Approaches to fully documented fisheries: practical issues and stakeholder perceptions

Abstract

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform sets out a move to a land-all catch policy in European Union waters with a requirement for full reporting of fishing and on-board processing activity. We explore the merits, stakeholder perceptions and applicability of different technology and approaches to the full documentation of fisheries that might be considered in the context of implementing the CFP reform. While recent efforts have focused on demonstrating how remote electronic monitoring (REM) systems can be utilized in fully documented fisheries (FDF), other technologies and approaches such as reference fleet and self-sampling exist that could contribute to delivering FDF. Perceptions of fishers show that they would prefer using a reference fleet or self-sampling to REM systems as a future method of implementing FDF. In general, there is support from the fishing industry for data collection and enhancement, but there remains some mistrust concerning the use of the data. Findings show that the most appropriate means and methods of FDF will depend on the circumstances and objectives for full documentation whether in enforcing a discard ban, documentation of total catch or data enhancement. We conclude that any technology or approach that will be used to deliver the monitoring requirements for FDF needs to make practical and commercial sense at the fishing vessel level.

Effectiveness of fully documented fisheries to estimate discards in a participatory research scheme

“…The ultimate hurdle remains the reluctance of fishers to accept cameras on-board (Mangi et al, 2015;Plet-Hansen et al, 2016), along with political reluctance to enforce strict control in the fisheries.…”

“…Dalskov and Kindt-Larsen, 2009;Kindt-Larsen et al, 2011;Mangi et al, 2015;Marine Management Organisation, 2013;McElderry et al, 2003;Needle et al, 2015;Ulrich et al, 2015;van Helmond et al, 2015). REM is a full documentation tool that uses closed-circuit-television (CCTV) cameras, GPS and sensors to monitor the fishing operations in-situ.…”

Collection and validation of self-sampled e-logbook data in a Mediterranean demersal trawl fishery

“…Self-sampling by fishermen, that according to Mangi et al (2013) is related to different actions carried out to gather data/samples by their own including, among others, the collection of data and self-recording, could be a potentially attractive alternative or complement for data collection. This is because it may allow gathering haul-by-haul data and increasing the number of sampled trips at a lower cost compared to observers' programs (Kraan et al, 2013;Mangi et al, 2013).…”

Mixed fisheries management: Is the ban on discarding likely to promote more selective and fuel efficient fishing in the Dutch flatfish fishery?

“…Also in flatfish fisheries, there are indications for over-quota discarding and high-grading . Pilot experiments on the implementation of fully documented fisheries in Denmark and the UK indicate that this method may improve compliance (KindtLarsen et al, 2011;Mangi et al, 2013).…”