Tools and infrastructure
Management policies
Our scientists have outstanding practical experience of the
sustainable management of fisheries, and are lead players in
fisheries management development activities. They advise on the
best approaches to fisheries management, tailored to the specific
political, economic or social requirements of our customers.
Our expertise covers all measures aimed at maintaining,
increasing or recovering stocks for long-term viable fisheries, as
well as exploiting under-fished or previously unfished
resources.
Our experience includes:
- setting quotas, quota management and sharing
- conservation initiatives such as Marine Protected Areas
(MPAs)
- advising on no-take zones
- approaches to ecosystem-based management
- using the precautionary approach to fisheries management
- stock management and recovery plans
- effort-based management.
Integrated information systems
Our teams advise on setting up integrated fisheries management
information systems. They also re-engineer systems to improve
access to information, to reduce running costs and to improve
long-term maintenance through the most appropriate software.
We developed and manage the UK Government's fisheries management
information system. Vessel registration and licensing, commercial
catch landings, quota management, surveillance, vessel
monitoring systems (VMS) and biological sampling data are
combined in a state-of-the-art, modular system used at a large
number of ports and offices around the UK.
The system links through to other governments' systems and to
the regional databases operated by the European Commission.
Population and systems modelling
We provide assessments of single and multi-species dynamics
through the use of powerful, state-of-the-art computer-modelling
techniques. Results are used to predict the effect of
biological processes on fisheries- management strategies, and to
evaluate the impacts of management options in different scenarios,
over varying timescales.
This enables us to formulate management advice that considers
various conditions, including high levels of uncertainty.
For more about our work in this area, please contact us.