Mussel Dredging

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Mussel Dredging

Postby mickser » Fri Jan 05, 2018 2:35 pm

I have been trying to lodge an objection to this but so far can not get any headway until this
MSC Certification for Irish Bottom Mussel Dredging Industry
Postby Ashley Hayden » Mon Jan 01, 2018 12:37 pm

Bottom Mussel Dredging for spat/seed along Ireland's east coast has over the last 30 years caused widespread habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. This is particularly apparent off the coast of North County Wicklow.

The Irish Bottom Mussel Industry with the help of Bord Iascaigh Mhara are seeking a Marine Stewardship Council Certificate which in plain terms deems Bottom Mussel Industry products as sustainably produced and not environmentally damaging.

Over the last 30 years permanent mussel banks, which attracted many species of fish, crustaceans, invertabrates, worms and a host of other benthic creatures have been destroyed by "spat collection" dredging which is a key element in the supply chain to market of Bottom Mussels.

This "dredging" element is so invasive to the benthic environment that the once great mixed fishery off Greystones, Co. Wicklow presents today as a marine desert where thirty years ago it was a marine Garden of Eden which sustained both local artisan fishing jobs and a thriving recreational sea angling product.

If you feel that this MSC cert' should not be awarded submit your reasons through the following link https://fisheries.msc.org/en/fisheries/ ... sel/@@view
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corbyeire (Mon Jan 01, 2018 2:03 pm), mickser (Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:17 pm)
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Re: MSC Certification for Irish Bottom Mussel Dredging Indus
Postby chuckaroo » Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:48 pm

Hi Ashley
Thanks for that. But on the link you provide, is there an actual allocated place to submit a statement or are you suggesting to simply email the Marine Stewardship Council via the 'Contact Us'?
2018 targets/hopes:
First tope
Specimen flounder 2.5lb+ or 40cm+
First bluefin tuna
A 30lb+ shore-caught halibut, a 20lb shore-caught cod, a 10lb+ coley. (Norway)
A Co.Antrim 4lb+ bass
6lb+ wild brown trout

Charlie
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mickser (Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:18 pm)
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Re: MSC Certification for Irish Bottom Mussel Dredging Indus
Postby Ashley Hayden » Mon Jan 01, 2018 3:23 pm

To access the documentation for submissions go to the "Fishery Latest" column at the bottom right of the page accessed by the link above, click on "assessment" which will open up the required MSC page.

Then click on "recently uploaded documents - then - Fishery Announcement Template - then - scroll down to find "Stakeholder Input into MSC Fishery assessments template". A word document, fill in file and send to the head of the MSC assessment team who would appear to be Sam Dignan - email: samuel.dignan@saiglobal.com
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mickser (Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:18 pm)
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Re: MSC Certification for Irish Bottom Mussel Dredging Indus
Postby chuckaroo » Mon Jan 01, 2018 5:36 pm

Ashley Hayden wrote:
To access the documentation for submissions go to the "Fishery Latest" column at the bottom right of the page accessed by the link above, click on "assessment" which will open up the required MSC page.

Then click on "recently uploaded documents - then - Fishery Announcement Template - then - scroll down to find "Stakeholder Input into MSC Fishery assessments template". A word document, fill in file and send to the head of the MSC assessment team who would appear to be Sam Dignan - email: samuel.dignan@saiglobal.com

Sorry Ashley, I can get to the 'Fishery announcement template' no problem but there is no further options to then - scroll down to find "Stakeholder Input into MSC Fishery assessments template"
Plenty of pdf files everywhere but I can't find the word document in question
2018 targets/hopes:
First tope
Specimen flounder 2.5lb+ or 40cm+
First bluefin tuna
A 30lb+ shore-caught halibut, a 20lb shore-caught cod, a 10lb+ coley. (Norway)
A Co.Antrim 4lb+ bass
6lb+ wild brown trout

Charlie
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mickser (Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:18 pm)
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Re: MSC Certification for Irish Bottom Mussel Dredging Indus
Postby Ashley Hayden » Tue Jan 02, 2018 9:26 am

Chuckaroo,

Send an email or call the MSC certification team leader Sam Dignan for info' on how to obtain the template: samuel.dignan@saiglobal.com. Ph: +353 (0)42 932 0912

Regards,

Ashley

By the way, the industry is seeking MSC re-certification, it was originally granted in 2013.

The irony as always when it comes to the commercial sea fishing sector is that there nearly always is an environmentally sound solution but it adds more cost. For example, the laying of seed mussel in an area such as Wexford harbour, regrowing and subsequent collection of mature mussels is a relatively benign environmental activity which in principal is worthy of MSC classification if for example the mussel seed was collected from the water column, as it can be.

As per usual though the cheaper method is chosen, in this case habitat destruction through removal of mature permanent seed beds, of which the industry is always seeking new sites to defile - which is the very reason MSC certification should not be granted.
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chuckaroo (Wed Jan 03, 2018 3:25 pm), corbyeire (Tue Jan 02, 2018 1:45 pm), mickser (Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:19 pm)
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Re: MSC Certification for Irish Bottom Mussel Dredging Indus
Postby chuckaroo » Wed Jan 03, 2018 4:02 pm

email sent to Samuel Dignan.
2018 targets/hopes:
First tope
Specimen flounder 2.5lb+ or 40cm+
First bluefin tuna
A 30lb+ shore-caught halibut, a 20lb shore-caught cod, a 10lb+ coley. (Norway)
A Co.Antrim 4lb+ bass
6lb+ wild brown trout

Charlie
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mickser (Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:19 pm)
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Re: MSC Certification for Irish Bottom Mussel Dredging Indus
Postby mickser » Fri Jan 05, 2018 1:12 pm

If everyone from here were to send or phone Samuel Dignan. on here = samuel.dignan@saisamuel.dignan@saiglobal.com. Ph: +353 (0)42 932 0912lobal.com. Ph: +353 (0)42 932 0912 Maybe we will get some action if not we will at least clog up his E-mails and phone
mickser
I have not fished in two years hoping to change that this year with anything ?
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I have not fished in two years hoping to change that this year with anything ?

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Re: Mussel Dredging

Postby Budner » Sat Jan 06, 2018 10:05 am

Thanks for putting up the link, I've just sent on my opinion and request to stop the dredging madness.

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chuckaroo (Sun Jan 07, 2018 11:28 am)
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Re: Mussel Dredging

Postby chuckaroo » Sun Jan 07, 2018 1:31 pm

Mickser (and everyone else)

I have had a helpful and informative response back from Sam Dignan.

Sam Dignan is 'Fisheries Assessment Officer' at the Irish department of SAI Global, where SAI Global are a company that seem to provide administrative support and advice to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), I guess, and where the MSC are the people who will, from under their own work and from the influence from the stakeholders (anyone with an interest, inc. anglers), ultimately decide whether to (re-)provide or not (re-)provide this mussel dredging certificate.

So anyone here can send an email to Sam Dignan. He should then offer advice on how to 'have your say' and add you to the list of stakeholders (so that you will receive information and updates). You can then go through the appropriate process to air your voice also -

The role of stakeholders in MSC assessments: https://www.msc.org/track-a-fishery/have-your-say

Template for stakeholder comment: https://www.msc.org/track-a-fishery/hav ... assessment
- there should be a link for download about halfway down the page in the “How to Comment” section. If you find that template difficult to use you can just submit in letter form.

Sam points out:
"The most important thing is that you should be aware of is that in order for comments to be as impactful as possible, the details provided are crucial. We can only consider information that is relevant, factual and substantiated (backed up by clear evidence)."

I assume then that if you do not have this 'clear substantiated evidence' of how mussel dredging destroys Maine habitats, or can't get any, then you will have to consider yourself as a member of the 'public' and so voice your concerns that way. Comments from the public are certainly taken into consideration too; the more voice from the public (anglers and friends) the better! Sam goes on..
"As we are already over a month after the site visit, if you would like us to consider any information you have at this stage of the process, it would be good if you could get it to us this week or early next week. If comments are submitted later than this they will of course be accepted but may not be considered until a later stage - during the Public Comment Draft Report stage"

So, as stated, the general public will have the opportunity to view their opinions ('comment') once a draft report is published - registered stakeholders will receive relevant notifications and updates directly (probably via email) of the process, otherwise you would have to keep track yourself.

I hope to put a my (stakeholder) opinion forward, hopefully backed by references to research highlighting the destructive habit of mussel up dredging, over the next few days.

Let's stop these destructive profiteers ploughing up our seabed.
Charlie

2024 targets:
porbeagle, stingers, seatrout, shore skate, shore tope

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Re: Mussel Dredging

Postby corbyeire » Mon Jan 08, 2018 5:27 pm

if anyone has time would it be worth making a standard template for a member of the public response, as opposed to a stakeholder response - im sure far more would send in an email if it was a two minute job?

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mickser (Tue Jan 09, 2018 11:46 am)
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