How can Fisheries Improvement Projects contribute to the discard policy?

How can Fisheries Improvement Projects contribute to the discard policy?

Lisa Borges DAG, November 2012

Brussels, Belgium

 SFP is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)  Started in 2006 and grown to about $4,500,000 annually  We have 45 people in 15 countries.

 We work with major buyers & suppliers

www.sustainablefish.org

What we don’t do Define “sustainability” ourselves Don’t certify or eco-label fisheries or aquaculture Don’t engage in negative campaigns

Don’t require any certification but do use MSC criteria evaluation Don’t lobby governments www.sustainablefish.org

FishSource.com

www.sustainablefish.org

FishSource.com Score 1 - Is management precautionary?

Score 2 - Do fishery managers follow scientific advice?

Score 3 - Do fishers comply?

Score 4 - Is the stock biomass healthy?

Score 5 - Will the stock be healthy in the future?

www.sustainablefish.org

FishSource.com

Management Score 2 - Do fishery managers follow scientific advice?

Stock Status Score 3 - Do fishers comply?

Environment Score 4 - Is the stock biomass healthy?

Score 1 - Is management precautionary?

Score 5 - Will the stock be healthy in the future?

Low Risk, Medium Risk, High Risk, Data Deficient www.sustainablefish.org

Discards & risk assessments

Management - TACs, tech mea & discard ban Stock Status – exploitation pattern Environment – bycatch & impact of discards Low Risk, Medium Risk, High Risk, Data Deficient www.sustainablefish.org

fix not flee!

1. improve fisheries rather than abandon them

2. join/create a FIP!

www.sustainablefish.org

what’s a FIP? alliance of stakeholders  resolve problems  improve aspect (population, environmental, management)

www.sustainablefish.org

FIP Stages

FIP case studies 1. Baltic cod – monitoring FIP 2. North Sea sprat – work in progress FIP 3. North sea cod – initial FIP 4. Lemon sole – future FIP?

www.sustainablefish.org

Baltic Sea cod FIP – job done! × Very low stock biomass × High IUU × TACs did not follow scientific advice

• Catch documentation • Public refusal of buying IUU fish  Stock is recovering  4 fisheries MSC certified www.sustainablefish.org

North Sea sprat FIP – work in progress × ×  ×

Unknown population status No reference points Catches likely to be sustainable Reduction in TAC

• Promote research & biological data • Support management objectives & EBFM  Wrote letters to management bodies  Participate in industry meetings www.sustainablefish.org

North Sea cod – initial FIP × Very low biomass & high F × 30% unallocated catches × Industry resistance to effort scheme

• LTMP up for revision  Make public statement on the need for fishery meeting sustainability requirements before it can be sourced www.sustainablefish.org

North Sea lemon sole – future FIP? × × × ×

Catch data collection not optimal Stock boundaries are uncertain No reference points & assessment TAC with witch & unmatched stock area

 Investigate the possibility of a stock identification study as part of CEFAS Fisheries Science Partnership  Lobby national Gov & EC for a TAC separation www.sustainablefish.org

Benefits of FIPs  Recognised structured by NGOs  Public reporting can be used by industry & managers  More power to change  Share costs  Share work

Thank you! www.sustainablefish.org