Learning about Accreditation Based on Experience from the Canadian Prawn Fishery Dr Colin Bannister 2008 Annual Shellfish Conference, May CB/Moody Inspiration for the talk Bannister 2006 Towards a National Development Strategy for Shellfish in England Key aspirations : Sustainable management of capture shellfisheries Meet growing trend in the market for products from certified fisheries CB/Moody Strategy Report 2007 English Shellfish Industry Development Strategy (SIDS) Implementation by Shellfish Development Manager, Tom Pickerell: 3 Key Themes for SIDS Giving managers the capability to manage shellfisheries Raising the profile of UK shellfish Security of tenure CB/Moody 3) Fisheries 2027: inter alia Management is responsive & based on agreed criteria for assessing impacts on stocks and the environment Strategic Environmental Assessment: high level process to identify issues due to the impact of fisheries on the environment 4) Accreditation presses all the buttons: rigorous audit of Sustainability of exploited stock Maintenance of ecosystem Effectiveness of the management system Universal focus on sustainable fishing & acceptable impact on environment CB/Moody Scope of the Talk The accreditation process & its questions The Canadian prawn fishery as an example Some lessons for us Link to the proposed National Shellfish Resource Group My credentials for this Long experience of fish & shellfish assessment & advice Developing experience of accreditation Member of 07/08 assessment team for Canadian prawn fishery Peer reviewer for 3 other shellfish and fish assessments (all for Moody International, a significant certified provider to MSC) CB/Moody What happens in an assessment (1) Setting up MSC briefs client on the certification scheme Client chooses certification body from MSC list & agrees process & fees Certification body visits to make pre-assessment (dry run) Client gets confidential pre-assessment report (likelihood of success or not) and decides to Proceed or NOT Finalising Certification body reviews documents, makes determination on fishery Posted on MSC website for 21 days, & subject to objection processes Certification, logo, chain of custody on the product Assessing Next Slide CB/Moody What happens (2) Setting up Finalising Assessing Assessment team appointed, and posted on certification body web-site Certif. body & assess team review Questions (MSC standard). Result sent to client Team assembles documents/details on the fishery Assessment team visits to interview client, stakeholders, scientists, managers Draft report & scoring, then scoring meeting with certification body Agreed draft report with scores, recommendations, conditions Posted for client/stakeholder/public comments, & Peer review Assessment team responds to comments and reviews This is a comprehensive evidence-based audit: lets see how tough the questions are: CB/Moody Principle 1 Sustainability of exploited stock Fishery should not cause overfishing or depletion, but if depleted then is demonstrably moving to recovery Biology, life history: E.g. life history ? Range ? stock structure ? Spawning/nursery areas, migrations ? Demography: fecundity, maturity, recruitment, growth, natural mortality ? Environmental effects on dynamics? Recruitment prediction ? Abundance/density ? The Questions that were put in Canada Essential Issues: How much of the fishery is being certified ? is being managed and measured ? Are the data / assessments adequate to evaluate stock status? If not, then PA ? Are they evaluated against acceptable reference points? Do they deal effectively with data / biological uncertainty? Is there a management plan with specified objectives, tools & rules, etc? Is stock status acceptable, or is the fishery affecting stock structure/productivity? If yes, then are recovery measures in place, and demonstrably effective CB/Moody Management Tools and Measures For input/output control ? Is stock status above ref. levels, and sustaining productivity ? If not: are rebuilding measures specified ? Population Structure and Productivity Stock structure, sex and age data, evidence for sub populations? Are stock structure changes affecting reproductive capacity? NEED NOT BE HIGH TECH: Proxies CAN be acceptable if EFFECTIVE Data & Evaluation Data on fleets, methods & gear, selectivity, size composition ? Landings, effort, discards, fishing mortality, incidental/unobserved mortality ? Effective stock assessment + biomass & fishing mortality benchmarks (Ref Pts) ? Stock status, harvest strategy, relative to Ref Pts & current harvest strategies ? Are uncertainties evaluated and linked to the management advice? Clear harvest rules ? Effects on the target stock Principle 1 continued CB/Moody Principle 2. Sustainability of the ecosystem Fishery maintains ecosystem structure, function, productivity, diversity Questions on Habitat, Target, Non Target species, Ecosystems Data on by-catch, non-retained catch, unobserved fishing mortality? Data on the nature, distribution, sensitivity of habitats? Effect of fishing on non target species ? Trophic position, status, and relationships of target species in the food web ? Could ecosystem recover from effects of fishing? Physical impact of gear on habitat? Unacceptable impact of fishing on habitat? Data on lost gear and ghost fishing? Are there unacceptable impacts on ecosystem function/structure? biological diversity ? community structure, productivity? CB/Moody Are there Management objectives & strategies for detecting/avoiding/reducing impacts? Management measures in place for this ? Data to modify management regime to promote recovery of depleted stocks ? Do the current measures permit recovery ? Data on presence of protected, endangered, threatened species (PET) ? What are effects of fishing on PET spp ? Is there an unacceptable risk? Principle 2 continued This is a tough section: Ecosystem knowledge & management objectives/measures lag behind fisheries Often have to argue by inference from general studies elsewhere (e.g. gear effects) The paradigms and rules are less well defined Responses and scores are under special scrutiny from conservationists CB/Moody Principle 3 There is an effective management system to achieve responsible & sustainable fisheries Managers & their responsibilities/interactions are clearly defined They are consistent with the culture, scale, intensity of the fishery The system is subject to internal review, & external review The fishery meets International Conventions/Agreements & National legislation There are clear short & long term objectives, & procedures to meet them They specify a precautionary approach if information is lacking Procedures are in place to measure performance against objectives There is a consultation process and dispute resolution Subsidies encouraging overfishing? Economic/social incentives for sustainability? Research gaps are identified, and relevant work planned There is research by other organisations, & it is used The management system pursues the management objectives CB/Moody Is surveillance/monitoring in place? Is there evidence of compliance? Corrective actions? Are there gear measures to reduce/avoid by-catch, discards, slippage, high grading? Are methods/gear designed to minimise effects on habitat, and in sensitive zones? Are there destructive fishing practices? Is there operational waste, and appropriate protocols? Are operatives instructed/trained in the aims/methods of management system? Are operatives aware of the management system & its requirements? Do they comply with it? What is the record of enforcement of regulations? Are fishers involved in data collection? Principle 3 continued Resource is monitored, and compared to ref points, There are procedures to reduce fishing, if needed, quickly & effectively Are there measures to avoid/minimise impact on ecosystem? Are no take zones/MPAs appropriate?, established?, enforced? CB/Moody The Moody Assessment Team Experts for each Principle, but working as a team Prin 1 Expert on shrimp stocks and assessments Prin 2 Expert on ecosystem and habitat issues Prin 3 Expert on management and advice Scoring guidelines for each Criterion Agreed written benchmarks corresponding to scores of Each criterion scored Weighted average for each Principle NO scores should be < 60 TO pass, weighted average must be 80 or more for each Principle Individual score can be < 80, but then requires a condition (specified remedial programme and time scale, for subsequent audit) The fishery is still in review, and public consultation has just ended I show how key features of fishery match up to criteria in general But NOT giving scores. Draft reports are on the Moody Web site The Moody Assessments (Units 1 and 2) for client producer associations Unit 1 Northern Fishery (Canadian nationals) Joint with Greenland Canada,Greenld,NAFO Unit 2 Scotian Shelf Unit 3 Gulf of St Lawrence Tavel Moody Int. The Canadian Fishery for Pandalus borealis International (NAFO) Gulf, Scotian Shelf (Canadian) CB/Moody Mostly in Canadian 200 EEZ: management, research, advice, enforcement, by DFO but joint NE stock with Greenland, and International fishery at Flemish Cap (NAFO). Science and management are carried out at the regional level 3 fold increase in biomass after groundfish collapse, so major increase in catches. e.g. Areas t CPUE large vessels Landings from whole fishery reached t in 2006 The Northern Fishery CB/Moody Principle 1 Sustainability of Exploited Stock Good on general biology, distribution, biological structure of stock Predation & temperature affect biomass, but no long term forecast Assessments use size structure, and biomass from groundfish surveys Limited licensed fleets, regional TACs, enterprise quotas, land to licensed processors Good knowledge of fleets, trawl gear, fishing & processing practices. Some pots. Exploitation rate (landings / lower limit of survey biomass) rising but LOW (15-25%) Well below likely natural mortality. No obvious detrimental effects on the stock. No analytical reference points: long term means are used as proxies. Implicit harvest rule: TAC limited to 15% of the rising fishable biomass, taking into account a range of semi quantitative stock and environmental indicators. Issues: inter alia In case biomass declines unexpectedly, should develop more quantitative reference points, decision rules, taking account of uncertainties, & add to the management plan when appropriate CB/Moody Principle 2 Maintenance of the Ecosystem Preliminary info on habitat types, and coral distribution Good info on trophic structure, by-catches No discarding Mandatory sorting grid in trawl reduces fish by-catch Non-target species are known, and the key fish stocks are assessed No unacceptable ecosystem effects of fishing on target/non-target species Trawlers use light rockhopper gear, with 70cm toggle chains from footrope to groundrope to reduce benthic catch. Research on gear is in progress. Closed areas to protect snow crab, corals, plus voluntary code on corals There are data and national policies on protected, endangered, threatened spp. Need more info on, inter alia Habitats; physical impacts of current gear on habitat & charismatic species; Management strategies & measures for the ecosystem should be specified CB/Moody Principle 3 Effectiveness of the management system The Canadian fisheries management system is strong Published 5 year regional management plans with sustainability objectives Limited entry licensing of vessels, and licensing of processors Access & quota allocation rules for established & first nation fishers Implicit that new licences issued on rising biomass, will go first if stock declines Regional advisory committees of managers & stakeholders make adaptive TAC decisions based on scientific surveys & advice, implicit 15% limit on expl.rate, & traffic light environment & fishery indicators. Assessments/advice from DFO scientists in stock advisory report. Reviewed by the Regional Advisory Process (with stakeholders). Mandatory daily position/catch reporting, VMS, aerial surveillance, Target of 100% at-sea observer coverage on large vessels, 10% for smaller ones All shrimp to be landed after hailing in, and subjected to 100% dockside monitoring Issues Develop the short/long term objectives in the management plans Extend the plans to cover ref points, harvest rules, performance indicators under declining biomass scenarios. CB/Moody Summarising Ownership of most of the resource: national control Good science coverage, and good regional advice Regional 5 year management plans, with objectives, access & allocation criteria Licensed limited entry management, annual TACs, enterprise allocations, ITQs. Good stakeholder participation in regional advisory committees. Low exploitation rate (15-25%) of increasing biomass (after groundfish collapse) Strong management and enforcement system, at sea-observers, dockside monitoring of landings. Good compliance (because stock is increasing ?) Need better precautionary benchmarks (ref pts) & defined harvest rules, especially for any future decline in biomass, which will test the management system Reasonable performance on the ecosystem criteria, but needs improvement on habitat, non-target species and biodiversity issues, and more precise objectives and measures for Principle 2 aspects generally. CB/Moody Some Lessons for UK industry Quality of landings and effort data Issues over what proportion of the stock is managed locally Issues over amount of knowledge on local biology and stocks Extent and quality of assessment Stocks need some form of management plan and objectives Some form of reference point, & decision rules under uncertainty Performance indicators and monitoring for compliance Stakeholder involvement May need significant effort to meet information needs for Principle 2 May need thorough review Need to consider the strengths & weaknesses of the local, national and EU management, enforcement and data recording systems from an accreditation viewpoint. Regulating Orders have much to commend them: plans, rules, etc Proposed purpose of NSRG for E&W shellfisheries Strategic : to achieve benchmarks for sustainable, economic shellfisheries that have acceptable environmental impact (to meet 2027 Vision, Accreditation, and SEA criteria) Tactical : harness scientific/technical/ stakeholder expertise to help: set standards for knowledge/data on catch/effort, biology/stock identity, demographics, effects of fisheries on stocks & environment develop ref. points, management objectives/plans, for sustainability (fish & env) assess stock status and ecosystem impacts relative to previous bullet develop best management practice by evaluating management options, harvest rules, technical measures & performance indicators specify work to fill gaps in knowledge meet other needs of inshore managers as required, including guidance on accreditation pre-assessment, information & training TP, CB, AW The principal role is to ADVISE inshore (& sometimes national & EU) managers, but NOT DECISION TAKING