Objective
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) requires the progressive implementation of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management (EBFM), including measures to 'limit the environmental impact of the CFP'. EBFM requires that managers take account of a wide range of fisheries impacts when setting objectives and attempts to meet these objectives will need to be supported by reliable scientific advice and effective management decision- making.
Indicators can support the decision making process by:
(1) describing the pressures affecting the ecosystem, the state of the ecosystem and the response of managers,
(2) tracking progress towards meeting management objectives and
(3) communicating trends in complex impacts and management processes to a non-specialist audience.
The project 'Indicators for fisheries MAnaGement in Europe' (IMAGE) seeks to develop an operational framework of candidate indicators to support ecosystem-based fisheries management, to elaborate these indicators into comprehensive dashboards to support management decision making, to develop methodology to integrate this information into tools supporting the decision making process, to develop a framework that can evaluate management strategies based on indicators, and to test their applicability in regional case studies, taking into account the diversity of the fishery systems in Europe.
The application of indicators in management systems requires that they are understood by, and therefore accessible to, stakeholders and a major focus of the project will be to engage stakeholders through the emerging Regional Advisory Councils (RAC). IMAGE will thus support the development of an effective EBFM in the context of the CFP, while also contributing to the applied science needed to support the emerging European Marine Strategy and Maritime Policy.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
FP6-2005-SSP-5-A
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
STREP - Specific Targeted Research ProjectCoordinator
9101 WAGENINGEN
Netherlands