UK brown crab and European lobster - pot/trap

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Overview

Project UK is working towards an environmentally sustainable future for UK fisheries by running Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) on 12 UK fisheries that have been selected by the UK seafood supply chain. They were selected due to their importance for the UK market.

Project UK has been developed in response to the demand from the supply chain, retailers, industry and NGOs. The project will commission an MSC pre-assessment to inform and develop an action plan for each fishery, which will identify improvements.

The UK Western Channel and Celtic Sea: Brown crab and European lobster pot and trap fisheries are comprised of both the inshore and offshore, whereby smaller vessels (mainly under 10m) operate closer to the coast and larger vessels split time between the two marine areas.

Fishery management jurisdiction is organised on two different scales around England. Beyond 6 nautical miles, DEFRA and the MMO are responsible for managing crab fisheries whereas from the coast out to 6 nautical miles, responsibility lies with the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs).

No TACs are set for the Western Channel & Celtic Sea edible crab fishery or the Southwest lobster fishery. 

Total landings of crab were around 8,000t for the areas covered by the Western Channel stock assessment for each of the years 2013-2015, comprising 5,000t from the UK, 2,000t from France, and 1,000t from the Channel Islands.  Landings for the Celtic Sea stock assessment area are estimated at 3,000t, comprising 2,000t from the UK, and 1,000t from Ireland. 

Total landings of lobster have been at between 200t and 300t for the area covered by the Southwest lobster stock unit for each of the years from 2006-2013.

FIP Description 

Project UK is working towards an environmentally sustainable future for UK fisheries by running Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) on 12 UK fisheries that have been selected by the UK seafood supply chain.

FIP Objective(s) 

By April 2023, the FIP aims to address the following:

  • Meet the 80+ score for each MSC performance indicator within 5 years (April 2017- 2022) and be able to enter MSC full assessment. 
  • Support fisheries with the tools to implement changes and ensure their sustainable future as they move towards MSC certification
  • Follow the step by step definition of a credible FIP involving four key stages, each with associated tools & support mechanisms:
  1. Undertake MSC pre-assessment
  2. Develop an action plan for improvement
  3. Implement actions & track progress
  4. Enter full MSC assessment
  • Address and aim to improve all principle indicators scoring below 80 across the MSC as determined in the pre-assessments 
  • Use the model to establish a 'FIP conveyor belt' to identify, improve and certify UK fisheries
  • Track progress consistently and transparently, producing review reports on an annual basis using a consultant body

 

FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 5: Improvements on the Water
Start and Projected End Dates
April 2017
April 2023
Update 
The FIP has been severely impacted by Brexit and Covid-19, which has affected the legislative regime the fishery operates in and the ability for Steering Group members to attend Steering group meetings and deliver on actions set out in the FIP's action plan.
Next Progress Report Due 
Friday, June 30, 2023
Species 
Common Name 
European Lobster
Scientific Name
Homarus gammarus
Common Name 
Brown Crab
Scientific Name
Cancer pagurus
Gear Type 
Pot/Trap
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 27 (Atlantic, Northeast)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)
Geographic Scope 
Western Channel (VIIe) (Crabs & lobster), VIIf and part of VIIg (Lobster only)
Country Flag of Vessel 
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
6,151 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
11,450 metric tons
PrintPDF

FIP at a Glance

32% 68%
April 01, 2017
7% 25% 68%
Progress Rating (A) Advanced Progress

Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

(B) Good Progress

A basic FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within 12 months.

(C) Some Recent Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has reported a Stage 3 activity within the first 12 months.
(D) Some Past Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months BUT has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old AND a Stage 3 activity has been reported within six months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
(E) Negligible Progress
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old, with no Stage 3 activity reported in the last six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months with no Stage 3 activity reported within 12 months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF
A Advanced Progress
Actions Complete

This pie chart represents completed environmental actions. Non-completed environmental actions may contain completed sub-tasks that are not illustrated here. For more information on environmental action progress visit the Actions Progress tab.
  • Complete
  • Incomplete
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Jun 2023
Target End Date
Apr 2023

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
Facilitated by the Marine Stewardship Council
Primary Contact 
Jo Pollett
Email 
jo.pollett@msc.org
Website Name 
Seafish- Project UK Fisheries Improvements
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
7459