Management of oyster fishing is patchy, and does not appear to have been effective at helping native oysters to recover from historically low abundance. Considerable improvements and better data are needed.In England, oyster fisheries are often managed by Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities. In Scotland, most naturally occurring oysters belong to and are managed by the Crown Estate. However some grounds are privately managed due to private ownership of grounds or access to fisheries (known as several orders). For example the Loch Ryan fishery and areas of the Blackwater, Crouch, Roach and Colne Estuaries Marine Conservation Zone are privately owned or managed.Due to the huge decline in native oyster abundance across UK seas and the lack of consistent population studies, it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of current management measures. Long term data is not available to assess recovery from historic depletion levels. Indications from areas that have been recently assessed in Sussex and Cornwall show that oyster populations are not consistently stable or increasing. In Loch Ryan, management prior to 2015 is reported to have increased the stock although more recent updates and management details for this fishery are not readily available. There is limited accessible data for other private grounds or fisheries.In some areas stock assessments have been used to guide oyster catch restrictions. Restrictions in England are determined by the local Inshore Fishery Conservation Authority (IFCA), bylaws. For oysters, these include measures such as limiting fishing times and areas, landings per trip, gear restrictions and seasonal closures in the spawning season. The exact closed seasons vary slightly but include the summer spawning period between May and August. Privately owned sites can have specific license restrictions such as landings caps and minimum landing sizes, but current details are not readily accessible. Recently some areas have been fully closed to fishing due to poor stock or population status.Minimum landing sizes, and the way that they are measured, vary. For example, in Kent and Essex the oyster must pass through a 70mm gauge, while in Cornwall the oyster can rest on top of a 67mm gauge, allowing smaller oysters to be landed. Male and female oysters are understood to mature at 5 cm, so these sizes are likely to protect juveniles. However, as larger oysters are more fertile, smaller landing sizes may limit reproductive potential.Across the UK, a number of restoration projects are in the process of being developed and implemented. The Oslo/Paris convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), suggests that to ensure long-term preservation of the species and habitats, upscaling of oyster restoration is needed. An increase in restored oyster reefs may help to support wild fishery stocks as spat settle outside of conservation areas and increase the availability of locally adapted oysters. The UK Fisheries Act came into force in January 2021 and requires the development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs). In the UK, it is too early to tell how effective management is, as the Fisheries Act only came into force in January 2021. The Act requires the development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) (replacing EU Multi-Annual Plans). FMPs are currently in development, but the scope of them remains unclear. They have the potential to be very important tools for managing UK fisheries, although data limitations may delay them for some stocks. MCS is keen to see publicly available FMPs for all commercially exploited stocks, especially where stocks are depleted, that include: Targets for fishing pressure and biomass, and additional management when those targets are not being met, based on the best available scientific evidence Timeframes for stock recovery Improved data collection, transparency and accountability, supported by technologies such as Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) • Consideration of wider environmental impacts of the fishery
