New Succorfish technology trials at Lyme Bay are success... says Defra
Trials show that new technology is allowing South West fishermen to continue to fish in their local area while protecting the marine habitats in Lyme Bay, it was revealed today. The news was revealed by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman and Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon who visited a group of fishermen in West Bay, Dorset, who took part in the Marine Management Organisation (MMO)trials that were launched earlier this year, funded by Defra. By rolling out technology to help fishermen prove that they are not fishing in vulnerable or protected areas, local fishermen can continue to operate in less sensitive areas of Lyme Bay rather than stopping fishing in the area altogether. The local Lyme Bay fishermen, who are the first to trial a GPS positioning system similar to that used by lorry drivers, are able to prove exactly where their vessel is operating at all times. They can therefore prove that they are not fishing in areas of Lyme Bay that have been closed to bottom trawling to protect the seabed from possible damage. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: “This groundbreaking equipment proves just how innovative the UK fishing industry is. “By embracing new technology it shows that the sector is ready and able to respond positively to the need to protect the marine environment while continuing to make a living from the sea. “Fishermen in the area have been central to the development of this solution, and we hope to see this local involvement continue.” Following the MMO’s evaluation of this trial, expected in Spring 2012, the Government hopes that fishermen around the country will be able to adopt this new technology to help ensure that fishing can continue to take place without damaging sensitive marine habitats. The Environment Secretary and the Fisheries Minister also travelled to Samways Fish Merchants in Weymouth. The MMO recently awarded Samways a European Fisheries Fund grant totalling £362,460. This money will be used by the local company to expand their processing business in Bridport and develop their products further. Work has only just begun on the project, and the upgrade to their facilities will provide: Improved quality and monitoring systems; Increased ability to provide high value niche products; Reduced environmental impact; Quicker delivery of local landings to market; and Increased production capacity and efficiency. The project will also enable the company to sustain the existing level of employment and create six additional full-time jobs. Caroline Spelman added: “I am delighted this funding has been awarded to help Samways grow and create more jobs in the local area.”

Environment Minister Richard Benyon releases a Written Ministerial Statement on Marine Conservation Zones
Environment Minister Richard Benyon today made the following Written Ministerial Statement: As part of the Government’s commitment to implementing in full the provisions of the Marine and Coastal Access Act, we are creating a network of national protected areas in British seas to ensure our underwater wildlife flourishes in years to come. We are clear that looking after the wildlife and habitat in our seas is just as important as looking after those on land. The Government’s first step to identifying new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in English waters was taken forward through four regional MCZ projects managed by the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, who are Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The regional projects provided their recommendations for proposed sites for MCZs on 8 September. These have been reviewed by the independent Science Advisory Panel (SAP) and their advice to the SNCBs and Defra is being published today on Defra’s website. The Marine and Coastal Access Act requires the establishment of a network of conservation sites in the UK marine area. In English waters the network will comprise European Marine Sites, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, sites designated under the Ramsar Convention and Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). The Act requires that the network must conserve or improve the UK marine environment and protect a range of representative features. The regional MCZ projects have done excellent work in bringing stakeholders together and making site recommendations, but it is clear from the SAP’s advice that there are a number of gaps and limitations in the scientific evidence base supporting the MCZ recommendations. It is important that we get this right. It is vital that we have an adequate evidence base for every site if we are to create successful well-managed MCZs. An adequately robust evidence base will be essential when we come to implement management measures. Defra will therefore be commissioning significant additional work to support MCZ designation including an in depth review of the evidence base for all the regional projects’ site recommendations and committing additional resources to carrying out seabed and habitat monitoring. Protecting our marine environment is essential and the Government remains fully committed to establishing MCZs to contribute to an ecologically coherent UK network. However, the need to strengthen the evidence base for the MCZ recommendations means this is going to take longer than the ambitious target first put forward. We are likely to be able to designate some MCZs fairly quickly where the supporting evidence is adequate. However, for others we anticipate that more investigation will be needed before they can progress towards designation. Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee will provide the MCZ impact assessment and their formal advice in July 2012. This is six months later than previously planned and this revised timetable will enable them to address the recommendations from the Independent Review of the Evidence Process for Selecting Marine Special Areas of Conservation (published July 2011) and take account of any further evidence obtained from the work that Defra is now commissioning. We will give careful consideration to all the advice received before undertaking formal public consultation on MCZs by the end of 2012. This consultation will include all sites recommended by the Regional Projects with clarity on how and when work on them will be taken forward. It is envisaged that the first MCZ designations will take place in 2013. Defra and delivery partners will work together ensuring that early management measures are put in place to provide effective levels of protection for designated sites and continuing to build the evidence base for future designations. Defra will also take the opportunity, working with stakeholders and SNCBs, to look at other marine features which may benefit from spatial protection. This phased approach to designation will also allow more scope to shape the English network taking account of sites being considered by the devolved administrations and neighbouring Member States.

Commercial fishermen and representatives from many marine related organisations make the Succorfish Seafish SC2 demo event in Brixham a huge success.
For photos from the event go to: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=209177802486632&id=234207763286253

Fishing News reports Succorfish on track to open closed areas...
As reported in Fishing News Magazine (14th Oct 2011), Succorfish is on track to open ‘closed’ areas. From offices located in the historic North Shields fishmarket and overlooking the mouth of the River Tyne, Succorfish has developed an extremely accurate integrated global tracking and secure communicating unit that has the capabilities to become invaluable to fishermen. Developed in close liaison with Seafish, the SC2 will enable vessels to accurately map and monitor their position using dual GPRS/GSM software to within one metre. By showing a vessel’s exact plot, as well as recording when the fishing gear was used or securely stored on deck, the SC2 will help skippers to fish tight up to MPAs and MCZs secure in the knowledge that they are not encroaching on closed areas that otherwise would result in hefty fines. Managing Director Richard ‘Chad’ Hooper established Succorfish in 2006 at Tynemouth, where he spent the first two years on an extensive Research and Development programme. The Company’s name is derived from the Latin word Succor, meaning assistance in times of distress, to which the suffix fish was added. Commercial production and sales of the SC1, a GSM based mobile tracking system, commenced in 2008. Having been approached by the Irish Coastguard to manufacture a tracking device suitable for mounting in the compartment of outboard motors used on high speed RIBs, from the outset the device was designed to be compact and able to withstand the harshest operating conditions with regard to vibration, heat, motion and seawater. Extensively trialled by members of the South West Inshore Fishermen’s Association fishing in Lyme Bay, the low cost fit and forget SC2 unit complies with current UK fishing laws and uses real time satellite and mobile phone technology, as well as online tracking software, to monitor and record the course and position of vessels via up-to-the-minute reporting. Information is then relayed back to a password protected website where users can view their personal data through a graphical user interface. In addition to British fishing vessels, Succorfish are already supplying SC2 units to boats of another ten Countries faced with similar challenges of sustaining commercial fishing in close proximity to areas of the seabed deemed environment sensitive. Manufactured in America to exacting standards with internal transmitting antenna, the SC2 is a unique and powerful monitoring system with the capabilities to support a wide range of applications beneficial to fishermen, including a MOB Alert and Rescue System that is currently being developed. George Henricks, Commercial Director of Succorfish said, “We have worked very closely with industry representatives and listened long and hard to all of the stakeholders who have participated in the inshore VMS trial. All of those parties have a common goal in that they want to see the long-term security of both the marine environment and the livelihoods of the fishermen. Therefore, by designing and developing a product like the SC2, we can directly support the industry and make huge strides towards achieving its goal.”

Inshore VMS Demonstration Event for new SC2 VMS....
An Inshore VMS Demonstration Event is to be held at Brixham Fishmarket on Thurs 27th Oct 2011. The purpose is to show the new advanced SC2 technology and vessel monitoring system that have been developed and tested as part of the Defra funded Inshore VMS project (MF1214). The Project trialled new mobile phone communication technology to address issues of monitoring and controlling access to Inshore Marine Protected Areas. All interested parties including individual commercial fishermen can learn more about the technology and see for themselves how it works. The event will be very hands on with plenty of opportunities to see the VMS working in real time and a participating fishing vessel will be giving tours whilst demonstrating the technology. The Event will also see the official launch of the Graphical User Interface (GUI), a bespoke web site developed to securely manage personal data in a format that will ultimately improve efficiency. We hope to attract all interested groups from inside and outside the UK. Contact Richard Caslake at Seafish on 01736 362625 or e-mail r_caslake@seafish.co.uk

A new, hi-tech global tracking device that could revolutionise the way the commercial fishing industry operates is to be officially launched following a series of successful trials across the South West of England. Succorfish has worked closely with Seafish to design its newest and most advanced vessel monitoring system; the SC2. It has been developed specifically for the fishing industry and will allow vessels to accurately map and monitor their position using dual GPRS/GSM software to within one metre, provides closer access to marine protected areas such as Lyme Bay whilst avoiding hefty fines previously incurred when breached, and improve and increase overall inshore fishing activity. The low cost device complies with current UK fishing laws and uses real time satellite and mobile phone technology, as well as online tracking software, to monitor and record the course and position of vessels via up-to-the-minute reporting. Information is then relayed back to a password protected website where users can view their personal data through a graphical user interface. And, with new EU legislation being introduced in 2012 that will force all 12m-15m vessels to have monitoring systems with satellite reporting, the SC2 is now being regarded as the cost effective solution to a worldwide fishing industry problem. Additionally, for vessels 15m and over, the product is also e-log ready and directly interfaces with a specialist, state-of-the-art catch reporting software system via a global satellite network. Nick Prust, SWIFA Chairman and owner of one of the vessels that took part in the trials commented, “This is the solution that the industry has been looking for and the system will be a real asset to fisherman regardless of their fishing methods. It will give us continued access to fishing grounds with spatial and temporal restrictions whilst allowing us to co-exist alongside newly proposed MPA’s.” George Henricks, Commercial Director of Succorfish added, “We have worked very closely with industry representatives and listened long and hard to all of the stakeholders who have participated in the inshore VMS trial. All of those parties have a common goal in that they want to see the long-term security of both the marine environment and the livelihoods of the fishermen. Therefore, by designing and developing a product like the SC2, we can directly support the industry and make huge strides towards achieving its goal.” The SC2 has been developed in conjunction with Seafish and CEFAS following a 12 months pilot project to monitor the UK’s inshore fishing activity. It has been funded by Defra as part of its remit to undertake economic and social research in the marine environment and overseen by representatives from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Natural England, Devon Sea Fisheries Committee, the South West Inshore Fishermen’s Association and the UK Marine Protected Areas Coalition Group. Succorfish has appointed Selex as the exclusive UK distributor for the SC2 within the commercial fisheries sector. To pre-order products, please contact Andrew Masson on t | 01346 518 187 or e | andrew.masson@selexelsag.com

The shelf life of fresh fish could be extended thanks to new Succorfish technology...
The shelf life of fresh fish could soon be extended by up to a day thanks to new Succorfish technology that allows fishermen to sell their catch to retailers and suppliers while still out at sea. Industry body Seafish has developed a new vessel monitoring system (VMS) in partnership with Succorfish over the past 18 months and is now planning to run a three to six-month pilot with retailers and foodservice companies in September or October. The system they have developed is more compact and cheaper than existing technology making it suitable for smaller boats. It also provides information about boats back to the shore more accurately and frequently. All vessels over 15m are currently fitted with a VMS device, which broadcasts their position at sea every two hours using satellite technology. However, the boats' fishing activities are recorded in a paper logbook, with fishermen having to return to shore and go through an auction process before being able to sell their catch. The new Seafish/Succorfish system instead uses mobile phone technology, which is much cheaper than satellite and offers email integration and electronic logbooks. The system will also communicate back to the shore every two minutes instead of the current two-hour interval. "When the fisherman deploys his gear, he can record his catches while still at sea and email it to his sales agent or buyer," said Jon Harman, business development director at Seafish. With fish being sold more quickly, their shelf life could be extended by half a day to one day, Harman added. "It's about making the supply chain more efficient," he said. "Some boats have eight to 12 hours' steaming time, and then they have to auction their catch, so there's lots of time lost at the moment. The quicker you can sell through the system, the more shelf life you get." Current VMS systems typically cost £3,000 to £5,000, but the Seafish/Succorfish technology would cost about £1,000 per boat, Harman said. Its other applications include more accurate data collection for scientific purposes and more sophisticated man-over-boat warning systems. Tracking software could also be used for geo-fencing environmentally sensitive fishing areas, with boats' positions and fishing monitored closely. Succorfish is currently testing 40 units of the new technology around the UK.

Succorfish is pleased to be supporting the Fishstock Festival in Brixham (10th Sept 2011)
See http://www.fishstockbrixham.co.uk/

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) publishes the first edition of its new statistical report The UK Fishing Industry in 2010: Structure and Activity.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) publishes the first edition of its new statistical report The UK Fishing Industry in 2010: Structure and Activity today. The report includes detailed data about the size and composition of the UK fishing fleet, the number of fishermen and UK fishing activity during 2010. The statistics also include new coverage of fishing effort in the Cod Recovery Zone and Western Waters. The report will inform and complement government policy and, in conjunction with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) help inform changes to the Common Fisheries Policy. Overall, the statistics reveal that there were 16 per cent fewer vessels in the UK fleet than in 2001, with fishermen numbers falling by around 2,300. The number of days spent at sea by over 10 metre vessels have fallen by 37 per cent over the same period. The statistics are being released in advance of the compendium publication UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2010 in late September in a drive to provide data to the public as soon as they are available. A further report on UK catches and landings will be issued in late August. See http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk