Channel Demersal Non-Quota Species Fisheries Management Plan Consultation Opens

Today (Monday 17^th July) the Channel Demersal Non-Quota Species Fisheries Management Plan consultation has opened for 12-weeks. The consultation closes on 1^st October 2023. As the Angling Trust understand it, there will be two opportunities to respond: online consultation via Citizen Space, and in-person via a Defra roadshow (details still to be announced). You can view the consultation here.

The Channel Demersal Non-Quota Species Fisheries Management Plan applies to the area outlined below:

Many species affected by this FMP are of recreational interest and value. Please see a complete list below:

Bony fish   

• Bib / pouting / pout (Trisopterus luscus)
• Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus)
• Lemon sole (Microstomus kitt)
• Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)
• John dory (Zeus faber)
• Red mullet / striped red mullet / surmullet (Mullus surmuletus)
• Grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus)
• Red gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus)
• Tub gurnard (Chelidonichthys lucerna)

Elasmobranchs

• Lesser spotted dogfish / lesser spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula)
• Starry smoothhound (Mustelus asterias)
• Common smoothhound (Mustelus mustelus)

 Cephalopods   

• Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)
• Elegant cuttlefish (Sepia elegans)
• Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)
• Curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa)
• Veined squid / Long-finned squid (Loligo forbesii)
• European Common squid (Alloteuthis subulata)
• Common squid / European squid (Loligo vulgaris)

The supporting consultation documents are extensive: Consultation document, Channel demersal non quota species FMP, FMP annexes, Environmental report and impact assessment. The Angling Trust will shortly publish an advice sheet for anglers to highlight the key areas of importance to our sport and for anglers who wish to respond to the consultation. We will publish our consultation response in due course.

The Angling Trust remain committed to advocating for ecosystem-based fisheries management, amplifying anglers’ voices in fisheries management decision-making and transitioning UK fisheries away from environmentally damaging practices.

The value of recreational angling has long been under appreciated by government. Through our newfound position as a recognised stakeholder and the opportunity presented by fishery management plans, the Angling Trust are working hard on behalf of recreational sea angling to make this shared vision a reality.

We need anglers like you to respond to the consultation and support the positive aspects of the Channel Demersal Non-Quota Species FMP while pushing back on the less ambitious parts. The more anglers, skippers, clubs, guides, tackle shops and trade businesses who respond to this consultation, the louder our voice.

Thank you to all the members of our community who participated in the initial in-person stakeholder engagement roadshow earlier this year.