1. Potential indicators for fish and fisheries
EMMA workshop 2 on "Requirements and data needs to develop assessments of marine ecological processes and biological elements". November 2006.
Henrik Sparholt
ICES’ Fisheries Scientist

3. ~95% (in weight) of total landings (10 mill t) in Northeast Atlantic

4. Norwegian spring-spawning herring
Fishing mortality for age 2-13)
Fpa
Spawning Stock Biomass
Bpa
Blim

5. Conservation limits: how is Blim obtained?
Impaired recruitment ??
Blim

6. Segmented regression analysis

7. Assessment process/framework

8. Towards target F for future catch allowance (catch quota)
The figure represents the decision rule regarding fishing mortality. F ( F ) pa F t B ( B ) B
SSB
lim pa
trig

9. NS cod – target F evaluation

10. No similar close international monitoring and assessment of fishing capacity:
lists for each country of number of vessels by type and size
Eurostat
EEA

11. Normative basis for ICES advice (stipulated in international agreements)
Precautionary Approach
Marine management shall be based on ecosystem approach
Fish stocks shall be maintained or restored to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield

12. Common Fisheries Policy
CFP 1982, 1992, 2002, …
ensure exploitation … that provides sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions. …
precautionary approach …
to minimise the impact of fishing activities on marine eco-systems. …
progressive implementation of an eco-system-based approach to fisheries management. …
economically viable and competitive fisheries …
fair standard of living for those who depend on fishing activities
interests of consumers
MOU between EC and ICES

13. Changing emphasis on management tools
More use of
Closed areas
Effort control
Less use of
Gear regulations

14. Ecosystem consideration
The ecosystem approach means that we are also taking these creatures into account, incidental by catches and keep enough small fish in the sea for food for seabirds

15. Bergen Declaration, North Sea

16. Example: 2007 advice North Sea; Mixed fisheries an issue
Minimal bycatch or discards of cod
With minimum by-catch of spurdog, porbeagle, thornback ray and skate.
With minimal catch of North Sea mackerel, respecting the closed season;
Without fishing for Norway pout or sandeel except if the fisheries are reopened on basis of information that they will rebuild to Bpa;
Within the single-stock exploitation limits for all other stocks .

17. Closed areas for sandeel fishing in seabirds feeding areas (North Sea)
Examples of: Ecosystem effects of fishing influencing single stock advice
Closed areas for sandeel fishing in seabirds feeding areas (North Sea)
Ban on drift nets in the Baltic to protect small whales
Closed areas to protect deep sea corrals
Ban on using explosives in fishing

18. Environment effects on fish
The environment has important impact on the reproduction, growth and mortality in fish stocks
Under adverse environmental conditions the reproductive capacity of the stock may be reduced
Environmental conditions will determine the area of occurence
It is important that environmental impact is not aggravated by fishery
Under adverse environmental conditions important that the reproductive capacity is maintained

19. Indicators suggested Spawning Stock Biomass, F (Fishing mortality),
CPUE index, Blim, Bpa, Btarget, BMSY
F (Fishing mortality),
Flim, Fpa, Ftarget, FMSY
Harbour porpoise by-catch level in % of population
Seal population decrease over a decade in % of population
Kitiwake offspring production in numbers per nest
Nothing for benthos or biodiversity yet!!
CPUE: catch per unit effort (e.g. catch/hour trawling)
MSY: Maximum sustainable yield

20. State of development Revisions of Blim and Flim
Development of more B and F targets and MSY
Out-phasing Bpa and Fpa
F and B only for very few by-catch species
Fleet capacity?
Benthos?
Diversity?

21. Data needs – fish and fleets only
National research institutes and ministries  ICES expert groups  Review Groups  ACFM
All landings recorded by species, area and vessel -- sales slips
Subsampling for age and size compositions
Research vessel surveys (acoustic, trawl, egg and larvae)
Logbooks data on catch per unit effort (all landings sampled)
Basic data collection ~ 50 million € annually (~ 0.8% of value of catch)

22. Data comparability Mostly high comparability for fish
Uncertain for other ecosystem elements

23. Problems Segmented regression S-R notoriously difficult
Multispecies interactions
Misreporting a problem
Climate changes
Mixed fisheries
Other environmental factors and effects
Non-target fish - especially vulnerable fish like some rays, skates and sharks, harbour porpoise.
Non-target benthos – not well understood
Biodiversity
Deepwater species
Eel

24. Thank you for listening