Not to be quoted without prior reference to the authors
© Crown Copyright 2007
Fisheries Research Services Internal Report No 15/07
THE MORAY FIRTH SQUID FISHERY 2006
Rory Campbell and Anne McLay
May 2007
Fisheries Research Services
Marine Laboratory
Victoria Road
Aberdeen. AB11 9DB
The Moray Firth Squid Fishery 2006
THE MORAY FIRTH SQUID FISHERY 2006
Rory Campbell and Anne McLay
Fisheries Research Services, Marine Laboratory
375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB
BACKGROUND
Squid are soft-bodied molluscs which live mainly on the Atlantic shelf moving inshore
to breed. They are relatively short lived, few live longer than 18 months, and most
species reproduce in their first year of life. Squid are taken as a by-catch in some
demersal trawl fisheries around Scotland but also in a targeted small-mesh trawl
fishery in the Moray Firth.
The Moray Firth is an important area for juvenile whitefish and herring. Atypically
high catch rates of 0-group cod were recorded in the outer Moray Firth during FRS’
North Sea Quarter 3 survey in 2005. In the context of cod recovery, the extent of
by-catch of cod in small mesh fisheries is an important issue. FRS’ observer
programme includes sampling the catch of Nephrops trawlers fishing in the Moray
Firth area. There is, however, no routine sampling of by-catch or discards in the
squid fishery or a basis for assessing any impact on whitefish stocks.
Work carried out by FRS in 2005 and 2006 (as part of MF02q) included monitoring
the development of the squid fishery in Moray Firth and sampling squid catches and
discards of non-target species. A summary report to SEERAD, as required by SLA
Target Number 56, is provided below.
The Fishery: An Overview
There has been a fishery for squid in the Moray Firth for at least 20 years. It is a
seasonal fishery, with the bulk of the catch being taken in September and October.
Reports suggest that most squid are caught in the inshore area between
Lossiemouth and Fraserburgh and that the size of squid caught increases as the
season develops. Although somewhat unpredictable, the fishery is important to local
vessels, ordinarily Nephrops trawlers which target squid opportunistically. Vessels
from other areas have participated in the fishery particularly in recent years. Most
fishing is by single rigged trawls using a 40mm mesh cod end.
Trends in Landings
Total reported landings of squid from the Moray Firth 1996 to 2006 are shown in
Figure 1. From 2002, landings increased from relatively low levels to a peak in 2005
when a total of 1075 tonnes of squid, more than half of the total annual landings by
UK vessels into Scotland, were caught in the Moray Firth. The seasonality of the
fishery is evident from Figure 2. In 2004 and 2005 the fishery got underway in June
and continued well into December (Figure 2).
The Fishery in 2006
Landings of squid from the Moray Firth in 2006 of 160 tonnes were substantially
lower than those reported for 2002-2005 (Figure 1). Only seven boats reported
landings in excess of five tonnes over the period of the fishery in 2006, also a
1
The Moray Firth Squid Fishery 2006
considerable reduction compared to 2005 when 43 vessels fell into this category.
Other boats did target squid in 2006, from early June onwards, but the low catch
rates rendered the activity unprofitable for many. This was compounded by prices
which fell from a high of £300 per box in July to £80 a box for the same grade in
October. Another feature of note was the small size of squid, which affected the
prices. Landings in September and October, normally the peak months for the
fishery, were also very much reduced, reflecting the small number of boats fishing for
squid and the unusually stormy weather in the autumn which affected many fishing
operations. Thus, a combination of factors, including relatively low abundance of
squid, led to the squid fishery in 2006 being the smallest in terms of landings since
2001.
GPS Trackers and Tally book Scheme
In 2006 FRS, approached fishermen to see if they would be willing to have GPS
loggers fitted to their boats and to provide tally book records of squid catch on a haul
by haul basis. The aims of the monitoring were to:
-
Provide detailed information on location and fishing patterns in the Moray
Firth
-
Establish the duration and peak times of the fishery; and
-
Collect information on squid catch rates
Six skippers agreed to have loggers fitted to boats. These were deployed in August
2006 and three skippers have since filled in and returned tally sheets to FRS,
although only one provided a comprehensive record. Of the remaining three, one
boat requested that the logger be removed as he was no longer intending to fish for
squid. Another advised FRS he was turning the logger off as he was planning to fish
in a new location which he did not want to be known. This boat, Unity, later sunk in
the English Channel. A third boat still has a logger deployed but has not filled out or
returned any tally sheets.
Fishing positions of squid fishing vessels carrying FRS’ GPS loggers in are shown in
Figure 3. These data are from the vessel returning tally sheets in 2006 and two other
vessels which targeted squid for short periods in 2005 (records obtained during
MF0755).
Analysis of squid catch per unit effort data (kg / hour fishing) from the vessel which
completed tally sheets in 2006 conducted to date has not revealed any seasonal
trends, apart from a fall off in catch rates of small market category squid as the
season progressed.
By-catch (discard) Monitoring
In 2005, FRS obtained three samples of fish by-catch from squid fishing vessels, one
in each of the months September, October, and November. All of the samples were
provided by the boats and worked up back in the laboratory. On board observer
sampling planned was not possible due to staffing and other constraints and
self-sampling was used as a way of obtaining information on discards.
More extensive boat based sampling planned for 2006 was also curtailed. This was
due to a combination of factors, the low level of the fishery, poor weather and
2
The Moray Firth Squid Fishery 2006
requirements to staff other sea-going duties (monkfish surveys and Solstice gear
trials). In the event, it was only possible to sample discards on one fishing trip. This
sample was taken at sea by an observer during August. All of the non-squid catch
was discarded. Information on the discards rates for the main whitefish species and
all fish species relative to squid landings is summarised in Table 1. Discard rates for
cod (mostly 0 group fish) were low (<1%) and those for haddock and whiting ranged
from 0.5 – 8.4%. These percentages should be taken as indicative only. More
regular and extensive sampling over the duration of the fishery would be required to
provide an estimate of the total quantities and age structure of fish bycatch or
discards.
Conclusions and Options for 2007
It was not possible for FRS to achieve the monitoring of the fishery planned in 2006.
However, the work conducted to date suggests that a GPS logger and tally book
scheme would form a good basis for future monitoring of the fishery. Ideally, loggers
should be deployed on a representative sub-sample of boats (8-10 minimum) from
the start of the season (June). Were this approach adopted in 2007 or in future years
it would be necessary enlist additional vessels in the scheme and provide regular
contact and feedback to maintain participation.
Obtaining samples of discards will also be dependent on the cooperation of the
fishermen in the area. On-board observer sampling, a minimum of one trip per
month for the duration of the fishery, should be sufficient to provide an estimate of
the extent of whitefish by-catch. Self sampling or asking fishermen to return the
material which they would have discarded to shore is an option but it is evident that
some fishermen have problems identifying small fish to species. It is also thought
that some might not reliably return by-catch samples which contain small cod.
Monitoring the fishery at the level described above would require considerable staff
time and resources. The requirement for this work and the priority it should be
accorded by FRS in 2007/08 need to be established, and considered against those
for other observer monitoring work.
3
Squid lnadings (metric tonnes)
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Year
Figure 1: Landings of squid from Moray Firth (Stat rectangles 44E5, 44E6, 44 E7
45E6 and 45E7) 1996-2006.
Landings of squid from the Moray Firth 2001-2006
500
Landings Squid (metric tonnes)
2001
2002
2003
400
2004
2005
300
2006
200
100
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
Figure 2: Landings of squid from Moray Firth (Stat rectangles 44E5, 44E6, 44 E7
45E6 and 45E7), January to December 2001- 2006.
Figure 3: Fishing positions of 3 vessels targeting squid in 2005 and 2006.
TABLE 1
Results of catch sampling 2005/2006
Number Hauls
Squid landed
Discards
Squid
September 2005
3
2035kg
Weight
(kg)
0.228
Length
range
(cm)
5-8cm
1118cm
8-24cm
8-17cm
October 2005
4
935kg
%
discards
Number
by
discarded weight*
11
0.01%
Haddock
41.67
1465
2.05%
Whiting
47.85
2429
2.35%
Cod
1.406
73
0.07%
104.86
5.15%
total discards
* % discards by weight relative to squid landings
** % not calculated as poor weather affected squid landings.
Number Hauls
Squid landed
August 2006
3
300kg
Weight
(kg)
Discards
Squid
0
Haddock
25.11
Whiting
5.84
Cod
1.5
55
total discards
Length
range
(cm)
n/a
10-31
10-34
9-27
%
discards
Number
by
discarded weight*
0
n/a
335
8.37
46
1.94
17
0.5
18.30%
Weight
(kg)
0.495
58.746
5.056
0.0068
112.449
Length
range
(cm)
4-16cm
11-34cm
9-34cm
9cm
November 2005**
1
10kg
%
discards
Number
by
discarded weight*
7
<0.01%
1328
129
1
6.28%
0.54%
<0.01%
12.02%
Weight
(kg)
0.239
Length
range
(cm)
2-9cm
0.0696
6.81
0.482
19cm
7-22cm
8-21cm
Number
discarded
24
1
279
16