Catch-quota management (CQM) is a result based management where targets (catch quotas, where all fish count on the fishers quota) are set, and the choice of method in harvesting is left to the exploiter together with the obligation to document (by E-log and CCTV) that targets are observed. At present management needs time to prepare and legislate and it regulates with rigid and uniform rules. This is problematic in an environment where the ideal harvesting pattern is highly complex and variable, and it often leads to conflict between regulation and fishermen’s perception of the best practice. In contrast a result based management incentivizes the exploiter to continuously adapt and improve his fishery against the targets, which in fisheries policy coincides with the main objective, namely the observance of removals of fish according to the MSY principle.
Denmark started trials with CQM and full documentation in a scientific project from September 2008 to September 2009 gathering extensive data from 6 vessels, 17.000 hours at sea. The report can be found at www.fvm.dk/yieldoffish together with video demonstrations and other documentation on CQM.
In 2010 a new trial was carried out where the operational aspects were put into a management and control context by the Danish Directorate of Fisheries (FD). The National Institute for Aquatic Resources, DTU Aqua, installed Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) systems onboard the trial vessels and acted as supervisor to the FD and the skippers and crew onboard the trial vessels.
Seven vessels have participated in the trial and were mainly fishing in the North Sea and the Skagerrak and in the Baltic Sea. The scheme started April/May 2010 and ended by the end of December 2010.
The main focus has been made on cod (Gadus morhua) the amount of cod retained and the amount discarded. Participating vessels were issued with up to 30% extra cod quota and exceptions for the days-at-sea programme.=472; The participating vessels have counted all cod caught against their allocated quota including undersized cod that had to be discarded. In addition if a trial vessel reached its cod catch-quota is reached – the vessel must stop fishing which may catch cod.
A requirement for entering into the new catch quota scheme is that the fishers operating under the scheme must have comprehensive, complete and reliable documentation of all their catches including discards. The remote electronic monitoring (REM) system used in the trial consisted of up to four closed circuit television cameras, a GPS receiver, a hydraulic pressure sensor, a gear rotation sensor and a system control box.
The REM system has been collecting sensor data and images throughout the trial period and according to the vessel electronic-logbooks the vessels were at sea for app. 27,000 hours, carried out app. 270 fishing trips, and conducted app. 2,600 fishing operations during the project period.
The analysis of the sensor data (GPS, hydraulic pressure and rotation of the winches) compared to the skippers recording in the e-logbook showed that the skippers needs to keep their focus on accurate reporting as determination of where and when a fishing operation takes place can be made with a high degree of accuracy. Feed back to the skippers on the accuracy on their reporting in the e-logbook should be made regularly.
Based on review of the video footage of the catch handling onboard it has been possible to estimate the amounts of discards of cod with high accuracy, especially if the vessel had a sorting conveyor belt where the discarded fish passed the discard chute individually. If large amounts of discards occur the accuracy of the estimated discard amounts decreased unless specific onboard catch handling protocols were followed.
If large quantities of small cod were caught the fisher would change fishing grounds and according to one of the outcome of interview with the participating fishers they actively have trying avoiding catches of small cod. Furthermore, there has been a positive reaction from the fishers and they have shown an increased awareness of their fishing patterns. An incentive driven CQM system where all catches (retained and discarded part) are counted against the quota and the fisher is responsible for documenting his fishery seems to reduce discards and seems to be a way forward toward sustainable fishing where the catches are utilized optimal.
The electronic monitoring system has proven its reliability. The experiences obtained during this project and the preliminary outcome of a project having REM installed onboard smaller gill-netter (length less than 14 m) have shown that the EM system can be applied on almost all types of vessels. Onboard some vessels it may be necessary to modify vessel deck setups and interior catch handling flow in order to obtain appropriate image coverage for the full documentation processes.
It is very important that the fishers are given information and guidance regarding recording the vessel activities such as the time of deployment and retrieval of gears. Experience from the trial has shown that the quality of the detailed recordings made by some of the fishers declined over time. Therefore, constant feed back to the fishers is essential and it should be stressed that this should be a fully integrated part of the programme. It is probably needed that some kind of “penalty” system is implemented as the skipper then in advance knows the consequences for not living up to the terms and conditions for the trial.
It could be considered whether a score card system or system to graduate how accurate the skipper/crew comply with the terms and conditions for a CQM system. The more accurate skipper recordings is made the lower review frequency and the less accurate recording of when and where the fishing has taken place and the recordings on what and the amount of fish caught the higher frequency of reviewing. In addition it could be considered whether lower compliance with the terms and conditions should give lower quota bonus. It should be possible to set up an objective and transparent set of rules for such a bonus/penalty system.
