Tom Pickerell

HEAVY catches of lobsters were reported from some UK waters last summer, including higher numbers of small and/or very large lobsters.

UK fisheries statistics note that in 2006, landings of lobsters increased by about 75% compared with 2005 and were at their highest level for at least 12 years.

To describe the geography and scale of this event in more detail, and to find if it was linked to any obvious factors in the fishery the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB) sent a short questionnaire to lobster fishermen and processors throughout the UK to help investigate whether this event was widespread or only local, and whether there was any geographical or seasonal pattern that suggests clues to any likely cause.

Thirty six questionnaires were returned and the results have now been analysed.

The most striking result was that the majority of fishermen state there were more undersized (54.2%) and more small (45.8%) lobsters caught in 2007 than in 2006.

Possible reasons for this include:

. The increased minimum landing size of 90 mm in the South Wales, Devon and Cornwall and Scilly Isles SFCs;

. The introduction of escape hatches in pots; and

. The probable increase in juvenile lobsters on the ground due to increased spawning biomass of the stocks achieved through a maximum landing size in Scotland and the retention of berried and mature females through landing restrictions and v-notching schemes throughout the UK.

However, the estimation of the number of small lobster by processors was found to be significantly different with two thirds considering the amount has remained the same since 2006 and only a quarter noticing an increase.

In addition to the points above, this could be attributed to fishermen returning small lobsters to the fishery.

Furthermore, it seems that the prohibition of landing berried hens by a number of SFCs has been recognised by processors with a third recording less in 2007 than in 2006.

There is no obvious link to fishing grounds although the only report of an increase in berried hens was in North Wales where their landing remains legal.

Dr Tom Pickerell, SAGB shellfish development manager said: "The results from our survey are encouraging as they indicate that current management measures may be achieving their intended results.

"However, this survey was designed to be ‘quick & dirty' and we should be cautious with such a small data set.

"The results do add weight to calls for a more detailed national survey of lobster stocks and we shall be pressing the Government to adequately fund such work - if you can measure it, you can manage it."

The lobster fishery is the UK's sixth most valuable, with a total landed value in 2006 of £26.9m.

Last year, the unit value of lobsters peaked at over £11,000 per tonne - making lobster the most valuable species pound for pound.

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