Appendix 111 - Fishery Audit and Assessment for the Loch Torridon Area

Summary of a Report Produced for the Minch Project by G Fulton

November 1998

Table of Contents

List of illustrations 4

Tables 5

Executive Summary

(1) Introduction 7

(1.1) Objectives 8

(1.2) Fisheries 8

(1.2.1) A brief history of the Nephrops fishery 9

(1.3) Aquaculture 11

(1.3.1) A brief history of aquaculture 11

(2) Results of fisheries survey 13

(2.1) Background 13

(2.1.1) Vessels operating in the area 13

(2.1.2) History 14

(2.1.3) Methods of fishing 14

(2.2) Current practices 18

(2.2.1) Target species 18

(2.2.2) Landings 19

(2.2.3) Demand 21

(2.2.4) Market price 24

(2.2.5) Bycatch 26

(2.3) Opinion 27

(2.3.1) The fishery 27

(2.3.2) Fisheries management 28

(2.3.3) Sustainability 30

(2.3.4) Quality of the catch 33

(2.3.5) Conclusions 38

(3) Results of the aquaculture survey 40

(3.1) Background 42

(3.2) Current practices 42

(3.3) Conclusions 47

References 48

List of illustrations

Diagram 1 Location of Loch Torridon 7

Diagram 2 Nephrops norvegicus (Prawn or Norway Lobster) 9

Diagram 3 Profits per comparable effort 16

Diagram 4 Opinions on employment in the area in comparison to the past 17

Diagram 5 Opinion on price for catch 25

Diagram 6 Opinion on loch's fishery in comparison to past 27

Diagram 7 Opinion on fisheries management 29

Diagram 8 Fishing effort 34

Tables

Table 1 Active vessels in the Scottish fleet 10

Table 2 Vessels operating in the area 13

Table 3 Summary of active vessels in Scottish fleet 15

Table 4 Active vessels in the shellfish sector 18

Table 5 North Minch Nephrops landings for 1997 19

Table 6 Torridon Nephrops production for 1997 20

Table 7 Torridon vessel landing elsewhere 20

Table 8 Fish farm developments in Torridon 41

Table 9 Existing sea bed leases 41

Executive Summary

This report presents an assessment carried out by Grant Fulton of the marine fishery and aquaculture industry of the Loch Torridon area. The work was commissioned by the Minch Project who wished to look at an area which supported a range of activities and study their interactions.

Questionnaires were compiled for both fishermen and fish farmers so that they could voice their opinion on the state of the marine environment and how they felt that it had changed over the last 20 years and how it could be improved. Thier view is reflected in this detailed fisheries management report which includes number and types of boats, employment, catches, species and overall landing values. A historic description of the Nephrops fishery is included.

Great importance is placed within the report on local public opinion and how locals feel the management of the loch should progress. The overwhelming local opinion is for a complete ban on mobile gear in the Loch Torridon area.

(1) Introduction

The Loch Torridon locality is an area of outstanding natural beauty situated on the west coast of Scotland (see Diagram 1) lying in the Wester Ross National Scenic area. The status of `marine consultation area' has been conferred upon both Upper Loch Torridon and Loch Shieldaig. For the purpose of this project the defined study area includes Loch Torridon, Loch Shieldaig and the outer loch bounded by the seaward edge of the seasonally closed area (3094/86) from Red Point to Rona and extending southwards from Rona to Rubha na Fearn. The actual loch complex is 22 km long and comprises three clearly defined sections; the outer loch, Loch Shieldaig and Upper Loch Torridon.

Diagram 1 Location of Loch Torridon

The loch is a significant source of employment. Directly dependant are the fishing and aquaculture industries. Indirectly industries such as tourism, in the form of boat trips and dinghy rental, are also dependent.

(1.1) Objectives

The purpose of this audit is to estimate the current marine bioproductivity of Loch Torridon with that of the last 20 years. By collation and interpretation of the information gathered from the local fishing population and associated bodies in questionnaires and interviews, the development and the current state of the fishery will be depicted. Analysis of the survey data will document the changing nature of fisheries in the loch, whether the current close season for mobile gear has impacted on the ecosystem and to what degree if any the bioproductivity has been affected by human activities.

It is also hoped that a balanced view of the current conflict between mobile and static gear operators can be achieved. Ultimately measures will be suggested, based on interviews with local fishermen and aquaculturists which will ensure a sustained and economically-viable fishery and aquaculture industry.

(1.2) Fisheries

The local boats which took part in the survey are based in Loch Torridon, Loch Shieldaig and Applecross and mostely tend to use creels to target the prawn Nephrops norvegicus (see diagram 2) and to a lesser degree velvet and edible crab and lobsters. In addition to this two boats operate with divers targeting the king scallop (Pecten maximus) but these work outside of the study area for a considerable amount of the year as there are not enough scallop grounds to sustain a permanent fishery.

A couple of local trawl boats target prawns but the majority of trawl operators are not local vessels. A considerable number of these vessels dredge for scallops. Both dredgers and trawlers come from as far afield as the east coast but mostly from Mallaig and Kyle.

Composition of Inner Sound fleet

	Over 10 Metre Vessels	Under 10 Metre Vessels	Total
Number of Vessels	29	107	136
Trawler (Nephrops)	18	6	24
Static Gear (Creel)	10	101	111

(Source SFPS, pers com)

The data provided in this survey is disclosed only where permission has been granted by relevant individuals, or is available in the public domain and has been checked as far as possible for disclosure.

Diagram 2 Nephrops norvegicus (Prawn or Norway Lobster)

A seasonal ban on mobile gear in the study area is operational from October to March. This was instigated to promote the spawning of juvenile herring and in response to a series of incidents involving static gear damaged by trawlers. Currently this issue is highly contentious; trawler operators do not want to lose any more ground while those deploying creels are demanding a total closure. To try and advise on the appropriate response to this issue fishermen in the Loch Torridon area were interviewed and their concerns, comments and opinions catalogued (see appendix 1). Relevant fisheries bodies and organisations were also consulted including the Highlands and Islands Fishermen's Association, Mallaig and North-West Fishermen's Association, MBBS, (local shellfish processing company) and The Highland Council.

(1.2.1) A brief history of the Nephrops fishery

In the mid 1950s, a market developed for Nephrops norvegicus. Initially the prawn was part of the discarded by-catch of seine net fishing but as the market developed and demand was established, this species was landed in increasing quantities at several ports on the Scottish coast.

Nephrops fisheries occur in muddy and clay-rich sediments where burrow construction is possible and are found in suitable sediments all over the continental shelf. Fishing for this species is usually restricted to near shore areas but may extend out to 200 km from the shore. The greatest concentrations of these fisheries in Britain occurs off the east and west coasts of Scotland and in the North Sea. Globally there are also important Nephrops fisheries on the west coast of France, the Atlantic coast of Spain and in Icelandic waters. Nephrops can live in depths ranging from 15 to 800 m.

In areas away from the coast trawling is the main fishing method employed. For this a specially designed light trawl, the prawn trawl, is used. Trawling vessels tend to be 10-25 m in length and use engines in the 100-350 HP range. Where the bathymetry precludes the use of trawls, as for large areas of the west coast of Scotland, baited creels are used instead. Creel boats are smaller than trawlers since creel gear is relatively lighter but a large deck space and a creel hauler are essential. They usually range from 7-11 m in length powered by 50-70 HP engines. The creels are typically baited with herring or mackerel, but other species are readily used where these are unavailable, and are lifted every one or two days.

Table 1 Active vessels in the Scottish fleet 31 December 1997 (source: SOAEFD, 1997)

Area	<10m	10-15m	15-20m	20-25m	25-30m	30-35m	>35m	Total
Stornoway	283	44	25	2	0	0	2	356
K'bervie	12	5	5	4	2	0	0	28
Lochinver	19	3	4	0	0	0	0	24
Ullapool	40	14	6	0	0	0	0	60
Mallaig	175	40	28	3	0	0	1	247
Total	529	104	68	9	2	0	3	715
Other West Coast	653	146	102	21	29	10	18	979
Other East Coast	477	98	128	217	102	8	46	1,076
Scottish Total	1,659	348	298	247	133	18	67	2,770

From an economic viewpoint Nephrops fisheries are extremely important to Scotland being the most commercially valuable shellfish species in the United Kingdom. The large whole prawns, landed primarily by creel boats, command a high price in luxury foreign markets and, increasingly, domestic markets. Trawler catches tend to comprise smaller tailed prawns with a corresponding lower value.

Management of Nephrops is not a straightforward task as the two methods of fishing are not always compatible. There are inconsistencies in the scientific advice offered in addition to which there are many difficulties in enforcement.

(1.3) Aquaculture

Fish farming is one of the largest employers in Loch Torridon despite the fact that the numbers employed have fallen since the late 80s and early 90s due to increased automation and technological advances. Nevertheless, fish farming remains of major economic importance in an area heavily dependant on the marine environment.

(1.3.1) Brief History of Aquaculture

Fin fish farming was first attempted in Scotland in the 1960s. The species farmed then, as now, was the indigenous Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar. Such farming was little more than a cottage industry until the problems of disease, nutrition, breeding and holding pens were resolved and pioneering work to this end was largely carried out by Marine Harvest. Towards the end of the 1970, after many of the initial husbandry problems were resolved, the industry began to expand rapidly on the west coast and in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Small businesses and individuals were encouraged to become involved via the Highlands and Islands Development Board and small farms began to spring up along the coast. The industry continued to develop and, inevitably, many of the smaller concerns were subsumed into the larger companies such as Marine Harvest (now Marine Harvest McConnell), Hydro Seafoods, Stolt, GSP and Highland Fish Farmers (Wood Group). The average farm size and yield gradually increased from 85 tonnes in 1985 to 355 tonnes in 1995 ( SEPA, 1995).

The production cycle of a fish farm tries, as closely as possible, to mirror the natural life cycle of the salmon. Smolts are taken from freshwater sites and transferred to the sea where they are kept for approximately 2 years in cages moored in sea lochs. These cages are normally moored in a sheltered area with good water transfer to effect greater dispersal of effluent. The cages are normally moored in groups of rafts which take the form of rectangular steel or circular plastic structures and from which a net, approximately 8-17 m deep, is hung.

There have been some concerns about the environmental impact of farming salmon including the use of potentially toxic chemicals and antibiotics for the treatment of sea-lice and disease, the perceived unsightliness of the cage structures and shore bases, stocking levels, the possible damage to the benthos surrounding the farms and escapee salmon and their subsequent dilution of the native gene pool.

A questionnaire was devised to assess the aquaculture concerns (see Appendix I) within which salmon farm managers and fish farmers were asked to assess the extent of the above problems and how they are being addressed.

(2) Results of fisheries surveys

(2.1) Background

(2.1.1) Table 2 Vessels operating in the area

Skipper/Owner	Vessel	Number
K & J Livingstone	Fram	BRD 1
J Macgregor	Seafox	PW 2
D Macleod	Valhalla	BRD 164
D Smith/ R Frost	Christine	UL 35
N Cameron	Iolaire
M Macdonald	Eaglet	UL 94
D Price	Tracy Claire	PZ 619
D Maciver	Fuisgean	OB 438
R J Macuish	Village Maid	BRD 13
RC Maciver	Sea Swallow
R Long	Scarlet Pimpernel	PW 8
M Macdonald	Sealgair na Mara	SY 132
I Davidson	Kari
P Kellet	Karen
A Macleod	Emma Goody	SH 323
A Edwards	Danny Boy	OB 612
D MacBeth	Michelle	BRD 117
D& S Cameron	Amity	BRD 185
K MacBeth	Emeritus	LH 174
I D Mackenzie	Mary M	BRD 12
I Macleod	Silver Cloud

There are 46 persons employed directly in fishing in the Torridon area and and 7 employed on-shore on a part time basis. The part-time work includes helping land the catch, processing the catch in the Shieldaig Cooperative and driving the catch to Inverness to catch flights for transfer of the product to the continent. These figures do not include persons employed on boats from Kyle, Portree and Mallaig who may be fishing in the Torridon area.

In relation to the number of persons in the Torridon area the proportion of people employed by the fishing industry is significant and very important in an area with little scope for alternative employment. The economy reflects this in that it is dependant on the primary sector with a great reliance on the loch's marine resources.

85% of the boat-owners listed above were interviewed as to their opinions. Local people who had in the past fished were also asked their views. Unfortunately some of the fishermen were unable to take part due to heavy work loads. Another limitation in analysis is the lack of input from trawler fishermen, this was due in part to the fact that the overwhelming majority of local fishing vessels in the Torridon area are creel boats. Representatives of organisations with interests in the area were also interviewed such as the Highlands and Islands Fishermen's Association, Mallaig and North-West Fishermen's Association, MBBS, Shieldaig Export and The Highland Council. The subsequent figures and results correspond to the above interviews carried out and reflect local public opinion on the Loch Torridon Fishery.

(2.1.2) History

The fishermen interviewed entered into fishing careers in several ways. Some had worked at Kishorn during the period of oil platform fabrication but, when this work dried up, invested in small creel boats. However, the vast majority of interviewees had been involved in fishing since leaving school. Many of their fathers had fished before them so that fisheries careers were inherited.

The duration of an individual's fishing career varied considerably though there were no relative newcomers. One reason given for this was that the cost of setting up and being able to sustain gear loss from trawlers was prohibitive. Career spans varied from a maximum of 50 years (now retired) to a minimum of 5 years.

(2.1.3) Methods of Fishing

The types of fishing in which the interviewees are involved has evolved over time. Presently the majority are concentrating their efforts on the prawn fishery but in addition five boats use multipurpose creels to secondarily target lobsters, crayfish, velvet and brown crabs. A single boat targets king scallops throughout the year by employing divers while another uses divers for scallops in the summer months only switching to creels in the winter months.

Table 3 Summary of Active vessels in the Scottish Fleet by main fishing method and length, 31 December 1997 (source: SOAEFD, 1997)

Method	<10m	10-15m	15-20m	20-25m	25-30m	30-35m	>35m	Total
Creel fishing	1,480	128	6	1	0	0	0	1,615
Nephrops trawl	62	142	122	13	0	0	0	339
Suction dredge	16	41	51	9	0	0	0	117
Shell fishing(hand)	31	9	0	0	0	0	0	40
Shrimp trawl	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	5
Queen scallop trawl	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Shellfish total	1,594	320	179	23	0	0	0	2,116
Demersal single trawl	10	20	87	112	63	5	8	305
Demersal pair trawl	0	0	9	34	30	3	0	76
Seine net	0	2	16	46	17	0	0	81
Demersal pair seine	0	0	0	15	8	0	0	23
Lines	29	3	0	0	0	3	2	37
Demersal gill net	19	2	1	0	7	3	1	33
Demersal twin multi trawl	0	0	5	17	2	0	0	24
Beam trawl	1	1	1	0	4	3	14	24
Other demersal	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	6
Demersal total	65	28	119	224	131	17	25	609
Purse seine	0	0	0	0	0	0	28	28
Pelagic trawl	0	0	0	0	2	1	14	17
Other pelagic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Pelagic total	0	0	0	0	2	0	42	45

In the past the fishery was much more diverse; methods of fishing included netting for crayfish, drift-netting for herring, ground-netting for cod, and dredging for scallops (kings and queens). A few dredging boats remain but these are not local vessels. The whitefish and herring fishery collapsed approximately 20 years ago. Factors which influenced this include over-fishing and, it is claimed by the Mallaig & North-west Fishermen's Association, the location of fin fish farms in the spawning grounds forcing the herring to spawn elsewhere. There has been a significant decline in the lobster fishery though recent indications suggest it may be on the increase again.

Diagram 3 - Profits per comparable effort

The Loch and the immediate area has been subject to significant changes in the last 20 years. Fisheries production was prolific in the 1940s and supported a considerable fishing fleet. With improved bridge technology and more effective fishing methods whitefish were trawled out in the 1980s. The local prawn fishery began in the mid 1960s when prawns were plentiful. Fishermen have seen the quantity and quality diminish but the value rise as the market prices have improved particularly in recent years. In the past all catches were landed to domestic fish and shellfish merchants with 60% of the produce going to foreign markets and the remainder to the domestic market.

Static gear fishermen have increased their effort but are catching smaller prawns and the overwhelming opinion is that the area is overfished. After the three-mile limit was abolished non-local trawlers began fishing the area to the chagrin of the static-gear fishermen who feel that they are detrimental to the prawn fishery. Several gear conflict incidents have arisen with static-gear operators reporting the towing through of fleets by trawl boats.

Diagram 4 - Opinion of employment in the area relative to the past

The nature of employment in the area has changed considerably. The numbers employed in the trawl fleet have declined dramatically since the collapse of whitefish and herring. Expansion of the Torridon static fleet began in the mid 1960s but there has been no significant change in the fleet size in the last 10 years. One static fisherman gives the following explanation:

q "It is much harder to make a living nowadays, you have to be able to stand a loss when you lose gear that has been towed through. I don't think it would be possible for a young person to make a new start with the current marine management of this area."

Fishfarming has taken the largest share of employees in the last 20 years. In the last ten years there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of people employed in fishfarms but recently this has stabilised.

(2.2) Current practices

(2.2.1) Target Species

Of the fishermen questioned 95% primarily target prawn. A single vessel secondarily targets squat lobster and four others lobster, velvet crab and brown crab. However, a far lower number of creels are deployed for these targets than for prawns.

Static gear operators use variable numbers of creels. For prawns the average is 1185 ranging from a minimum of 300 to a maximum of 2400. Fleets average 62 creels but may comprise as few as 40 or as many as 120. The average number of multipurpose creels used to target lobster, velvet and brown crab is 425.

Table 4 Active vessels in the shellfish sector by main fishing method

(source: SOAEFD, 1997)

Year	Nephrops trawl	Other	Total
1987	412	1,028	1,440
1988	416	1,068	1,514
1989	460	1,200	1,660
1990	458	1,170	1,628
1991	462	1,203	1,665
1992	433	1,330	1,763
1993	404	1,736	2,140
1994	416	1,857	2,273
1995	368	1,709	2,077
1996	299	1,803	2,102
1997	339	1,777	2,116

It can be seen in the above table that shellfish fishing is an extremely important method of fishing in Scotland. Trawling has diminished slightly from 412 boats in 1987 to 339 in 1997 while other forms of shellfish fishing such as creels and diving has increased from 1028 vessels in 1987 to 1777 in 1997.

(2.2.2) Landings

Average landings also vary considerably and are dependant on the size of the boat, the numbers of creels deployed and the time of the year.

Table 5 North Minch Nephrops landings for 1997 (figures supplied by HIFA)

Port	Tonnage Tails	Tonnage Whole	Value 000's (£) Tails	Value 000's(£) Whole	Kilo Value Tails(£)	Kilo Value Whole(£)
Stornoway	709.9	520.7	844.1	1,472.9	1.18	2.82
Mallaig	1,084.9	1,102.2	1,332.7	3,438	1.22	3.11
Lochinver	250.7	347	314.4	1,100.7	1.25	3.17
Barra	227.6	210.4	265.6	566.6	1.16	2.69
Snizort	144.5	166.3	142.9	592.9	0.98	3.56
Ullapool	103.4	207	115	714.5	1.11	3.45
Gairloch	96.2	152.1	108.8	496.6	1.13	3.26
Portree	55.9	126.9	51.9	439.3	0.92	3.46
Kyle	40.5	124.4	43.9	441.7	1.08	3.55
Strathaird	10.9	47	10.1	153.1	0.92	3.25
South Harris	23.3	28.8	26.7	104.6	1.14	3.63
Kinlochbervie	31.5	18.8	32.7	45.4	1.03	2.41
Dunvegan	10.7	30.6	10	112.1	0.93	3.66
Aultbea	7.4	39.9	8	147.5	1.03	3.69
North Uist	0.3	5	0.4	17.7	1.33	3.54
South Uist	5.2	15.4	5.5	46.2	1.05	3
Torridon	2.8	66.6	3.4	285.2	1.21	4.28
Totals	2,802.7	3,209.1	3,316.1	10,175

Prawn landings fluctuate seasonally. The lowest landing figures are given for May and June and also October, as fishing is reportedly poor at these times. Large prawns are more common for the period from November to March and the general consensus was that prawn fishing picked up around this time. Smaller prawns are caught from June to August. The period from August to October is reported as the best for brown crab while September is found to be best for velvets and lobsters.

There are several reasons for these fluctuations but the catches primarily vary with the changes in prawn activity. These include moulting, which must occur to enable growth and happens up to ten times a year, mating and resting in burrows during incubation of eggs. The berried females tend to remain within their burrows 20 - 30 cm below the seabed surface.

It has also been shown that trawl catches are subject to large daily and seasonal variations (Howard, 1982). The activity patterns of Nephrops are rhythmical and are related to the intensity of light at the sea bed. Emergence from the burrow occurs at an "optimum" light intensity and it has been shown that the period of emergence at different depths corresponds to the range of light intensity at the seabed. In shallow water the optimum catch time is around midnight and conversely with increased depth the peak catch time shifts towards midday. There is also some change in landings in conjunction with the tides with the largest catches landed around neap tides, possibly as a result of increased moonlight (Howard, 1992).

Weather may also affect landings; during periods of bad weather the water column becomes more turbid and the amount of light reaching the seabed is dramatically decreased. Thus landings should in theory fall after periods of poor weather though there is no scientific evidence for these claims.

Table 6 Torridon Nephrops production for 1997 (figures supplied by HIFA)

Tonnes	Kilos	Per Tonne (£)	Per Kilo (£)	Total (£)
66.6	66,588.7	4,282	4.28	285,200

Table 7 Torridon vessels landing elsewhere 1997 (figures supplied by HIFA)

	Tonnes	Kilos	Per Tonne (£)	Per Kilo (£)	Total (£)
Vessel 1	25	25,000	4,282	4.28	107,050
Vessel 2	9	9,000	4,282	4.28	38,538
Vessel 3	15	15,000	4,282	4.28	64,230
Vessel 4	15	15,000	4,282	4.28	64,230
Vessel 5	15	15,000	4,282	4.28	64,230
Vessel 6	5	5,000	4,282	4.28	21,410
Vessel 7	5	5,000	4,282	4.28	21,410
Vessel 8	5	5,000	4,282	4.28	21,410

Fishermen were further questioned on their daily average landings with the following results:

q For prawns the average landing per day was reported as 53 kilos and ranging from a minimum of 13 kilos/day to a maximum of 79 kilos/day

q Velvets averaged at 118 kilos/day with a minimum of 60 kilos/day and a maximum of 150/day

q Brown crab catches averaged at 117 kilos/day

q Individual lobsters caught varied from 12 to 20 per day

q Scallop catches (dived) averaged at approximately 45 tonnes/year though most of the catch was fished outwith the area

Torridon Creek-Shellfish landings
YEAR	Species	Total Weight(Kg)	Value(£)
1995	Nephrops	75980	350,632
	Crab	58230	64,368
1996	Nephrops	104900	388,501
	Crab	27940	35,793
1997	Nephrops	69410	288,561
	Crab	7480	8,985
1998*	Nephrops	50790	256,765
	Crab	2260	20,327
* Data to 30.11.98(Source SOEAFD, Branch J4
Torridon Creek-Value and weights of other species landed
Year	Species	Total Weight(Tonnes)	Value(£)
1995	Scallop(King)	21.47	44,432
	Periwinkles	96.71	70,863
1996	Scallop(King)	23.47	46,103
	Periwinkles	117.6	85.094
1997	Scallop(King)	51.45	131,449
	Periwinkles	200.35	119,681
1998	Scallop(King)	10.97	26,493
	Periwinkles	70.26	57,275
(Source SOEAFD, Branch J4
Mallaig District and Torridon Creek-Fishery related employment
	Fishing			Processing
	Full time	Part time	Part time seasonal	Full time
Mallaig	404	72	17
Torridon	40	na
(Source SOEAFD,Branch J4
SOEAFD standard classification of Nephrops sizes(ex EC Journal L.334/15)
Grade	No/Kg	Min. Size
1	<60	72mm
2	61-120	46mm
3	121-180	37mm
4	>180	37mm

(2.2.3) Demand

Of the fishermen questioned 60% felt that there was a greater demand for prawns at present while 40% felt the market demand was the same and there had been no real change. Similarly, the scallop market has been steady for the last few years with prices increasing during winter months and declining in summer months when more boats are operating during the fine weather. All the fishermen considered the market for crab and lobster to be poor at the current time. Some voiced the following opinions:

q "There has been a strong demand for quality prawns from the 1970s onwards. The local direct export market just started in 1996 and has proved very successful."

q "The prawn market has been pretty steady - crab much less so. Recently there has been a lot of pressure from the eastern markets and we're anticipating problems with an influx of cheap lobster from Canada onto the shellfish market."

q "I would say that there's a greater demand for live prawns - they're a wonderful product - but I've really been struggling to get a decent price with the other species."

At present the catches are landed to several different companies including Shieldaig Export, MBBS, Macraes of Gairloch and Sutherland Game and Shellfish.

(2.2.4) Market Price

As would be expected the poorest prices are in the summer months when the catch is greatest, more boats are operating and less fishing days are lost due to poor weather. The lowest price given is £3.21/kilo in May with the highest being £5.54/kilo in January.

Diagram 5 Opinion on price for catch

When asked how prices varied throughout the year 70% said there were seasonal fluctuations while the remaining 30% considered that the market was pretty steady. Some typical comments were:

q "I find the prawn prices in the summer are pretty poor. The main influence on the market price has been huge landings from the North Sea causing the price to drop quite dramatically."

q "Prices remain pretty steady but you always get a slight fluctuation over a year of +/- 10-15%. It's dependant on the strength of the pound to a great extent."

q "The prices are always down in the first part of the year but it usually picks up in September or October."

q "In the winter months you see fewer boats out and therefore there is less competition so the price is usually that much better."

All the fishermen interviewed thought that the market prices could be improved especially on crab and lobster. They felt the prices could be improved in several ways:

q Greater publicity for the product especially for the domestic market

q An improvement in the size and quality of prawns

q By going direct to the foreign market and cutting out the middleman

q By ceasing or reducing Nephrop trawling because the saturation of the market with prawn tails at certain times damages the price

q By landing larger animals only

q A more competitive pound to improve the export market

(2.2.5) By-catch

Though very little by-catch was reported by creel fishermen, that reported included pout and squat lobsters. No real market has been found for the pout but the squat lobsters are sold locally to hotels and restaurants. Those fishing for a by-catch believe that there is a good potential for selling this by-product in the future. For trawlers the by-catch generally comprises arious whitefish and to a lesser degree ground-fish.

(2.3) Opinion

(2.3.1) The Fishery

Diagram 6 Opinion on Loch Torridon fishery in comparison to the past

There is a clear consensus of opinion that the loch's fishery has declined over the last 20 years. There was particular consensus concerning the whitefish and pelagic fish stock. It is generally agreed that this fishery is now more or less non-existent as a result of heavy trawling of the area in the past. 65% of the fishermen said that losing the 3-mile limit was a major disaster to most stocks and that there is too much fishing of the grounds. One interviewee said:

q "Fish landings into Gairloch are almost non-existent. The overall volume of shellfish into the port of Gairloch has declined dramatically."

The most vociferous complaint made by static-gear fishermen is that trawlers are wiping out the grounds by intensive fishing methods which are forcing creel fishermen into tighter areas, particularly those static fishermen who concentrate around the Applecross area and who work tight against the BUTEC range. It was also agreed that the creel fishermen are using too much gear - there are simply too many creels in the water at any given time. The contention is that in order to protect the ground from the trawlers the sole option is to shoot more creels than is sustainable or desirable to stop the trawlers coming over the ground.

(2.3.2) Fisheries Management

When asked how effective the current close season was in managing the prawn fishery, 75% thought that it was ineffective, 16% considered it effective and 8% thought it was very effective.

q "The close season is only effective all the year round in Torridon because the creel-men in this area won't allow the trawlers to come in."

q "It's [the seasonal closure] ineffective because it requires full closure to mobile gear before any type of sensible management can occur."

q "The six month closure is not effective because on the 1st of April when the lochs are open to trawling there is a frantic scramble in the area with trawlers towing just yards apart. Two weeks later they are all gone and the fishing reverts to normal."

81% of interviewees thought there should be total closure to mobile gear, 17% felt there should be greater policing by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, a further 17% reasoned that there should be a reduction in creel numbers and 8% held the view that there should be weekend bans on creel fishing (ie no creels in certain areas for 6-8 weeks of the year).

With regard to the question of no-take areas, the Applecross fishermen interviewed considered the BUTEC range to be a positive thing in that it was a area with no fishing of any sort as they felt it increased the fish and shellfish stock in the adjoining areas. They did not feel that additional no-take areas would be beneficial.

Were further measures to be implemented there would be the obvious problem of how to police the area and this was put to the fishermen. Various scenarios were proposed, the most common being a self-policed area with a greater emphasis on sensible local management leading to greater opportunities for static gear operators. If a mobile gear ban were to come into effect and problems with trawlers arose then, it was suggested, towing could be detected by satellite, planes or cruiser patrols.

Diagram 7 Opinion on Fisheries management in the Area in Comparison to the Past

Fishermen are overwhelmingly of the opinion that fisheries management in the loch is much worse at the present time than at any other time in the past:

q "Well, mobile gear has seasonal access to the loch and of course it's very much less selective than static. Unfortunately the creel numbers are far too high but if I shoot less creels then we're going to see more trawlers coming into the area."

q "At the moment it's a free for all. Trawlers can come into your gear and get away with it. There doesn't seem to be any law or enforcement of any kind to protect creel fishermen."

q "There is no management that I can see. There's no policing and certainly no protection."

(2.3.3) Sustainability

Of the fishermen questioned 92% thought that static fishing at the present rate was a much more sustainable form of fishing for inshore waters than prawn trawling and scallop dredging because creel fishing only takes the larger animals.

q "It's a more selective catch, we release the small and immature prawns. I really believe we catch a better quality of prawn."

q "Locally based mobile gear operators are directing less time on the nearby tows and more time further afield as returns have diminished."

q "Although the number of local trawlers has remained static a large number of them have been advertised for sale in recent months as they become increasingly unviable."

Most feel that the creel fishery is only sustainable if some form of protection from the trawlers is given and the consensus is that the two forms of fishing are not compatible for this small area. Trawled prawns do not command such as high a price as live creel-caught prawns and there is too high a discard and mortality rate associated with trawling.

It has been shown that creel-caught prawns which are discarded have a higher survival rate than trawl-caught prawns. Experiments using creel- and prawn-caught Nephrops placed in sea-water as quickly as possible after capture have shown that 97% of creel-caught Nephrops were alive after eight days. The survival rate of trawl-caught Nephrops after the same time was between 50 and 75% (Howard, 1982).

It is widely felt that trawling should not be practised in inshore lochs. The trawlers, especially the larger vessels from the east coast, have a much larger area to work than the smaller, local creel boats who fish in the area permanently. The trawlers put too much pressure on the fishing ground which requires longer periods of regeneration.

q "Areas free from trawling can be managed by adjusting creel numbers or the size taken. Nephrops trawling is not sustainable - they take all sizes including masses of juvenile animals. These prawns are non-migratory and if spatfall is killed off areas will not recover."

With regard to trawlers, 58% believe that mesh size should be increased in trawl fishing, 33% were of no opinion and 8% thought that there should be no reduction. Major problems envisioned, if mesh size was to be increased, is that technical measures which are instigated can be easily circumvented, particularly with the current diamond mesh. It is claimed if you increase the trawling speed it causes the net to tighten and decreases the chance of small prawns escaping. Interviewees thought the introduction of square mesh nets would be preferable to diamond mesh.

There is also some evidence to suggest that when prawns are disturbed their natural reaction is to cling to a surface, clinging even to other prawns, the net itself or fish caught as by-catch. This results in a greater number of immature Nephrops coming up in the trawl (Howard, 1982).

In defence of trawling, the Mallaig and Northwest Fishermen's Association point out that a trawl only fishes when it is being towed while the creels fish 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. They claim that areas with the highest density of creels together with many fish farms produce a poorer overall return while areas such as the Clyde which has little creel fishing, only a few fish farms and an intense trawl fishery has experienced a sustained production over the last few years. It is also claimed that prawn grounds at times benefit from the stimulation of a trawl and that it can lead to a more productive fishery.

In the winter months all the vessels operating in the area are local since there is a seasonal ban on mobile gear but once the ban is lifted in the summer months the mobile gear operators move in. The local fleet make up approximately 75% of the vessels during the summer, with the deficit made up of boats from Skye and Lochalsh. However, for the first two to three weeks it is reported that up to 40 trawlers and dredgers from Mallaig and the east coast operate in the area. The fishing area is not large enough to sustain this type of fishing for longer than this and they move on to other grounds.

When questioned whether they would restrict their fishing effort to conserve stocks:

q 83% of interviewees answered "yes, completely"

q 8% responded "possibly"

q and a further 8% answered "no, not at all."

When asked how they thought the Loch was being fished at the present time:

q 36% thought it was "hugely overfished"

q and the remaining 64% believed it was "overfished."

A typical response was:

q "Loch Torridon is fully fished not overfished, as long as creel pressure is matched to size and a continuity of production per 100 creels is achieved there is no problem."

All the interviewees agreed that there should be a restriction on the number of creels per vessel but only if there was a ban on mobile gear in the area. The Highlands and Islands Fishermen's Association declared that, if trawling to be prohibited their members would willingly use a minimum of creels to achieve targets. Conversely when asked if there should be a restriction on the number of days at sea only 3% thought there should be some sort of limitation, the remainder believing that the variable weather imposes a natural restriction on fishing in any case.

Of the interviewees, 95 % felt that fish farms did not affect their fishing activity in any way. There seems to be a good relationship between the fish-farms and the fishermen although one interviewee felt that they had encroached slightly on the crab fishery. Another fisherman was somewhat concerned about ISA movement orders as he operates a small part-time shellfish farm in conjunction with his normal fishing activities.

(2.3.4) Quality of catch

Everyone agreed that quality of creel caught Nephrops is much higher than trawled prawns and this was reflected in the market price (at the time of writing the price for whole trawled prawns was £3.30/kilo while creel-caught prawns fetched £8.50/kilo). This gap in quality and price occurs because creels tend to catch larger prawns which are still alive and have not been subjected to as much stress as a Nephrops which has been towed for 3-5 hours. The tow will also contain mud and stones which can reduce the quality of the catch by damaging the prawns. Creel-men only take the best of the prawns, the smallest can escape from the creel and the small are returned to the sea usually with very low mortality rates. Merchants prefer shellfish from static gear as they tend to travel better and are easier to keep alive which prevents deterioration of the digestive gland which can cause a discoloration of the head as it breaks down after death causing a reduction in value.

When asked how they felt the quality of catch in the present day compared to that of the past:

q 55% felt it was worse

q 27% considered it much the same

q 9% thought it was much worse

q 9% thought it was better - due to better handling techniques once the prawns were landed onboard.

60% of the fishermen said that they were very concerned about decreasing catches with the remaining 40% saying they were concerned. One additional remark was:

q "On grounds open to trawling I am very concerned but I don't feel that there has been any significant decrease in catch per effort on creel-only grounds."

Digram 8 How has your fishing effort changed over the last 20 years?

Fishermen were questioned on whether they had increased their fishing effort and figures given for an effort increase averaged at +25% over a 20 year period. This was attributed to a substantial increase in the number of creels deployed at any given time. One fisherman suggested that gear improvement had led to a reduced effort on his part to achieve his targets.

All interviewees agreed that there had been a gradual increase in fishing effort as opposed to a sudden increase. Reasons given for this substantial increase were that it was a `domino' effect:

q "If one boat increases his creel numbers you must follow suit or fall behind."

Other grounds for increasing fishing effort was that the vessels were larger than in the past and expenses were rising especially the cost of creels. 44% of the fishermen said that they had increased their creel numbers to try to protect the ground from trawlers.

When asked if they thought their fishing effort was worth their financial returns:

q 50% replied "yes".

q 40% replied "barely."

q 10% felt strongly that their fishing effort was not worth the return.

95% of the fishermen felt that the static fleet and mobile fleet were not compatible at all in the context of the study area. There were various problems voiced:

q "Trawlers constantly continue to fish shallow inshore waters leaving less fishable (sic) ground for the static fleet."

q "Opportunities for static gear operators are severely limited to a small percentage of the possible area through intimidation from trawlers who spend less and less time here."

q "There are three distinct problems that I can see: there is the physical conflict with trawlers towing through gear, there seems to be no comeback to these incidents from the Fisheries Protection Agency and the main problem is that once the trawlers have been over the ground it's just no good."

q "Static gear has no legal protection and is continually being squeezed into smaller pockets."

q "They are not compatible and trawlers will not stay clear of creel fleets because in the creeled only area the quality and quantity rise rapidly."

When asked how these problems could be remedied there were various solutions proffered. The most common was the separation of the two different fishing methods into different area ie static gear zones, the reintroduction of the 3 mile limit and the loch closure increased from 6 months to 12 months. On the other hand there have been calls to stop the seasonal closure altogether because the winter months are the period when small inshore trawlers need access to the sheltered waters.

Coastal Zone Management (CZM) has lately become a topical subject and The Highland Council has carried out a pilot study on an area which included the study area of this report. CZM can be summarised as follow;

q "Integrated management in this context means optimising the mix of activities to safeguard the area's most valuable assets and to achieve and sustain a good return from those which can be exploited. It means looking beyond the short term and wider than a single sector perspective. It will therefore require a collaborative approach. The various agencies with administrative responsibilities in the coastal zone have a crucial role to play in making this possible, as do enlightened commercial interests and local communities (Coastal Zone Management Pilot Study: Key Findings and Strategy, The Highland Council)."

When asked if they felt the adoption of CZM would benefit them in any way;

q 67% answered "yes, completely."

q 25% replied "somewhat."

q 8% were of no opinion.

80% of the respondents had at some time considered an alternative career to fishing. Explanations for this were: financial; a lack of progress in management and control of fishery leading to poorer stocks and waste; trying to find a career with a better future than fishing; and finding it difficult to continue with large creel losses.

Approximately 25% of their peers had stopped fishing for the reasons given above. A large majority of that figure would be due to retirement.

The fishermen were asked how they thought the creel fleet contributed to the local economy. The main responses were:

q Major primary employer.

q Many families dependant directly on wages from fishing.

q Relatively high wages.

q Brings in new money to local villages.

q Some secondary employment onshore with companies such as Shieldaig Export.

q Trade to local shops and pubs as most creel-men live in the area.

The same question was posed concerning the trawl fleet. Some answers are as follows:

q "The trawlers contribute very little to the local community. Most of the trawlers are owned east of Inverness and many are owned by large companies i.e. Caley Fisheries, Denholms etc."

q "They don't contribute to the Torridon income but every year they remove thousands of pounds worth of creels."

Finally, the fishermen were asked if they had any other comments to make and the answers are summarised below:

q "Personally I think that it would be worthwhile in the long run, if local boats especially, were converted back to creels. This is the only way it will work smoothly. Also if this was carried out, fisheries would benefit with eventual regrowth of previous overtrawled waters."

q "We can anticipate problems if the area is permanently closed to mobile gear. Too many creel fishermen will move into the area because of the protection. There will have to be some strict licensing."

q "We feel that changes to the way that the inshore waters are managed must come soon. Management must be of a more local nature and have effective controls over all species available. Local policing is essential, most local fishermen would be willing to contribute to the funding as benefits would far outweigh the initial costs. A well managed fishery would result in far more jobs and increased benefits to the local community."

q "I don't think there is any more room for investment in this fishery. I had to diversify with a scallop farm to increase my earnings. There is no power for locals, there should be some form of regulatory order run by a local management committee. This could be one whole order for the Minch which could be split up into subsections. I also believe there should be no more licences made available. The licence should be transferred to the skipper and on retirement the licence would not be renewed. This would cut down the number of boats operating and increase benefits."

q "Over the last 20 years the creel gear that I've lost has never been compensated. There was a terrible mess when I got 3 fleets towed through earlier this year. I've reported this but I don't suppose anything will happen about it. If it wasn't for the BUTEC range there would be no fishery around Applecross at all."

(2.3.5) Conclusions

The Loch Torridon Nephrops fishery is clearly a very productive and valuable resource. The local fishermen of Torridon, Shieldaig and Applecross, in an area where there are few other opportunities, are heavily dependant on this fishery for their livelihood. However, it seems unlikely that the loch is capable of supporting the present level of exploitation.

In October of 1998 Lord Sewel, Scottish Office fisheries minister in Scotland, launched the Scottish Office's three-yearly review of controls on inshore fishing. The review invites fisheries interests, including Local Authority and fishermens groups to comment on and suggest further proposals to improve inshore fisheries management. In the forward to the review, SOAEFD also referred to there being greater scope for the use of Regulating Orders to increase local involvement in fisheries management. However these Regulating Orders apply to all shellfish stock except prawns so trawling and creeling would remain outside the control of local management committees. In the Scottish Office's Review of Controls of Inshore Fishing in Scotland (October, 1998) it was noted that SOAEFD are aware of the problems between mobile and static gear in inshore fishing grounds. However, SOAEFD's approach to the issue reads as follows

q "The Government is of the view that, in general, such conflicts are best resolved through dialogue and co-operation between all parties concerned."

The proposal by the Scottish Office concluded that there should be a continuation of the 6 month ban on mobile gea