The use of jigging equipment started in Shetland as a voluntary initiative, but was soon taken up by the entire pelagic fleet, after being promoted by the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group.
The jigging machines dangle lures in the water and enable a vessel to take a sample of around 20kg of fish from a shoal of mackerel. “We are looking for fish with an average weight of 400g or larger,” said Davie. “If the size profile is good, then we shoot the nets, but if the fish are too small, we move on and look for another shoal,” he added. Using the technique, vessels avoid the capture of unwanted juvenile fish that would be destined for fishmeal production, and do not waste valuable fuel taking unmarketable fish back to market.
The procedure is quick and simple but highly effective, and its use in the fleet will become more important from January 2010, when slippage or discarding of fish becomes illegal in all pelagic fleets operating in the NE Atlantic.
Jigging machines come with an automatic stripper that removes fish from the line before they are individually weighed. At a cost of around £2,000 per vessel, they are relatively cheap compared to the cost savings they allow the vessel to make, in addition to conserving the mackerel stock. “The technique allows us to target shoals with a bigger average size, which means higher returns at port,” states Davie Hutchinson.
Of particular importance to the pelagic fleet, is that pre-sampling complements the SPSG’s sustainable policy and the terms of its MSC accreditation for the Scottish NE Atlantic mackerel fishery.
“I am very pleased that this skipper-led initiative has been taken up by the entire Scottish fleet as it brings real conservation benefits to the all-important mackerel stock,” explained Derek Duthie, Secretary of SPSG. “This is the first time such an approach has been adopted across an entire fleet and is the latest in a package of sustainability measures introduced over recent years by the Scottish pelagic industry.”
