2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Fishing - Provision of Fishing Activity Data (Irish Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This report deals with fishing activity in the SEA6 area over the period 1998 - 2003. The different types of fishing carried out are briefly described and the fishing effort is presented in annual and seasonal maps for the area, based on data acquired by aerial surveillance by regular British Fishery Protection flights. The major fleets in the Irish Sea are otter trawlers, beam trawlers, scallop trawlers and potters.