WORK THEME 4: ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF FISHERIES

Welcome to our online course on modelling Ecological Effects of Fisheries

Fisheries are known to have unintentional effects on habitats and species which are not directly targeted by fishing activity. This can include the accidental capture (bycatch) of potentially sensitive species, as well as the potential disturbance of seafloor habitats.

SEAwise set out to improve our knowledge of these issues, and identify ways in which different management strategies can lessen their impact. This work also considered the additional influence of non-fishing-related pressures, such as pollution, climate change, invasive species, and algal blooms.

To achieve this, SEAwise looked to:

• Identify the key species and habitats impacted by fishing.
• Evaluate the effects of fishing on key ecosystem indicators, including food webs, marine diversity, seafloor and open-sea habitats, fisheries-related litter, and the bycatch of potentially endangered and threatened species.
• Create an online resource which summarises and visualises the environmental impacts of fishing.