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<p>Currently, more than 58,650 catch records have been submitted using the new catch
recording service for under-10m vessels. To date 79% of vessel owners or skippers
have signed up to use the app in England and the Isle of Man, and in Wales uptake
is 82%.</p><p> </p><p>On 27 September 2020 the Marine Management Organisation (MMO)
altered the licensing requirement for under-10 metre commercial fishing skippers to
submit a catch record before landing. The alteration is a result of feedback from
the catching sector and is designed to support fishermen who have expressed concerns
about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. The change will enable
them to complete this part of their catch record submission on landing if they choose.</p><p>
</p><p>The condition says the record must be submitted before removal from point of
landing to point of sale. It now allows fishermen to weigh their catch on board their
vessel or on shore, ensure connectivity (or phone signal) to submit their record and
get assistance from others if needed. Different ports provide different facilities,
with some offering provision of scales while others do not. Fishermen are at liberty
to purchase scales to assist them should they wish to do so to ensure accuracy.</p><p>
</p><p>In case of connectivity problems, the catch app has been designed to be used
offline to ensure no fishermen are disadvantaged by landing into ports with poor internet
connections. Fishermen can complete and authorise submission of their catch record
even if there is no signal where they are. It is then cached on their device to be
submitted automatically once the fisherman is in an area with better connectivity.</p><p>
</p><p>The alteration to the submission deadline was made in response to feedback
from fishermen that was gathered through engagement during the development and user-testing
of the app and website, the roll-out of the service and ongoing use of the app. MMO
officers in coastal locations are engaging with fishermen on the issue to supplement
guidance. It is an optional way of working for fishermen introduced in response to
concerns from some about estimating weights or weighing on board their vessel. Fishermen
are under no obligation to land their catch before submitting their record and can
continue to submit the required data via the app or website before removing the fish
from their vessels as they have been doing to date.</p><p> </p>
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