Implementation of Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) in European fisheries (as elsewhere) is widely recognised by policymakers, managers, and scientists as urgent. The overarching aim of EBFM is to enable fisheries to deliver social and economic benefits, while at the same time ensuring the health of fish stocks and marine ecosystems. However, to achieve this ambition, we need to understand fisheries systems and the priorities of those within them, and address any gaps in our knowledge relating to these.
A key task within SEAwise’s Communication theme has therefore been to compare the needs of European EBFM stakeholders with the knowledge that already exists in the scientific literature, to identify priority areas for research. Alongside this, we need to review what measures are being used in the management of European fisheries, to determine how effective the current management system is when considering EBFM objectives, stakeholder priorities, and currently available knowledge. Answering these core questions will be essential to ensuring the conditions are in place for effective implementation of EBFM.
SEAwise research
Building on earlier work by SEAwise, this report draws together knowledge from comprehensive scoping with stakeholders across Europe, systematic reviews of the scientific literature (details of which can be found here), and a review of current implementation of EBFM in Europe. Here we looked at the two main policy frameworks for fisheries management in Europe, the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), to map existing management targets and existing measures in pursuit of those. We then adapted the UN FAO’s Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Implementation Monitoring Tool (EAF-IMT) to enable us to organise and compare the information gathered from these diverse range of sources. For example, the social category “external human drivers” included human activities that affect fisheries and marine ecosystems but are not directly related to fishing itself, such as offshore wind and coastal pollution; while the ecological category “external ecological drivers” included elements of fish stocks’ surrounding environments and ecosystems, such as sea temperatures and plankton availability.
Based on the above framework, we found that stakeholders’ key topics of concern were more varied and evenly distributed across the social and environmental realms than those addressed in scientific literature or the measures currently used in European fisheries management. This highlights the need for a more diverse set of knowledge around fisheries and the socio-ecological systems in which they exist.
When it came to indicators currently in place to support the objectives of the CFP and MSFD, we found there were none relating to the social category of “external human drivers” or the ecological category “external ecological drivers”, despite the latter being well represented in the scientific literature. This means there are currently no indicators for topics such as the various forms of spatial management (e.g. wind energy infrastructure or marine protected areas) and climate change, despite these both being high priorities for stakeholders.
In conclusion, research is notably lacking when it comes to linking interactions between human wellbeing and other elements of fisheries, while key human and ecological drivers influencing the fates of fisheries are missing from among the indicators intended to support EBFM objectives. As a result, there is a high risk that management strategies for European fisheries are failing to include measures key to achieving sustainable fisheries management. Addressing these gaps will close the current blind-spot facing fisheries managers.
We will continue to work to fill knowledge gaps selected from among those identified in this research. We also aim to create context-specific indicators based on local priorities raised by stakeholders, given the importance of ensuring that fisheries management is tailored to the precise needs and circumstances of each fishery.
Read the full report here.
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