Introduction to SFCC Annual Meeting - James Hunt, SFCC Chairman
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Talk provided during the Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre Annual Biologist's Meeting, February 3rd and 4th 2016, Milton Birnam Hotel
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Introduction to SFCC Annual Meeting - James Hunt, SFCC Chairman
- 1. ANNUAL BIOLOGISTS’ MEETING DAY 2 Birnam
- 3. COOPTEES David Dunkley (SOAEFD) Ed Christie (FFL) Ron Harriman (FFL) Andy Walker (FFL) Richard Shelton (FFL) Julian Maclean (FFL) Alastair Stephen (Scottish Hydro-Electric plc) Ron Campbell (Biologist – Tweed Foundation) Richard Lyons (Biologist – Tay DSFB) Simon McKelvie (Conon DSFB) Shona Marshall (Biologist – WSFT) James Butler (Biologist – WRFT) Jon Watt (Biologist – L&DFT) Mark Bilsby (Biologist – WIFT) Callum Sinclair (Biologist – WGFT) Adrian Hudson (Biologist - Dee DSFB) Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre (SFCC) Agreement – July 1998 COMMITTEE Andrew Wallace - Salmon Fisheries Co-ordinator Judith Nicol - Director, Tweed Foundation Bob Laughton – Trust Representative, Spey Research Trust Colin Bull - Biologist, Awe Fisheries Diane McLafferty - Head of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries branch John Armstrong - Head of Ecology and Environment Section at Fisheries Research Services, FFL, Ross Gardiner - Senior Scientific Officer at Fisheries Research Services, FFL Danny Donoghue - Durham University
- 4. “The objects and aims of the SFCC are to help its members and others to collect, collate, use, and provide information on salmon and freshwater fish, their habitats and fisheries, in an effective and co-operative way.“ STANDARDISE DATA COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIALIST SOFTWARE PROVIDE TRAINING FOR DATA COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS ENCOURAGE DISCUSSION OF FISHERIES SCIENCECOORDINATE DISSEMINATION OF SPATIAL DATA PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR POOLING RESOURCES FACILITATE CROSS SCOTLAND SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS and PROVIDE FISHERIES DATA TO INFORM NATIONAL POLICY DECISIONS
- 7. Electrofishing - Introductory & Team Leader courses - SVQ accredited (Levels II & III)
Editor's Notes
- As chairman of the SFCC, welcome to you all and pleasing to note that this represents one small step for fisheries management in Scotland with the themed day of presentations from SFCC-MSS You will note the general theme for today is about ‘getting acquainted’. Perhaps it should be the title for the day. Putting names to faces, improving the understanding of what each other does and to reflect and discuss local-national projects While we cant predict where the road leads with the WFR, this is at least a step in the right direction. I think we can certainly agree that better communication is the starting point For the benefit of MSS staff I would like to provide the briefest of overviews for SFCC and its history while providing a personal take on important aspects of the SFCC I will unashamedly look at the positive aspects of the fisheries management structure in Scotland and the strengths of the SFCC fdsf
- This is nearly the most up-to-date map for Scotland as we now have the flow country fisheries trust Each area has its own issues to deal with, whether it be obstructions to fish movement, habitat degradation, acidification, aquaculture on the west coast. In turn, each has its unique approach in terms of its organisation and approach, but there is still a requirement for quality of data. SFCC was established in 1997 at the start of this ‘mini revolution’ in common sense to help Trusts and DSFB’s follow this philosophy of a localised, evidence based approach to fisheries management There has almost always been a manager in a part or full time capacity that was originally based at Durham but now resides at the lab 23 out of 25 listed Trusts on the map are members and what is reassuring, despite the trials and tribulations of the Trust movement, SFCC and the straitened times, a few losses and a few gains, we currently have 23 Trust members & SEPA. Important to note SEPA membership And I think these reflects the members buy-in to the concept of SFCC and the benefits that it can bring
- Reflections on the history of the SFCC. Not quite ancient, but nearly 20 yrs A fee, currently set at £500 (to be reviewed annually), will be required as an annual subscription to the SFCC. There was a 5 year plan Current funding for the development officer’s post is secured until June 1999. This funding has been provided by Scottish Hydro-Electric plc and Anite Systems. The contract of employment of the development officer is between Hydro-Electric and Durham University. The development officer is seconded to the SFCC, as per the terms of this agreement and works to and reports to the management group outlined above. In 2000 it was of key importance to visit all members, identify their current needs, skills etc. Ie service based approach Full circle. Objectives, service based approach, newsletter etc
- Animate fish Here is Sean the fish, because it was invented by Sean … I think it nicely summarises the key aspects of the SFCC constitution without resorting to death by bullet points! It is in the shape of a Salmon which to some degree reflects our Salmo-centric views and focus Perhaps it will need to change shape in the brave new world of ‘all species’ to ‘generic fish And we can be very honest in saying that we do some of this very well. In particular protocols, GIS data and training We have always been about data (or training to collect data), so have never become enmeshed in politics or wider management issues. There has never by an confusion about what SFCC represents Local knowledge and expertise combined with national academic research capability
- There is a Marine Scotland fish. Admittedly not for Marine Scotland Science, but there is one more than one fish now ‘Generic’ fish
- Paradigm of evidence based fisheries management We have to remember that this is probably a unique model. I think they would look somewhat enviously at our model from south of the border
- Reflection of the last 18 years. We easily forget some of the improvements that have taken place over this period Where we have got to with ef and habitat data The standards and qualifications give essential credibility to members carrying out contract work
- GIS in its infancy. Computer hardware restricted capabilities We have generally had a hatred for ESRI and their software which wasn’t very intuitive, regularly crashed without explanation and was expensive Data availability was limited and there was always a cost Data sharing and standards not even a concept We always believed in the potential of GIS but it was certainly very difficult to deliver
- Fast forward 18 years With some irony, just as there is a revolution in free open source GIS software with Quantum GIS ESRI software becomes a lot better (linked to improved computers) Software license reduced to £120 Development of the online (cloud) concept with customisable apps for phones and tablets and ability to create web maps One Scotland Mapping Agreement in the pipeline Communicate better to our audience, be more organised with our data, collect it more quickly with better standards and start to use more of its analytical capabilities We have always been slightly behind the curve and we are never going to catch up, so the challenge is always to keep just behind. SFCC is here to facilitate these things happening in 2016
- Where does the yellow brick road of the WFR lead us to? SFCC is well placed to act as the interface between SFCC and Marine Scotland staff in the local-national paradigm How we communicate and understand what each other is doing has further to go, but this is certainly a useful starting point Within the context of the WFR, SFCC is well placed to act as a forum for discussion, particularly as the development of the different strands of the data strategy, which should be taking place over the next year I believe we should now be working under the transition