The problem

Hitherto, most fishery assessments and management have been based on single-species assessment across broad areas with little reference to the ecosystem. The CFP is now committed to an ecosystem-based approach to fishery management, a system that recognises different fleets interact differently with the ecosystem and frequently operate over a more limited area than the broad management regions used to date. An area- and fleet-based management regime will be more responsive to both local ecosystem and socio-economic needs and concerns.

Overview:

AFRAME will develop a framework for fleet and area-based fishery management through case studies of the North Sea (data rich, species poor); the English Channel, Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay (intermediate); and the Mediterranean (species rich, data poor). Each of these studies will:

• Develop and test frameworks for describing fleet activity in terms of the fisheries in which the fleet participates, and how it allocates its effort across these regions
• Develop an indicator approach to summarising information and presenting advice in relation to multi-fleet and multi-species fisheries
• Analyse stakeholder perceptions and institutional implications of a shift to fleet- and area-based management

Contribution to policy development:

• A fleet- and area-based management framework will be more responsive to local needs and concerns.
• Measures to safeguard environmental concerns can be focused on the relevant fishery sector without restricting sectors not giving rise to concern.
• Safeguarding the needs and concerns of fishery-dependent communities will be more readily met.
• More refined fishery assessment and management will contribute positively to the long-term sustainability of stocks and fisheries.

Project deliverables

• Case studies of the fleet and fishery structure – April 2008
• Annual progress summary – April 2008
• Implementation of the fleet/fishery and indicator frameworks in the case study areas – January 2009
• Final report – March 2009

Dissemination

• Project website – ongoing
• Newsletter – April 2008/2009
• Presenting progress and key findings at formal and informal scientific meetings – as opportunities arise
• Publication of significant results in international peer-review journals – as needed

Technical information

Project acronym: AFRAME
Project’s official full title: A framework for fleet and area based fisheries management
Research priority: Modernisation and sustainability of fisheries, including aquaculture-based production systems
Specific webpage: Details not yet available
Proposal/contract no: 044168
Start date: April 2007
Kick off meeting: April 2007
Completion date: March 2009
European Commission scientific officer: Petter Fossum, Petter.FOSSUM@ec.EUROPA.eu

Coordinator:
Name: Fundación AZTI-Tecnalia
Abbreviated name: AZTI-Tecnalia
Address: Dept. of Fisheries Resources, Txatxarramendi ugartea z/g, 48395 Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Basque Country
Country: Spain
Tel: +34 94 687 0700
Fax: +34 94 687 0006
Website: www.azti.es

Partners

Name: Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Abbreviated name: CEFAS
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Danish Institute for Fisheries Research
Abbreviated name: DTU
Country: Denmark

Name: Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory  
Abbreviated name: FRS
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Hellenic centre for Marine Research
Abbreviated name: HCMR
Country: Greece

Name: Institute for Fisheries Management and Coastal Community Development
Abbreviated name: AAU
Country: Denmark

Name: Institut Français pour la Recherche et l'Exploitation de la Mer
Abbreviated name: IFREMER
Country: France

Name: Institute of Marine Research
Abbreviated name: IMR
Country: Norway

Name: Wageningen Marien bv
Abbreviated name: IMARES
Country: Netherlands

Name: Institute of Food and Resource Economics
Abbreviated name: FOI
Country: Denmark