Ecosystem approach to fisheries (western Channel and Celtic Sea) Simon Jennings, Cefas, UK

Ecosystem approach to fisheries(western Channel and Celtic Sea)

Simon Jennings, Cefas, UK

Aim

To develop and test a management system for implementing an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries

Contributes to Defra (UK) project area MF10 ‘Impact of fishing on the marine ecosystem’

Duration: 2007-2012 (review 2009). Cefas with Universities of Wales, York, Exeter and Newcastle

Ecosystem approach to fisheries

Relevance:


(i) “(minimise) the impact of fishing activities on the marine ecosystem” (Common Fisheries Policy, 2002)

(ii) support the “progressive implementation of an ecosystem based approach to fisheries management” (Common Fisheries Policy, 2002)

(iii) create a fishing sector that is “managed effectively as an integral part of coherent policies for the marine environment” (Securing the Benefits & Charting a New Course, 2005)

(iv) “promote sustainable fisheries consistent with a diverse and resilient marine environment” (Securing the Benefits & Charting a New Course, 2005)

The project will support the development and testing of a management system to:

Project objectives (phase 1):

Develop provisional list of management objectives for fisheries and environmental management

Review fishery impacts on the ecosystem and rank their significance

Develop database and data handling systems and populate with data

Agree fishery units (métiers) for classification of fisheries. Assign vessels and gear types to these métiers


Select indicators and associated reference points

Link changes in state to changes in pressure for biodiversity, fish communities and habitat

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed management system

Assess contribution of each métier to total impact and identify alternate actions to meet target for total impact



Describe the consequences of alternate management options for the fisheries and the environment

Recommend options for implementing an EAF in the Celtic Sea and western Channel

Discuss outcomes with industry and identify options for meeting management objectives



• guidance on data collection and reporting

• classification of fishery units

• objectives, indicators and reference points

• management system to meet objectives

Expected outputs for review at end of project:


Benefits / outputs

Will provide practical insight into the development, data demands, testing and application of a management system to

support an Ecosystem approach to fisheries


This insight will help to support the development of an EAF in the Celtic Sea and western Channel- and hopefully inform

developments in other RAC areas

Documents

Ecosystem approach to fisheries (western Channel and Celtic Sea) Simon Jennings, Cefas, UK