SFS-09-2014: Towards a gradual elimination of discards in European fisheries MINOUW Marco Costantini WWF Mediterranean Program Office Minouw WP6 leader 27/06/2016
The problem What is the challenge addressed and why does it matter? The catch of unwanted species is a pervasive problem of world fisheries. Unwanted catches are returned dead to the sea in most cases, representing a wasteful use of natural resources. in bottom trawling we have highest discard rates of European fisheries: over 40% of discards in bottom trawl targeting Nephrops or cod in European Atlantic fisheries, and similar rates for hake or red mullet in the Mediterranean. Midwater trawls and purse seines, despite their lower proportion of unwanted catches and unaccounted by-catch mortality, produce overall high discards quantities, since they are responsible for the majority of the landings in Europe. Some small-scale fisheries, such as trammel nets for the prized spiny lobster in the Mediterranean, also produce high amounts of discards.
WWF-Canon / Mike R. JACKSON
WWF-Canon / Mike R. JACKSON
WWF-Canon / Edward PARKER
The overall objective to minimize unwanted catches by incentivizing the adoption by fishers of fishing technologies and practices: to reduce pre-harvest mortality and post-harvest discards; to avoid damaging sensitive marine species and habitats. The complexity of the problem of banning discards (sensu CFP) and bringing all unwanted catches to land makes it necessary to follow a multi-actor approach, whereby scientists, fisheries technologists, fish producers and NGOs work collaboratively to provide the scientific and technical basis to achieve the gradual elimination of discards in European marine fisheries.
The general approach The general approach is based on finding technical/technological and socioeconomic solutions on a case-by-case analysis of the main types of European fisheries. The project is now analyzing existing and potential discard-mitigating innovative technologies in workshop/roundtables with participation of fishers, technologists and scientists. The technologies selected are going to be tested in field trials to experimentally assess their efficiency in improving pre-catch identification with observational technologies and pre-harvest loss reduction by gear modification towards light impact gear. The results will be analyzed in terms of technological advances, marketability and cost-benefit analysis;. economic instruments to incentivize selective fishing and discourage discarding practices, such as ecolabelling, fisheries certification and promoting awareness among industry and consumers; mathematical modelling of ecosystem effects of unwanted catches reduction.
Consortium overview 8
9
Number of partners per type of organisation (SME, private company, university, research centre, public authority) Type of organisation Number of partners SME Universities Research centres Public authority Private company Other 1 (FISHSPEKTRUM) 4 (UI, UVP/EHU, UoY, UH) 7 (CSIC, CNR, CCMAR, IMR, CIBM, HCMR, IOLR) 1 (DGMRM) 1 (NISEA) 1 (WWF) 10
The project results DELIVERABLES (01/03/2015 27/06/2016): D1.1 Baseline biological, economic and social data. D1.2 GIS maps (juveniles) D1.3 GIS maps (by-catch) D1.4 Review of the post-release survival of unwanted catches D2.1 Implementation Plan (pilot fisheries) D2.8 Review of Effectiveness of conventional bycatch reducing device D5.1 Stakeholder-based data collection programs The project will last 4 years (March 2015- February 2019)
The project results DELIVERABLES (01/03/2015 27/06/2016): How will objectives be achieved? 3 key words: participatory approach, bottom-up consultations and field work A unique feature of the project is its reliance on the fisheries sector through multi-stakeholder processes involving fishers, scientists and managers. These processes are tailored to real local fisheries, and all stakeholders participate on an equal footing basis. A total 17 specific case studies, including fisheries based on trawl gears, purse seines, dredges, traps, pots, nets and loglines in 7 countries.
D2.1 Implementation Plan (pilot fisheries) An Implementation Plan for the agreed interventions per pilot fishery (including detailed work-plan and management & evaluation plans) obtained through a multiparticipatory stakeholders process (guided by a methodology developed by the project)
D2.1 Implementation Plan (pilot fisheries) Catalan Bottom Trawling Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr 2016 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 2017 1 2 3 4 Regular monitoring on board Lights for fisheries Norw. Lobster Gear modifications for red shrimp 1.4 1.4 Deep Vision field test Sicilian Bottom Trawling 1.5 1.5 Grid field experiments Tuscan Bottom Trawling/lights 1.6 1.6 On board observation/field test 1.8 1.8 Regular fishermen visits Adriatic Pelagic trawling Partecipation in public consultancy Algarve Purse seiners Improving pre-catch identification Enhancing Survuival rates/slipping texts Survival assessment 2 slipping methods 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.2 Meeting with stakeholders N Aegean Purse seiners Update discrd rates 2.3 2.3 Identification causes low discard rates Balearic Boat Seines Monthly stakehloders meetings Regular monitoring on board Biological studies 3.3 3.3 Revision multiannual plan Catalan Trammel Nets Regular Monitoring on board 3.4 3.4 Lights for fisheries targeting invertebrates Selvedge test Tuscan Trammel Nets Selvedge field test Longline SWO Aegena Sea Circle hooks field test 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.6
D5.1 Stakeholder-based data collection programs
Internal use of results Exploitation of the project s technological results will be made according to a business model (http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/canvas) common to all parties in the project. Results are expected to be of three different types: technology to minimize unwanted catches (the exploitation strategy is amenable to commercial exploitation and the technological companies concerned are expected to develop their business plans for the product) technical reports and scientific papers (will be published as open access electronic documents) software with different exploitation strategies (created, adapted or evolved during the project will be fully documented and made publicly available at no charge, subject to intellectual and property rights previous to the project execution).
Impact The project will contribute to the optimization of fisheries exploitation by minimizing unaccounted mortality in the fish harvesting process and, in consequence, building a more resourceefficient exploitation system from the bioeconomic, biodiversity and societal perspectives because: promoting low impact and selective fishing will avoid unwanted catches and reduce discards, as well as minimizing the impact of fish harvesting on marine ecosystems; careful application of more selective fishing methods will decrease the mortality of fish populations and help build demographically-balanced stocks that are more productive and more resilient, increasing the economic value of fisheries; sustainable and resource efficient marine ecosystems provide safe, healthy and high quality seafood for European consumers; and a multi-actor participatory approach ensures that guidelines / directives for management plans in fisheries with high discards (following the principles of FAO guidelines, FAO 2011) are agreeable and enforceable. Impacts will be measured against the current (early 2010s) ecological and economic situation of case study fisheries using GES indicators and indicators of economic profitability. A suite of key indicators will be used to monitor CFP performance within the lifetime of the project and beyond.
Dissemination Target: fishers, fisheries controllers, manager, decision makers: -Capacity building, formative, publication and outreach actions in three workpackages (WP2, WP5 and WP6); - A permanent repository of technological results and other products of interest to end users and civil society will be disseminated through the project website in the form of leaflets, graphic material, video feeds, etc. Produced by the Awareness workpackage (WP6). - A common protocol for technologies developed or advanced during MINOUW, to facilitate their posterior exploitation in a coherent manner.
Dissemination Results and conclusions of the project will be disseminated internally by WP leaders through a dedicated project web site. The results of the project will be communicated to European Commission in the form of progress and final reports, as well as in the form of deliverables. The social dimension of the project will be enhanced through demonstration of results to end users and capacity building programs, including both in-situ courses/fishery exchange and remote training: Fishery exchange in Viareggio: http://minouw.icm.csic.es/?q=content/training-exchange-viareggio
Lesson learnt What are the main success factors that contributed to your project's outcomes? The active participation of fishermen in the project. By dialoguing with end users in order to agree with, or rank, solutions and to suggest a locally-adapted best compromise solution How did you benefit from the participation in a EU-funded project/ international consortium? The project just entered the 2 nd year What are the knoweldge gaps or further research needs you may have identified in your area? The project just entered the 2 nd year