DEEPFISHMAN

Management and monitoring of deep-sea fisheries and stocks

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Deepwater fisheries pose particular difficulties for management. Target species are difficult to assess with high levels of uncertainty, they are generally vulnerable to overfishing and sustainable levels of exploitation are low. Ecosystems are impacted by fishing due to the removal of target species, bycatch of numerous fish and other organisms and the crushing of benthos such as e.g. cold water coral and large sponges. However, the impact of fishing on the deepwater ecosystem in general is poorly quantified. DEEPFISHMAN will develop a range of strategy options for the management of deepwater fisheries in the NE Atlantic that will take account of these factors. Firstly, the aim will be to identify new and more effective assessment methods, reference points, control rules and management strategies to be used in the short term, making better use of available data. Secondly, a reliable long-term framework will be developed for which additional data needs will be specified in order to fill current information gaps to achieve reliable long-term management requirements. This work will be developed by examining a range of case studies selected to reflect the different types of deepwater fishery found in the NE Atlantic. In addition two case studies outside the NE Atlantic are selected to give a wider perception of the management and monitoring of deepwater fisheries elsewhere in the world. For each case study current problems with assessment or management will be identified and new methods will be developed and tested. Recommendations for future methods and approaches will be made. The socio-economic profile and projected impact of the management strategy options as applied both through a short- and long-term framework will be examined for selected fisheries. In this way the project outputs will aim to provide robust guidelines for deepwater fisheries management suitable for adoption within the Common Fishery policy. The work will involve an ICPC country.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Growing demand for fish and dwindling stocks has meant that fishermen are now exploiting the deepest parts of the ocean to fulfil demand. An EU-funded initiative studied how best to monitor and manage these deep-sea fisheries.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Management of deep-sea fisheries poses particular difficulties. These include the accurate assessment of target species, which are vulnerable to overfishing. In addition, sustainable levels of exploitation are low. The ecosystem is also affected by fishing, which can result in damage to bottom-dwelling organisms such as cold water coral and large sponges.

The aim of the 'Management and monitoring of deep-sea fisheries and stocks' (http://www.ifremer.fr/deepfishman (DEEPFISHMAN)) project was to develop short- and long-term strategies to address these challenges. The project's findings were used to help reverse negative trends in abundance and reduce the impacts of fisheries on biodiversity and vulnerable marine ecosystems.

Researchers began by identifying new and more effective assessment methods, control rules and management strategies. A framework was also developed for filling gaps in the current information in order to achieve reliable long-term management requirements.

A number of case studies were chosen to reflect the different types of deepwater fisheries found in the North-East Atlantic. Two additional case studies were also selected to give a wider view on the management and monitoring of deepwater fisheries in other parts of the globe.

For each case study, DEEPFISHMAN identified management and assessment problems, developed and tested new approaches, and made relevant recommendations. The project also studied the socioeconomic profile of and predicted impact of the different proposed management strategies over the short and long terms for each fishery.

Stakeholders' involvement was a key part of the project's success, as they offer a unique perspective and source of information. They were engaged through a series of workshops where they expressed their views on the present and possible future management regimes.

The website and a http://deepfishman.hafro.is/doku.php (WIKI) were also launched. The WIKI facilitated communication and collaboration, and was used to conduct a survey and questionnaire aimed at external partners.

Project partners also developed a new fish stock assessment model for species that become confined in a smaller area following exploitation. This is important as total catch rate may not decline if the fish are concentrated in a smaller space. In addition, the project also developed new indices of abundance for deep-sea stocks.

DEEPFISHMAN outcomes offer robust guidelines for deepwater fisheries that can be adopted in the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.