Few appropriate management measures are in place within the district, and their effectiveness cannot be fully assessed due to limited data. A minimum landing size is enforced, as well as gear regulations and permit conditions. However, there are no catch limits responsive to stock status.Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) may have local byelaws and regulations aimed at managing the spider crab fishery. However, with no fishery independent assessments of spider crab stocks, it is difficult to know what management is appropriate and whether it is effective.Within the Devon & Severn IFCA district, vessel length is restricted to 14.99 m within six nautical miles of the coast, and fishers are required to hold a Potting Permit to target crab and lobsters. Category 1 permits apply to commercial fishermen, and Category 2 permits are issued to recreational fishers, who are limited to five pots and three crabs per day. A district-wide Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) of 130 mm applies to both male and female spider crabs, however, there is currently no prohibition on landing berried crabs. This is also below maturity estimates of 136.5 mm for males, and 130.3 mm for females.For Category 1 permits, there are no effort limits, and crab and lobster fisheries are not subject to EU Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits. As a result, landings are not restricted, leaving spider crab stocks vulnerable to overexploitation. However, potting permits do require the inclusion of escape gaps in pots from 1 April to 31 December, which can allow undersized crabs to escape, as well as non-target fish species. Within the district, a no-take zone around Lundy Island prohibits potting entirely.In south Devon, the Inshore Potting Agreement (IPA) is in place to restrict trawling in designated areas so potting can continue. Although originally established to reduce conflict between mobile and static gears, the closures have also led to increased biodiversity and greater abundance of benthic species in some areas.The Devon & Severn IFCA district overlaps with the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve. This reserve operates under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a voluntary Code of Conduct (CoC). The CoC sets a limit of 250 pots per fishermen, with no more than 10 pots per string. Participation in the MoU is voluntary, so not all fishermen abide this limit.At a national level, all vessels registered in the UK must have a domestic fishing vessel license to fish within the UK EEZ for sea fish that will be sold. No new licenses are being issued. All commercial vessels under 10m, with a shellfish license, are required to complete Monthly Shellfish Activity Return (MSAR) forms for the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). These must include the catch and retained weight each day along with the date, name of the vessel, vessel registration number, gear type, area and port of landing. All vessels over 10m do not need to complete MSAR as they will be completing an EU logbook of catches. For all vessels, effort is reported as days fished, and not as pots fished.The Marine Conservation Society views Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) with cameras is one of the most cost-effective tools for providing reliable fisheries data and aiding informed management decisions. Fully monitored fisheries enhance collaboration, data accuracy, stock recovery, and reduce impacts on marine wildlife and habitats. However, the full potential of REM may only be achieved when it tracks fishing location and documents catch and bycatch, particularly where vulnerable species and habitats are at risk. As of January 2024, the EU is introducing a Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) mandate for EU vessels, including CCTV cameras on vessels 18m or more that pose a potential risk of non-compliance, within the next 4 years. Across the UK, different approaches to REM are being taken and legislation is expected to be in place across all 4 countries within the next few years.The Fisheries Act (2020) requires the development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) (replacing EU Multi-Annual Plans) in the UK. 43 FMPs have been proposed and are at various stages of development and implementation, these should all be published by the end of 2028. FMPs have the potential to be very important tools for managing UK fisheries, although data limitations may delay them for some stocks. It is also essential the UK governments define and adopt a standardised approach or model across the four nations to a universally defined FMP design, to ensure the consistence, quality and coherence of all the proposal FMPs.The Marine Conservation Society is keen to see publicly available Fishery Management Plans for all commercially exploited stocks, especially where stocks are depleted, that include:An overview of the fishery including current stock status, spatial coverage, current fishing methods and impactsTargets for fishing pressure and biomass, and additional management when those targets are not being met, based on the best scientific evidenceTimeframes for stock recoveryImproved data collection, transparency, and accountability, supported by technologies such as Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)Consideration of wider environmental impacts of the fishery, including habitat impacts and minimising bycatchStakeholder engagementA Crab and Lobster FMP has been proposed, coordinated by Defra, which incorporates this species. At the time of writing, it is too soon to know whether proposed management measures will be effective in managing the stock. For more information about this FMP and expected progress and timelines, see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-fisheries-statement-jfs/list-of-fisheries-management-plans
