EEA Report: Review of fisheries and aquaculture – a basis for indicator development. Geographic coverage Who will write it? Literature consulted Structure When ?? First results from interviews

Part 1. marine fisheries Part 2. marine & freshwater aquaculture structure following the DPSIR chain with chapters on socio- economic driving forces of the sector, pressures arising from these driving forces, state of fish stocks and aquaculture production, impacts on species, habitats and ecosystems from fishing and aquaculture activities, policy responses and measures to reduce the impact and finally prospective analysis of the developments during the coming years.

.  The European seas and 37 EEA countries plus Balkan countries.  global aspects like the activities of the European fleet in third countries and its relation to overfishing in Europe. geographic focus

. Subcontracts are assigned to experts ICES, GFCM Socioeconomic (EAFE) NCMR, ENEA and individual consultants. Other ETC partners, with marine, fisheries, aquaculture expertise, will be asked to comment on drafts. Authors

DG Fisheries reports ICES reports GFCM reports FAO reports like State of Fisheries and Aquaculture 2002 (Sofia 2002) + Sofia OECD reports like Liberalising Fisheries Markets Scope and Effects, & The Costs of Managing Fisheries: · Fact sheets Eurostat, EEA · EEA proposed set of fisheries indicators Literature consulted

Review papers  Countries reports if necessary like Finland’s  Results of research projects like  IMPRESS: Interactions between the marine environment, predators, and prey:implications for sustainable sand eel fisheries: Contract nr: >QLK5-CT Coordinator Jaap VAN DER MEER European Fisheries Ecosystem Plan’ (QLRT-CT ).  THE UTILIZATION OF DISCARDS BY SEABIRDS IN THE NORTH SEA  REDUCtion of adverse ENvironmental impact of demersal trawls EU- project: FAIR CT

. Detailed Task Plan: December 2002, revised January Agreed annotated list of contents with allocation of work to subcontractors by end of March 2003 Interview sessions during March 2003 Subcontract with authors by end of April Delivery of draft chapters by authors to NCMR by end of May First draft from ETC to EEA by mid June, EEA comments to task leader by end of June Second draft from ETC to EEA by end of July Review of final draft by relevant fisheries organisations by mid September Final version of report from ETC to EEA by end of September Finalisation of report for publication by mid October. Provisional Timetable

. MS Fisheries Indicators Working Group Brussels workshop ( ) Members of this group : Eurostat, FAO, ICES, IBFSC, EAFE, OECD, DG Environment, DG Fisheries and EIFAC. Review Group

.

.

. The fisheries attachés of 8 MS countries were interviewed in Brussels the period of March A questionnaire was distributed to them ahead to allow time for preparation of the responses. Some had communicated the questionnaire to their national experts and had prepared their answers ahead. In 2 cases (Germany, Belgium) the answers came via . The questionnaire included queries on level of interaction with environmentologists, status of implementation of the council Directive 1543/2000 (collection of data), existence of appropriate body at place to assess indicators primarily at the national level and their view on the long term perspectives for fishery and mariculture. INTERVIEWS

. Are there any fishing effort management schemes at national level? Plans for the medium, long term? Discards practices? Would fishermen accept inspectors on board? How many closed areas (no take zones included) to fisheries, coastal, open seas are there at the national level ? Closed to which fisheries? Are protected areas monitored? (fisheries impact studies for fish, benthos, sensitive species) What are the plans for the next years. Do you interact with Environmental managers in your country? Managers of ICZM, Habitats Directive... Legislation in place to ensure enforcement of law? Perspectives on fisheries/ aquaculture

. Fishery is not an attractive sector and is becoming less and less important as an economic factor in many countries. With the new CFP measures reduction of fishing capacity is inevitable.  less vessels and less fishermen. The old traditional fishery is going down because fishermen are getting old and fishing is not profitable.  In some countries only high professional boats using selective gear to catch species of high commercial value will be maintained. Recruitment of young fishermen is difficult  some countries are trying through education to make the sector attractive  Retain of the same level of catches seems to be the best scenario for many countries.  countries are willing to implement technical measures such as closed areas, selective gear but not control fishing effort. Exploitation of new fishing ground (i.e. deep seas) or new stocks (such as the red prawn) are possibilities. Fisheries perspectives

. Public awareness for an ecosystem approach fishery has helped in some countries e.g. decreased the demand for undersized fish.  More countries are ready to promote public awareness.  Active involvement of the fishermen is anticipated  Development of MAGP on a long term basis is required by most countries so as to better plan their fishery management with the stakeholders Development of new highly quality products seems to be a way forward.  Development of more attractive processed products or earlier delivery to the market (the faster you deliver the better) Use of more selective gear to avoid discards is anticipated More interaction with environmentologists in planning is anticipated

Because of strong environmental focus which implies restrictions in the development of aquaculture, some countries are facing difficulties in further developing the sector.  Financial incentives are required to convince further investment in the sector. Saturation of the market with low price products is prohibitive for some countries.  countries are aiming at the development of new processed more attractive products While some countries do not foresee further development, research in others focuses on developing new species such as powan, Octopus, turbot, clams  diversification of aquaculture is a goal countries are working on Aquaculture perspectives

First draft from ETC to EEA by mid June, EEA comments to task leader by end of June Second draft from ETC to EEA by end of July Review of final draft by relevant fisheries organisations by mid September Final version of report from ETC to EEA by end of September Finalisation of report for publication by mid October What is to be done next?