Fishermen can predict fish stocks, study finds

FISHERMEN are just as good as scientists at predicting the level of commercial fish stocks, a new study has claimed.

Fishers' perception of changes in distribution of fish concur with scientific data. Picture: PA

A scientist at the Shetland fisheries college compared the knowledge and catch effort with scientifically collected data and found that they reached similar conclusions about the distribution and abundance of stocks in the North Sea.

Fishermen in Scotland have long argued they have a good understanding of the level and whereabouts of different stocks – although quotas are set entirely according to scientific surveys.

Now, they say they have proof in the form of a paper published by Dr Paul Macdonald, a scientist at the NAFC Marine Centre in Scalloway, with colleagues in the journal Marine Policy.

The study examines data for the increasingly commercially valuable species megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) in an area stretching from the edge of the continental shelf north-west of Shetland to the north-east coast of Scotland.

The megrim population has increased in size and range in recent years and has been caught in shallower waters than normal - 50-200metres instead of the usual 250-400metres.

The study concludes that “fishers’ perceptions of changes in distribution and abundance of megrim in the northern North Sea are consistent with [scientific] survey data”.

Dr Macdonald and his colleagues are urging fisheries regulators to make use of the skippers’ knowledge when determining quota levels for relevant species.

Current quotas for many species of fish are perceived to be low relative to the amount of fish available, resulting in high levels of discarding.

The scientists said: “The results of this study indicate that there is considerable potential for the use of fishers’ knowledge and data in the assessment and management process in the demersal fishery in the northern North Sea.”

Leslie Tait, chairman of the Shetland Fishermen’s Association, said: “This research shows very clearly that fishermen have an intuitive understanding of the levels of fish stocks and where they are at any given time.

“While it relates specifically to megrim, I’m sure the same could be said of most species caught in the North Sea.

“I hope our regulators in Brussels, London and Edinburgh take note of this paper and recognise that fishermen can play a vital role in managing the industry, specifically by feeding data in to the process of setting quotas.”

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