Northumberland's Lobster V-Notching Scheme
The lobster v-notching scheme has restarted in 2024 following its success in 2000-2017.
Overview
Every year from 2000-2017 Northumberland IFCA (NIFCA) ran a successful lobster v-notching scheme, in which over 20,000 female European Lobsters were purchased, v-notched and released into the Northumberland district. Following the 2017 national prohibition on landing berried hens , v-notching was put on hold. However following feedback from the local industry it has been restarted for 2024.
A Global Solution
V-notching schemes have been implemented globally and are a widely recognised fishery conservation management tool by both scientific and fishing communities to help sustain lobster fisheries.
The scheme’s objective is to maintain a healthy reproductive population to provide continual recruitment of lobster offspring to the stock, creating a sustainable and profitable fishing industry.
Conservation Byelaw
NIFCA Crustacea Conservation Byelaw prohibits the landing of a lobster with a v-notch cut in its tail, thereby protecting it from the fishery. The annual v-notching scheme therefore contributes to the reproductive potential of local lobster stocks.
The previous scheme was well supported by pot fishermen in the district, many of whom attribute it, in part, to the sustainability of the fishery.
How it Works
As part of the programme, NIFCA purchase lobsters from the wholesalers which have been removed from the fishery. Before release, lobsters are measured and recorded, then v-notched. This process involves removing a V shaped piece of the exoskeleton from the uropod, the inner tail flap, of lobsters of reproductive size. While the lobster retains this v-notch, it is essentially removed from the fishery, legally protected by national legislation and NIFCA’s byelaw from being landed.
This year to date, over 1070 lobsters have been measured, v-notched and released across the whole district. This year, one male lobster has been released for every 15-20 female lobsters. Research has been found that female lobsters preferentially mate with larger males and conservation measures targeting only females risks an imbalance between male and females in the local population. V-nothing a small number of larger males can help maintain that balance, increasing the reproductive potential of this ecologically important species.
What We Found
As part of the previous programmes, NIFCA distributed V-notch pliers free of charge to all shellfish permit holders within the district, along with recording forms to capture levels of v-notching carried out by local fishermen. These forms provide valuable information on the levels of v-notching, to estimate the proportion of lobsters that are protected from the fishery and to inform future stock assessments. This aim this year, and for future years, is to encourage this practice again from the local fishermen to contribute to the success of this scheme.
NIFCA would like to extend sincere thanks to Blyth Fish Ltd., D.R. Collins and Sons Ltd., and TC Fish Ltd, as well as several local fishermen, for providing lobsters, without whom this scheme would not have been possible.
It is only by leading, championing and managing a sustainable marine environment and inshore fisheries that we can be successful as an Association.