One thing we had not been expecting to do any time soon was evaluate a UK cod fishery for potential sustainability. Even if a fishing method was selective with a low general environmental impact, targeting a stock, like that of North Sea cod, believed to be below safe limits would be controversial, to say the least.

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So, while we were aware that the Hastings and other Sussex gill and trammel netters traditionally targeted cod in the winter months we were not expecting to source from it, not least because of the dire straits of cod reported in scientific advice for the stocks in the seas around the UK.

Nevertheless we were encouraged from a number of different people to go and have a look. We heard that Graham Doswell used 120 mm mesh nets for a combination of sole and cod in December, moving up to 170 mm nets in the new year to target large cod of 75 cm or greater, which would have had the opportunity to breed several times. The Sussex fishermen also believed that Sussex cod were not part of the North Sea stock. So we agreed to have a look at the science, and also get out on Graham’s boat in early and late winter to see it in action, and possibly do some sampling with different mesh sizes to see just what was going on under the surface.

So, December saw us heading out on the Halcyon on what was expected to be the first of several fact finding trips. At this point the gear is set for a mixed fishery and during the day a range of species were caught, primarily sole and cod, but also with numbers of (culinary highly under-rated) pouting, and (definitely not under-rated) bass. Problems with the hauler requiring a return to harbour for repairs. A storm was forecast, so all gear was lifted and returned to harbour, later than usual at 15.00 GMT.

At this point, the Halcyon was catching significant numbers of cod over 50 cm, before switching to a dedicated cod fishery in the New Year. In January 2008 we asked Rob Clark, Fisheries Officer of Sussex Sea Fisheries Committee, to assist us with the trial of large mesh cod nets of  165 and 178 mm mesh (6.5 in and 7 in by 0.6 mm monofilament) gill nets. The initial results was very encouraging, as the first trial caught very few fish under 50 cm, with the majority over 70 cm (see this In Brief). However, because Graham was restricted by a cod quota of only 100 kg per month, we had no sooner started this trial when we had to bring it to a halt. Had we had more opportunity, we would have repeated this work, to see how reliable it was, and also trial even larger mesh nets.