2.3.0 Fisheries
2.3.1 Background
The Medina Estuary and Solent support a number of fish populations which sustain a locally important commercial fishery. The main commercial fishing activity which occurs in the estuary is the dredging of oysters in the northern section of the estuary (see Map 2).
Oyster fishery: The native oyster fishery in the River Medina dates back to post-Roman times. It peaked in the late 19th century and became a public fishery in 1897 with the introduction of the Cowes Harbour Act. By the end of the 1920s, the oyster stocks in Cowes had died, a phenomenon which also took place in the wider Solent. Commercial oyster fishing did not recommence until the beginning of 1980. In August 1996, the River Medina Oyster Company Ltd was established to provide a framework for the management of the oyster fishery within the estuary. Consequently, the navigational licence required for oyster dredging from CHC is issued to the company rather than the individual fishermen.
Recreational fishery: The Medina is a popular recreational fishing location for club competitions. Anglers principally fish for flounder, mullet and bass. Objectives and recommendations relevant to recreational angling are listed in the Recreation and Leisure section (2.8)
Regulation: The principal bodies involved in the regulation of the fisheries within the estuary and wider Solent area are Cowes Harbour Commissioners (CHC), the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), Southern Sea Fisheries Committee (SSFC), the Environment Agency (EA) and the Isle of Wight Council (IWC). The Medina River Oyster Company Ltd are required to obtain a Cowes Harbour Oyster Dredging Licence from CHC which limits oyster dredging to times when navigational conflict within the harbour will not occur and to members of the company. Commercial fishing within the Solent (not including the Medina Estuary) is the responsibility of the SSFC whose administrative boundary adjoins CHC jurisdiction. All vessels involved with fishing for the purpose of sale must be registered with the SSFC which regulates inshore fishing through the implementation of byelaws to deal with local problems and management requirements. MAFF is responsible for the implementation of national legislation and European legislation and directives. The EA is responsible for regulating freshwater fisheries and the IWC is responsible for sampling oysters and enforcing food safety legislation.
2.3.2 Issues
2.3.2.1 Improvement in the oyster fishery
The requirements for the production of shellfish are set out in the Food Safety (Live Bivalve Mollusc and Other Shellfish) Regulations 1992, as part of the requirements laid down by an EU Directive. This includes the requirement for the classification of shellfish harvesting areas in Europe and divides areas into one of four classifications:
A - Molluscs can be harvested for direct human consumption;
B - Molluscs can go for human consumption after purification in an approved plant or after relaying in an approved area or after an EU approved heat treatment process;
C - Molluscs can go for human consumption only after being relaid for at least two months in an approved relaying area, whether or not combined with purification, or after an approved EU heat treatment process; and
D - Molluscs must not go for human consumption.
The oysters of the Medina are graded as category C (1998) which requires the shellfish to be relaid for at least two months prior to purification.
Local fishing interests are of the opinion that an improvement in the classification of oysters from category C to category B would enable the potential of the oyster fishery to be fulfilled and would substantially increase the value of the catch due to the reduction in the time needed for the relaying of the oysters.
The Government have now set new targets for all shellfish waters. There will be additional funding to ensure that all sewage entering shellfish waters is treated to tertiary level. This will affect the Fairlee Sewage outfall, which currently receives secondary treatment, thus improving the Medina Oyster Fishery.
2.3.1 Background
The Medina Estuary and Solent support a number of fish populations which sustain a locally important commercial fishery. The main commercial fishing activity which occurs in the estuary is the dredging of oysters in the northern section of the estuary (see Map 2).
Oyster fishery: The native oyster fishery in the River Medina dates back to post-Roman times. It peaked in the late 19th century and became a public fishery in 1897 with the introduction of the Cowes Harbour Act. By the end of the 1920s, the oyster stocks in Cowes had died, a phenomenon which also took place in the wider Solent. Commercial oyster fishing did not recommence until the beginning of 1980. In August 1996, the River Medina Oyster Company Ltd was established to provide a framework for the management of the oyster fishery within the estuary. Consequently, the navigational licence required for oyster dredging from CHC is issued to the company rather than the individual fishermen.
Recreational fishery: The Medina is a popular recreational fishing location for club competitions. Anglers principally fish for flounder, mullet and bass. Objectives and recommendations relevant to recreational angling are listed in the Recreation and Leisure section (2.8)
Regulation: The principal bodies involved in the regulation of the fisheries within the estuary and wider Solent area are Cowes Harbour Commissioners (CHC), the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), Southern Sea Fisheries Committee (SSFC), the Environment Agency (EA) and the Isle of Wight Council (IWC). The Medina River Oyster Company Ltd are required to obtain a Cowes Harbour Oyster Dredging Licence from CHC which limits oyster dredging to times when navigational conflict within the harbour will not occur and to members of the company. Commercial fishing within the Solent (not including the Medina Estuary) is the responsibility of the SSFC whose administrative boundary adjoins CHC jurisdiction. All vessels involved with fishing for the purpose of sale must be registered with the SSFC which regulates inshore fishing through the implementation of byelaws to deal with local problems and management requirements. MAFF is responsible for the implementation of national legislation and European legislation and directives. The EA is responsible for regulating freshwater fisheries and the IWC is responsible for sampling oysters and enforcing food safety legislation.
2.3.2 Issues
2.3.2.1 Improvement in the oyster fishery
The requirements for the production of shellfish are set out in the Food Safety (Live Bivalve Mollusc and Other Shellfish) Regulations 1992, as part of the requirements laid down by an EU Directive. This includes the requirement for the classification of shellfish harvesting areas in Europe and divides areas into one of four classifications:
A - Molluscs can be harvested for direct human consumption;
B - Molluscs can go for human consumption after purification in an approved plant or after relaying in an approved area or after an EU approved heat treatment process;
C - Molluscs can go for human consumption only after being relaid for at least two months in an approved relaying area, whether or not combined with purification, or after an approved EU heat treatment process; and
D - Molluscs must not go for human consumption.
The oysters of the Medina are graded as category C (1998) which requires the shellfish to be relaid for at least two months prior to purification.
Local fishing interests are of the opinion that an improvement in the classification of oysters from category C to category B would enable the potential of the oyster fishery to be fulfilled and would substantially increase the value of the catch due to the reduction in the time needed for the relaying of the oysters.
The Government have now set new targets for all shellfish waters. There will be additional funding to ensure that all sewage entering shellfish waters is treated to tertiary level. This will affect the Fairlee Sewage outfall, which currently receives secondary treatment, thus improving the Medina Oyster Fishery.
| Objective F1 To improve the quality of the oyster fishery . |
|---|
2.3.2.2 Knowledge of fisheries and fish populations
Information about fisheries is limited to the report ‘Angling in the Medina Estuary’ compiled by the National Federation of Sea Anglers (NFSA) and the annual review of angling published in ‘Medina Valley Wildlife’, an annual report produced by the Medina Valley Centre.
| Objective F2 To expand the knowledge of fisheries and fish populations in the estuary. |
Objectives and recommendations relevant to commercial fishing are also listed in the Commercial and Economic Use section (2.2).
Click here to see the Fisheries Action Plan
Page last updated on: 04/09/2001
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