Commercial Fishing
The Solent is a mixed sea fishery and the fishing effort varies between a number of different commercial species throughout the year. The inshore waters have an important role as a nursery area for bass, with specific areas identified for protection, and for a range of other fin-fish and shellfish.
There are 140 commercial fishing vessels registered to berths in the Solent (IFCA, 2011):
- Hamble – 17
- Cowes – 5
- Bembridge - 20
- Yarmouth – 13
- Langstone – 25
- Portsmouth – 33
- Lymington – 14
- Sussex – 13
Shellfishing is one of the main types of fishery in the Solent. The most significant shellfishery is for the native oyster which represents the largest self-sustaining stock in Europe, however this fishery has been in decline for the last ten years. Commercial Clam digging for the Manila Clam also takes place throughout the year.
Fisheries Management
The Marine and Coastal Access Act, reformed inshore fisheries management in England by replacing Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs) with Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCA) in April 2011. The Solent lies within the Southern IFCA. The aim of these Authorities is to 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. IFCA district boundaries will extend inland, aligning themselves with local authority boundaries. IFCA committees will be formed of representatives from unitary and upper tier local authorities. The Marine Management Organisation, Environment Agency and Natural England will each have a statutory seat. The other representatives will be appointed by the Marine Management Organisation and include members with the skills and knowledge to representative the fishing industry (recreational and commercial) and environmental interests.
Ideally, fishing activities would take from each stock no more fish than can safely be removed without inhibiting the stock's capacity to spawn and to bring in young fish to the stock. Conservation lies at the core of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), and measures aimed at calculating safe levels of capture and ensuring that they are respected are among the main measures under this policy. Setting total allowable catches (TACs) means fixing the maximum quantities of fish that can be landed from a specific stock over a given period of time. TACs are set on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, but final power of decision rests with the Council of Fisheries Ministers. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has responsibility for managing the English commercial fishing fleet. The Agency operates a national restrictive licensing scheme for UK commercial fishing vessels which is designed to control the capacity and fishing activities of the UK fleet. This is intended to bring catching effort into better balance with fishing opportunities.
The JNCC and Natural England have launched a Fishing Coalition for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This new alliance represents much of the UK fishing industry and will provide a vital point of contact for Government and nature conservation organisations as they work with the industry in developing the growing network of MPAs. With the government required by European law to introduce a network of MPAs by the end of 2012, streamlined, efficient communication between all parties is essential.
