omfang der stadig mangler afklaring i forbindelse med anmeldelse af denne støtte til EU-kommissionen, kan dette skrives ind som et simpelt forbehold i bekendtgørelsen, der således umiddelbart vil kunne ophæves ved en korrektion i retsinformation, når svaret fra EU-Kommissionen er modtaget, og der er afklaret herom.

Når det alene beror på en formel godkendelse fra Kommissionen, forekommer det helt unødvendigt at skulle gennemføre endnu en revision af bekendtgørelsen, med den procestid og det tab af muligheder, der vil følge heraf. Vi skal stærkt opfordre til, at også store virksomheder medtages i den nuværende bekendtgørelsesændring, og vi ser ingen tvingende grunde til, at dette ikke straks kan iværksættes (med et formelt forbehold for anmeldelsen). Det virker helt urimeligt på denne måde at sætte store virksomheder yderligere bagud.

Dette var også det klare tilsagn fra departementschef Lars Frelle på vores møde den 2. februar i år.

For det andet skal vi opfordre til, at alle muligheder for tilbagevirkende kraft overvejes og medtages i bekendtgørelsen. Vi har haft EU-statsstøtte-hjemmelen til tilskud fra Erhvervspuljen i hele puljens levetid, men vi har ikke kunnet opnå tilskud, alene fordi Energistyrelsen først på dette stærkt forsinkede tidspunkt har taget initiativ til at udmønte muligheden for fiskeindustrien i bekendtgørelsen. De virksomheder, der allerede har gennemført projekter til energiomstilling, men som efterlever alle indholdsmæssige krav, bør derfor have mulighed for at kunne tilgodeses. Især de høje energiomkostninger sidste år bevirkede, at mange virksomheder ikke havde realistisk mulighed for at udskyde investeringerne i evt. forventning om senere at kunne opnå tilskud. De var tvunget til at investere.

Vi forventer, at Energistyrelsen udviser imødekommenhed på de to nævnte forhold henset til de muligheder, som vi i fiskeindustrien i den mellemliggende periode er gået glip af, men som vi siden 2014 har haft grundlag for at gøre brug af i EU’s statsstøtteregler.

On 1^st May 2023, Gaëtane Le Breuil started her new position at Marine Ingredients Denmark and European Fishmeal and Fish Oil Producers as EU consultant. Gaëtane is an agronomist with a specialization in agri-food economics and policies. Before moving to Denmark, she worked five years at the French federation of agri-food cooperatives as policy advisor. “I’m really glad to join EFFOP and MID to highlight to policymakers that industries are already on the path to sustainability and drive decision-making processes in the right direction. Fishmeal and fish oil are important sources of protein, needed today and even more tomorrow, and are part of the blue circular economy. There are many good stories to tell.”

Food Nation launched a new white paper Seafood – Denmark is a Leading Hub for Sustainable Production and Innovation within Fisheries and Aquaculture on April 25^th at The Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, ​​Spain.

The white paper focuses on sustainable solutions and innovative technologies within fisheries, aquaculture, and processing.

Marine Ingredients Denmark attended the launching event and has also contributed to this work by highlighting how fishmeal and fish oil producers play an important role in shaping a sustainable food supply and strengthening a blue circular economy.

You can read more about the contribution of fishmeal and fish oil to the Danish food approach where one man’s waste can be another man’s treasure here or in the paper version (p.31-33).