Ecosystem approach to fisheries
The objective of this project is to develop and pilot an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) in
the southwest of the UK, supported by indicators and management
tools. Specifically, it will support managers and stakeholders
by:
- the development, testing and reporting of indicators to assess
the status of the ecosystem and the impacts of fishing
- the development of decision tables to see the effects of
different management options and to choose among them.
Indicators are being developed and piloted for the fishing
impacts most likely to compromise UK policy commitments. In
practice, this means indicators for vulnerable species (with an
emphasis on skates and rays), vulnerable habitats, the fish
community and associated ecosystem. The project is seeking to
establish the links between these indicators of ecological state
and indicators of fishing pressure (effort and mortality), as
measured for the main fisheries in the southwest and taking account
of environmental variation and change. From knowledge of the links,
the project will seek to determine the management actions needed to
achieve the desired values of indicators and hence the desired
state of vulnerable species, vulnerable habitats, and the fish
community. This information will be used to develop decision tables
that allow managers and stakeholders to see the consequences of
different management options for the fishery, target species, and
other parts of the ecosystem.
The project outputs are intended to support the development and
assessment of the management systems needed:
- to create a fishing sector that is "managed effectively as an
integral part of coherent policies for the marine environment",
and
- to "promote sustainable fisheries consistent with a diverse and
resilient marine environment" (Securing the Benefits & Charting
a New Course, 2005).
The results are intended to allow the UK to provide
evidence-based scientific advice on the development and application
of indicators and the EAF, and will place Defra in a strong
position to lead and inform discussion on these issues in national
and international fora. The outputs of the research will allow
stakeholders to see the effects of different management options and
allow managers to make clear and scientifically defensible
responses to questions about the application of an EAF, the
progress of the UK Government towards meeting policy commitments,
and the significance of fishing impacts. Results will also allow
Defra to identify and prioritise the issues to address in support
of an EAF, to evaluate management options for the fishing industry,
and to identify and recommend indicators for reporting on the state
of the marine environment. The direction and progress of the
project is being guided by a 'User Steering Group'.