SEAwise Report on consistency of existing targets and limits for indicators in an ecosystem context

• Main Authors: Kempf, Alexander, Taylor, Marc, Kühn, Bernhard, Brown, Elliot, Trijoulet, Vanessa, Vinther, Morten, Rindorf, Anna, Girardin, Raphael, Savina-Rolland, Marie, Lehuta, Sigrid, Halouani, Ghassen, Robert, Marianne, Woillez, Mathieu, Mahévas, Stephanie, Travers-Trolet, Morgane, Andres, Marga, Garcia, Dorleta, Ibaibarriaga, Leire, Sanchez‐maroño, Sonia, Astarloa, Amaia, Batts, Luke, Reid, David, G, Bitetto, Isabella, Spedicato, Maria Teresa, Romagnoni, Giovanni, Giannoulaki, Marianna, Sgardeli, Vasiliki, Tsoukali, Stavroula, Liontakis, Angelos, Vassilopoulou, Celia, Miller, Sarah, Depestele, Jochen, van Hoey, Gert, Piet, Gerjan, Hamon, Katell, Kraan, Marloes, Smout, Sophie, Ransijn, Janneke, Thorpe, Robert, Lynam, Chris, Bluemel, Joanna K., Voss, Rudi, Ojaveer, Henn, Hommik, Kristiina, Melià, Paco, Gascuel, Didier, D., Potier, Mikaela, Ustups, Didzis, Plikss, Maris, Heath, Mike, Poos, Jan Jaap, Binch, Logan
• Other Authors: Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut = Thünen Institute, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung = Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research = Institut Alfred-Wegener pour la recherche polaire et marine (AWI), Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft = Helmholtz Association, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet = Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques de Boulogne (LRHBL), Unité Halieutique Manche Mer du Nord (HMMN), Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), Dynamique et durabilité des écosystèmes : de la source à l’océan (DECOD), Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut Agro Rennes Angers, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro), MARine Biodiversity Exploitation and Conservation - Station Ifremer Sète (UMR Marbec - Station Sète), MARine Biodiversity Exploitation and Conservation - MARBEC (UMR MARBEC ), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Montpellier (UM), Marine Institute Ireland, Institut Agro - Rennes Angers, Technical University of Denmark
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: Conservation and biodiversity; Environmental management; Natural resource management; Fisheries; Common Fisheries Policy; ecosystem- based fisheries management; EBFM; Fishing effort allocation; [SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology; environment; [SDV.SA.STP]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Sciences and technics of fishery; The Landing; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: https://institut-agro-rennes-angers.hal.science/hal-04495754; https://institut-agro-rennes-angers.hal.science/hal-04495754/document; https://institut-agro-rennes-angers.hal.science/hal-04495754/file/SEAwise_D6_7_consistent_targets_final_with_doi%20%281%29.pdf; https://doi.org/10.11583/DTU.25152662

The SEAwise project works to deliver a fully operational tool that will allow fishers, managers, and policy makers to easily apply Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) in their fisheries. This SEAwise report investigates the consistency of existing targets and limits from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Trade-offs between different objectives (ecological, economic, social), targets and limits are highlighted. A wide range of model types (from bio-economic to full ecosystem models) has been applied to various case study areas accross the North East Atlantic and Mediterranean. Although model predictions are by nature uncertain, this study provides important information on likely inconsistencies between existing targets and limits and trade-offs expected under ecosystem- based fisheries management (EBFM). The scenarios investigated include the current range of management applied in terms of the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) concept (i.e. strict MSY approach vs. Pretty Good Yield (PGY) approach allowing sustainable deviations from single species point estimates). The landing obligation is a key aspect of current fisheries management and was fully considered, in particular for mixed demersal fisheries.Maintaining current fishing effort without further management measures was the least sustainable option in nearly all cases studies. This approach led to increased risk of stocks falling below critical biomass limits. Although the fishing effort adaptions needed is highly case specific, this indicates that further management measures are likely to be needed to ensure a sustainable exploitation of all stocks.Scenarios applying a strict MSY approach in combination with the landing obligation as upper limit with fisheries ending when the first stock reaches in most case studies led to the lowest fishing effort. This had positive effects on MSFD related indicators such as bycatch of Protected, Endangered and Threatened (PET) species, benthic impact and the Large ...