Sustainable Shellfish from ISC
Here in Bridlington, our hearts and minds are almost as intertwined with the sea as Yorkshire’s gloriously winding shoreline is. For that reason, and many others, we protect the sea and the coast that borders it in several ways:
1. Sustainable lobster and crab pots
The crab and lobster pots dropped by the Independent Shellfishing Cooperative’s (ISC) fishers combine many years of shellfishing know-how with modern methodologies to ensure they are sustainable. This helps to prevent damage to the seabed and the creatures on it.
Rubber wrappings are lashed around the bottom of the lobster pots to protect the seabed and the pot from damage. Plastic trays are also included in our modern pots to prevent the legs of crabs, lobsters and other animals from falling through and breaking or being hurt. Meanwhile, small escape gaps are included to allow undersized animals to crawl out of the pots. Every fisher’s pot designs are unique, but all have one thing in common – they all work hard to protect the seabed.
2. Eco-friendly placement
Our fishers generally only place traps on less sensitive and vital areas of the nearby seabed. This means they avoid damaging structures that play host to a lot of undersea life or hurting the lifeforms themselves.
3. Static on the seabed
Unlike trawler fishing, which can rake up and damage many square miles of the seabed, lobster pots remain static. A row of pots is dropped into place on the seabed and left overnight, or for several days, depending on conditions. Our lobster and crab pots are often created with weighted bases, too. This limits the potential for drifting and rolling, which could damage the seafloor and the benthic (bottom-dwelling) ecosystem. Far from causing damage, the pots can actually contribute to healthy ecosystems on the seafloor…
4. I’m a reef starter
Multi-surfaced lobster and crab pots on the seabed can act as a great basis for reefs and other animal habitats. The pots are solid and still most of the time, making them ideal for seaweeds and mussels to live on. Whole ecosystems can build up from there.
Because the pots are only raised temporarily every few days, the ecosystem is rarely disturbed, allowing lobster pots to contribute to the natural diversity of the seabed.
5. Minimum landing size – Returning smaller shellfish to the sea.
… Sadly, they’re rarely this big
Minimum landing sizes mean that we do not take lobsters and crabs from their homes until they have had a chance to grow up, breed and reproduce. This helps to maintain healthy lobster and crab populations and protects the ecosystem. Escape mechanisms and measured throwbacks ensure that no lobster or crab is landed too early.
ISC are among the world’s most sustainable fisheries
With all the above and more going into protecting and conserving the coast and sea, you would be hard pushed to find a fishery more environmentally friendly than ours. We are always collaborating with our local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) to develop our sustainability, too. So, this will not end anytime soon. To learn a bit more about our sustainable fishing methods, visit our About page.