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"As the government’s marine and freshwater science experts, we play a crucial role in keeping our rivers, seas and oceans healthy and productive. As we approach financial year end, activities across Cefas continue apace, working collaboratively with both UK and international partners.
In February's edition of #CefasMonthlyNews, we look back on recent activities which include our Fish Health Inspectors’ work to tackle eel smuggling, a sector-wide symposium on Coastal Health, pollution incident response training in Sri Lanka and the appointment of two new Non-Executive Directors to Cefas."
Neil Hornby - Chief Executive, Cefas
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Science Spotlight
Limited Evidence Base for Determining Impacts (Or Not) of Offshore Wind Energy Developments on Commercial Fisheries Species
 The coexistence between offshore wind and fisheries has raised questions about potential impacts on species that are fished. This is a pressing concern, given the increased policy commitment of many nations to these two sectors sharing marine space.
In this paper, the authors collated, evaluated, and appraised published evidence of offshore wind farm effects leading to impacts on commercial fisheries species. Over 1200 documents featured some evidence of effects on fisheries species, but only 60 provided actual direct evidence of impact.
Overall, evidence on finfish outweighed that for shellfish. Demersal fish are the best-studied group, while elasmobranchs remain poorly studied, and most studies focused on individual or population-level, rather than stock-level parameters, as would be relevant to fisheries. To determine whether an effect can be deemed to be an impact, there must be evidence of measurable changes in production or stock parameters according to agreed, meaningful indicators of change.
Overwhelmingly, the current direct evidence is insufficient to confidently determine impacts of offshore windfarms on fisheries species. Most evidence deals with indirect effects, although these should not be disregarded as they can highlight plausible impacts on fisheries species and help guide research and monitoring. We suggest that resources that go into at marine environmental monitoring should be better targeted to address the direct effects and consequent impacts on fisheries species
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Cefas welcomes new Non Executive Directors
 Cefas is delighted to announce the appointment of two new Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) who are joining the Cefas Management Board. Melanie Siggs and Simon Reeve both bring exceptional expertise that will strengthen Cefas’ capability to deliver positive outcomes for society and nature, in support of the Government's economic and environmental objectives.
Melanie Siggs has worked in global strategic roles for both commercial and NGO organisations across the food systems and timber sectors. She has specialised in fisheries and aquaculture over the past 18 years. She is a Director of the Global Seafood Alliance, Chair of Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability and Ambassador to the Iceland Ocean Cluster.
Simon Reeve is an Independent Director with significant international leadership experience spanning maritime, environment, energy & technology sectors. Simon’s current roles include Chair of Frontier Robotics, Vice Chair and Chair Audit & Risk at the Youth Hostels Association, and Panel Judge on the 3-year International Longitude Prize developing solutions to assist people living with dementia.
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Strengthening Fisheries Compliance in Madagascar
 The Marine Management Organisation's (MMO) Global Marine Team conducted a mission to Madagascar under the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP). This initiative focused on enhancing local capabilities to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by promoting effective monitoring, control, surveillance, and enforcement techniques. The training sessions, held in Antananarivo and Mahajanga, combined theoretical instruction with practical exercises, including onboard inspections of fishing vessels. This collaborative effort aims to foster sustainable fishing practices and strengthen Madagascar's capacity to manage its extensive marine resources.
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Media Spotlight -tackling eel smuggling
 A man has been sentenced after smuggling hundreds of endangered European eels into Wales from Dublin. Stopped by Border Force officers at Holyhead Port in January 2024, an HGV driver had 37 boxes of eels hidden in a pallet locker beneath his trailer. The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN red-list of threatened species, meaning it is at extremely high risk of extinction and as such, it cannot be legally exported outside of the EU.
After a joint investigation by the North Wales Police Rural Crime Team, National Wildlife Crime Unit and the FHI, the driver was charged with customs and animal welfare offences and given a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months and £1,500 fine and 150 hours unpaid work, for causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
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Marine Pollution Response: A Collaborative Visit to Sri Lanka
 Cefas and JNCC Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) teams conducted a technical visit to Sri Lanka to address marine pollution, enhance response readiness, and foster regional cooperation. The visit featured workshops to advance Sri Lanka's State of Marine Environment Report (SOMER), the handover of personal protective equipment for oiled wildlife response, and participation in the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) Symposium. These collaborative efforts are pivotal in securing a sustainable future for Sri Lanka's marine ecosystems.
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Strengthening Marine Enforcement through Knowledge Exchange.
 Marine enforcement officers Kelly Jonas and Peter Young from St Helena visited the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resource Management in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
During the visit, they observed and shared best practices to strengthen enforcement strategies and build valuable relationships between both Overseas Territories.
Facilitated by the Blue Belt Programme, this learning exchange is part of their broader mission to assist the UK Overseas Territories in managing and regulating their marine environments.
Learn Kelly Jonas's insights from the visit in our blog.
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Event Spotlight - Coastal Health, Livelihoods and Environment symposium
 Cefas hosted partners and stakeholders today to discuss the importance of healthy coastal ecosystems as part of the the HM Treasury funded Shared Outcomes Fund, Coastal Health, Livelihoods and Environment programme, which aims to improve our understanding of the health of coastal ecosystems.
We shared ideas on what good coastal health looks like and what tools and knowledge is needed to achieve that together. Discussions and break out sessions focussed on water quality monitoring; a coastal health data explorer to support biodiversity mapping and pollution; community science and engagement; the use of passive chemical sampling and emerging environmental coastal hazards.
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People Spotlight
Each month, we shine a spotlight on the work of a Cefas colleague. This month, we hear from Susana Lincoln, a senior climate change scientist, an author on this month's Science Spotlight paper.
"Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time, and through my role with the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) I translate the science to support climate adaptation. The partnership serves a broad range of end users, and it is important we convey the information effectively to promote positive action. Research is advancing fast, and I help disseminate all that new evidence in the form of online 'rolling updates' that are rigorous as well as clear and brief.
I am also interested on the ecological effects of climate mitigation options such as offshore renewable energy developments, to understand those effects in the context of climate change so we get the balance right. It is hugely important that we communicate our research in ways that connect and resonate with people, so science and society work together for cleaner, healthier oceans, and a better future."
Susana Lincoln- Senior Climate Change Scientist, Cefas, and deputy programme lead of the UK Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership.
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