Inshore Vessel Monitoring Scheme in Lyme Bay

• Characterised by small-scale fishing vessels under 10m long with the exception of two vessels
• pots & traps: lobster, crab, whelks and cuttlefish
• Hand dived scallop
• Seasonal use of set nets takes place within and outside the MPA to catch plaice, sole, rays, monkfish and black bream. Fish species including plaice, bass, pollack and bream attract both recreational sea anglers and commercial fishers.

• After the establishment of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve, an initial ban on mobile gear (particularly scallop dredging) came into the area, which led to an increasing number of static gear (pots and nets) operating in the area.
• As a result, fish stocks became overfished and there was pressure on the habitat.
• The first voluntary measures were put in place limiting the size of nets and number of crab and whelk pots.
• Fishers who complied with the code were allowed to sell their catch for a premium via the Reserve Label.
• Fishers and regulators needed to collect evidence that the code of conduct was being followed.

Funded by BLUE Marine Foundation and the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF), the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve Fully Monitored and Documented Fisheries Project installed the Succorfish SC2 inshore Vessel Monitoring Systems (iVMS) on board vessels on a voluntary basis to monitor compliance and fishing activity within the bay and sensitive habitat areas

This allows Fishermen and conservationists (Blue Marine Foundation) to work together and build an accurate picture of who is catching what, and where, so they can protect precious reefs and improve fish stocks

• The inshore VMS was initially rolled out as a 12 month trial in Lyme Bay, where fishermen signed a formal agreement with the Marine Maritime Organisation (MMO) to test the system and not use their demersal towed fishing in the specified sensitive areas within the Lyme Bay and Torbay SAC. Jointly run with the Southern IFCA and Devon & Severn IFCA
• A black box has been fitted to 50 vessels. A tag fitted to each line has a unique identification number, which is linked to gear and fishermen
• As each pot is brought aboard, it triggers an automatic reader. A tag attached to each line registers which pots have been lifted and the exact position they were fishing
• The evidence gathered on the ecological health of the Reserve has proved invaluable to both regulators and fishers and helped make more informed management decisions
• Robust fishing data helps fishermen to argue their corner when there is disagreement about management measures
• The overall result is better decision-making, buy-in from fishers and local stakeholders and an established forum for discussion and debate

• Fully monitored and documented fisheries in Lyme Bay – Blue Marine FoundationBlue Marine Foundation
• Fully Monitored and Documented Fisheries – Lyme Bay on Vimeo
• Inshore Vessel Monitoring (I-VMS) for under-12m fishing vessels registered in England – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Integrated Fisheries Management Plan | Lyme Bay Fisheries & Conservation Reserve (lymebayreserve.co.uk)