Category: Impact Evaluation

Fishery spatial plans in the Ionian Sea

Lessons learnt developed in https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105456 along with an HCMR-DTU-Aqua cooperation for a simulation study:

We study the cost-benefits of fisheries management options in Ionian Sea.

We use a dynamic spatial bio-economic model taking into account the fishing effort displacement effect.

An effort control benefits the stocks and the economy, but unwanted catch is higher along with the recovery of stocks.

Space-time closures and selectivity improvements slightly reduce the unwanted catch and can help mitigating the problem of unwanted catch.

Placing new aquaculture sites has not affected the profit of small-scale fishery.

Fisheries impact on the seafloor: a showcase in the Baltic Sea

Lessons learnt:
• Restricting fishing areas does not equate to reducing ecosystem impacts on benthic habitats.
• Displacing fishing efforts can offset the gains in partial habitat protection.
• The benthic status in Kattegat improves more than the benthic status in central Baltic when using spatial management measures.
• Largest improvement is achieved by protecting long-lived communities from high-impact fisheries.
• Healthy fish stocks reduce the risk to both the seafloor integrity and fishery economics.

see to see what happens when contracting for example 50% of the fishing effort extent on the core fishing areas, on a pdf presentation here from the HELCOM Action project. Full publication at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2020.105681

Supporting evidence-based marine policy making with impact evaluations

Sophisticated computer simulations can support effective science-based evaluations to facilitate better governance of the marine space with evidence-based policies. We developed a range of spatial fisheries models, integrating biological with fishers´decision-making dynamics and management for assessing the management of multiple activities. We present the outcomes of case-specific evaluations with different ecological and socio-economic characteristics i.e. Adriatic, Ionian, Black, Baltic and Celtic Seas, and priorities like fisheries, aquaculture, offshore wind energy or conservation areas. For each case, we applied the DISPLACE agent-based modeling platform for simulating bioeconomic dynamics and clarifying options for sustainable and viable fisheries in presence of other marine sectors. The work is ongoing and we foresee clear outcomes delivered by mid-2019.