An important fisheries science meeting will be hosted on the Island during May, highlighting the leading role that the Isle of Man is playing in local and international fisheries management.
Between 14th and 18th May the annual meeting of the ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) Working Group on Crab will take place in Port Erin. ICES is the principal provider of fisheries-science advice for the EU and a highly respected international marine-science organisation. Its working groups, which cover most commercial species, are expert panels of scientists who meet to discuss scientific and fisheries issues for those species and then provide management advice to EU governments. In the case of less-well studied or managed species, such as crabs, then activities relate to developing standard population-assessment methods and collaborating towards providing appropriate fisheries advice in the future.
The first comprehensive research programme for the Island’s crab and lobster fisheries started this year, with the intention of ensuring future sustainability of the industry. Bangor University Fisheries Biologist, Dr Peter Duncan said, “Hosting this meeting on the Isle of Man provides a great opportunity for me and Fikret Ondes (a PhD student working on Manx crabs) to discuss ideas and issues with crab fishery experts from several countries around the North Atlantic”.
Phil Gawne MHK, Minister for the Department, said “This is great news for the Isle of Man, which is fast becoming a leader in fisheries innovation. I look forward to meeting attendees on the day and I am sure that we can learn from the scientists present in relation to monitoring our crab stocks and ensuring sustainability into the future.”
- The meeting will address various topics related to crab fisheries, including;
- Collecting and using the data collected from fisheries and research programmes
- Evaluating the current methods for measuring crab populations
- The biology and life history of crabs, including the potential importance of introduced species
Scientists attending from France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Norway, Greenland, Russia
Minister Gawne and DEFA Chief Executive, Richard Lole, opened the meeting and welcome the scientists at 9.00 am this morning at the Cherry Orchard, Port Erin.
Image Caption: Minister, Phil Gawne, MHK, Richard Lole, DEFA CEO and Jan H Sundet, Chairman of the meeting from the Institute of Marine Research at the opening of the meeting
