Channel Scallops

The Channel scallop FIP Action Plan identifies 11 actions to address over the five-year duration of the FIP. These actions cover 18 of the MSC Standard Performance Indicators and have multiple milestones associated with them.

To reach the best practice level of the MSC Standard (SG 80), this FIP is focusing on:

Principle 1 (stock status):

Defining appropriate reference points;
Developing a harvest strategy; and
Developing harvest control rules and tools that apply at stock level.

Principle 2 (environmental impact):

Understanding the catch composition;

Identifying interactions with endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species and developing additional management requirements in an ETP strategy;
Assessing the impacts of the fishery on commonly encountered habitats and vulnerable marine ecosystems (VME), and implementing appropriate management;
Documenting current habitat management measures in place, both from within IFCA-managed areas and outside six nautical miles; and
Introducing vessel monitoring systems on all vessels to accurately and reliably record the activity of the fishery.

Principle 3 (management):

Developing a Fisheries Management Plan (FMP), which also documents stakeholder roles and responsibilities; and

Developing short- and long-term fishery objectives.

Progress and updates

The priorities and challenges faced by this fishery are highlighted in the MSC Performance Indicator Graph (right) and correspond to the three principles of the MSC Standard. More detail on the progress against these actions can be found in the FIP Action Plan.

The Channel scallop FIP is independently assessed by FisheryProgress.org. The FIP pre-assessment (conducted in 2016) is available here.

In 2022, the funders and Steering Group members reviewed the impacts of Brexit and the global pandemic on the progress of the FIP actions. They agreed to extend this FIP by two years to ensure that all identified actions impacted by these unforeseen events have the time and attention required to complete them. The updated action plan focuses on progressing the harvest strategy and harvest control rules, in alignment with the Scallop Industry Consultation Group, who are responsible for drafting the scallop Fisheries Management Plan and agreeing fishery specific objectives.

Scoring levels across MSC Performance Indicators for each Channel scallop fishery at the end of Year 6.

The Channel scallop FIP is supported by dedicated experts representing a range of stakeholder organisations.

Participants

Bangor University • Brixham Trawler Agents • Centre for Environmental & Fisheries Science (Cefas) • Coombe Fisheries • Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO) • Falfish • Fowey Shellfish • Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) • Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (Cornwall, Devon and Severn, Southern, Sussex) • Labeyrie • Macduff Shellfish • Marine Management Organisation • Marks and Spencer • Morrisons • Natural England • New England Seafood International • Posiedon • Sainsbury’s • Samways Fish • Scottish White Fish Producers Association • Seafish • South West Fish Producers Organisation • University of York • WWF