. 2022 Mar 15;70(1):79–96. doi: 10.1007/s00267-022-01607-w

Table 10.

Experts opinions on Logistics criteria

Criteria	Industry	Academia
Increase in efficiency of fleet	Fishing association (1): “If a fishery is properly managed then the size or numbers of vessels is irrelevant and become a political decision based on social criteria. Efficiency of vessels is an important aspect in that technical creep can have a negative impact on mortality if the number and size of the vessels remains a constant”. “Efficiency increases profit and reduces effort”. Producer (2): “The most important criteria is to match fishing capacity with fishing opportunities. From a long term perspective, efficient harvesting would allow UK seafood to remain competitive on the global market. However, increasing efficiency in an effort based management system can lead to overfishing. Increase efficiency is desirable in a TAC and quota regime”. Producer (1): “Vessels need to be safe to withstand the increasing amount of storms being experiences and their strength. fishing vessels and their efficiency (the fishing capacity) should match the amount of fish that can be removed by fishing: because this will vary we must guard against creating over-capacity in the fleet”. Fishing association (2):“If you can fish efficiently, there is no need to increase the size of your vessel. There is plenty of vessels just now for what they are allowed to catch. Increasing efficiency means less time and energy is wasted”. Skipper(2):“Efficiency increases profit so reduces effort”.	Scientific advisory (1): “Efficiency is important in terms of targeted, selective fishing rather than volume”. Scientific advisory (4): “There need to analysis of the trade-offs between vessel size, number and efficiency in terms of contribution to environmental protection and fish stock sustainability. More vessels will lead to more catch, larger vessels lead to fewer jobs”. Academic (1): “While efficiency is related to both size and number of fishing vessels, it should still be high priority”.
Increase in size and number of fleet	Industry advisory (1): “There are no absolute answers, the fleet segment and the various fishing activities around the coast of Scotland for example, require different classes of vessels and a variety of dimension and performances which cannot be easily simplified”. Owner/skipper (1): “The fleets are good size and supply can meet demand. The fleet does need modernising, but the whole Europe should ban multi-rig before it ruins the market”. Producer (2): “Increasing size or number of vessels very much depends upon whether one prioritises economic return or maintenance of employment in the catching sector (though not necessarily in the processing sector)”.	Academic (1): “Fisheries incorporate a number of different size categories which vary regionally and with regard to individual ports at which there are based. In general increasing size and number of vessels is low priority under present circumstances”. Scientific advisory (2): “More vessels will lead to more catch. Larger vessels lead to less jobs”. Academic (2): “Increasing the size and number of vessels should not be a goal. It should be monitored and any changes factored into decision making. Increasing the efficiency of the fleet should be a focus as it will improve the profitability but include measures to improve the efficiency with which catch species are targeted”.

Criteria

Industry

Academia

Increase in efficiency of fleet

Fishing association (1): “If a fishery is properly managed then the size or numbers of vessels is irrelevant and become a political decision based on social criteria. Efficiency of vessels is an important aspect in that technical creep can have a negative impact on mortality if the number and size of the vessels remains a constant”. “Efficiency increases profit and reduces effort”.

Producer (2): “The most important criteria is to match fishing capacity with fishing opportunities. From a long term perspective, efficient harvesting would allow UK seafood to remain competitive on the global market. However, increasing efficiency in an effort based management system can lead to overfishing. Increase efficiency is desirable in a TAC and quota regime”.

Producer (1): “Vessels need to be safe to withstand the increasing amount of storms being experiences and their strength. fishing vessels and their efficiency (the fishing capacity) should match the amount of fish that can be removed by fishing: because this will vary we must guard against creating over-capacity in the fleet”.

Fishing association (2):“If you can fish efficiently, there is no need to increase the size of your vessel. There is plenty of vessels just now for what they are allowed to catch. Increasing efficiency means less time and energy is wasted”.

Skipper(2):“Efficiency increases profit so reduces effort”.

Scientific advisory (1): “Efficiency is important in terms of targeted, selective fishing rather than volume”.

Scientific advisory (4): “There need to analysis of the trade-offs between vessel size, number and efficiency in terms of contribution to environmental protection and fish stock sustainability. More vessels will lead to more catch, larger vessels lead to fewer jobs”.

Academic (1): “While efficiency is related to both size and number of fishing vessels, it should still be high priority”.

Increase in size and number of fleet

Industry advisory (1): “There are no absolute answers, the fleet segment and the various fishing activities around the coast of Scotland for example, require different classes of vessels and a variety of dimension and performances which cannot be easily simplified”.

Owner/skipper (1): “The fleets are good size and supply can meet demand. The fleet does need modernising, but the whole Europe should ban multi-rig before it ruins the market”.

Producer (2): “Increasing size or number of vessels very much depends upon whether one prioritises economic return or maintenance of employment in the catching sector (though not necessarily in the processing sector)”.

Academic (1): “Fisheries incorporate a number of different size categories which vary regionally and with regard to individual ports at which there are based. In general increasing size and number of vessels is low priority under present circumstances”.

Scientific advisory (2): “More vessels will lead to more catch. Larger vessels lead to less jobs”.

Academic (2): “Increasing the size and number of vessels should not be a goal. It should be monitored and any changes factored into decision making. Increasing the efficiency of the fleet should be a focus as it will improve the profitability but include measures to improve the efficiency with which catch species are targeted”.