Fishing effects in northeast Atlantic shelf seas: patterns in fishing effort, diversity and community structure. II. Trends in fishing effort in the North Sea by UK registered vessels landing in Scotland

• Published in: Fisheries research 1999-03, Vol.40 (2), p.107-124
• Main Authors: Greenstreet, Simon P.R, Spence, Fiona B, Shanks, Aileen M, McMillan, Julie A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.); Fishing effort; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Marine; North Sea; Otter trawl; Seasonal variation; Seine net; Spatial variation; Temporal variation
• ISSN: 0165-7836; 1872-6763
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-7836(98)00207-0

North Sea fishing effort data (expressed as hours fishing) for UK vessels landing in Scotland over the period 1960–1994 are analysed. Long-term temporal, spatial and seasonal trends in the use of particular gears are described. Pelagic fishing effort trends were clearly related to changes in the target species. Pelagic effort, mainly pair-trawling targeted at sprats in the 1960s and early 1970s, declined markedly in the late 1970s. In the early 1980s pelagic fishing effort increased again, but was predominantly purse-seining targeted at herring. The spatial distribution of pelagic effort shifted northwards, and changed from winter to summer. Demersal fishing effort varied little over three decades, but marked changes in the type of gear used were apparent. The use of seine nets decreased, particularly in the northwestern North Sea, and otter trawl fishing increased. The spatial distribution of demersal effort is now more widespread than in earlier years, but there has been little change in seasonal patterns.