Discarding in Mediterranean trawl fisheries—a review of potential measures and stakeholder insights

Abstract

The multi-species/multi-gear nature of the Mediterranean fisheries, the high number and dispersion of landing points, and the varying motivations for discarding make regulation enforcement in the basin challenging. In this study, reasons for explaining discarding are initially explored and then the main focus is on identifying potential incentive mechanisms and other measures that could reduce unwanted catches in Mediterranean trawl fisheries, in the face of the recent landing obligation. Both literature review and stakeholder engagement are employed, while special emphasis is put on the role of socio-economic tools to influence fishers' behavior. Results show that although discarding is mainly driven by market demand, a number of factors have a synergistic effect which is sometimes difficult to disentangle and capture. Regarding measures, evidence from involved stakeholders (marine scientists and fishers) shows that economic incentives but also Bsocial measures^such as more involvement of the industry and raising awareness are offering common ground. However, specific concerns have been also expressed on measures applicability. Overall, reducing discards is a complex issue and solutions should involve a combination of management measures designed for specific fleets and regions. However, irrespective of the synthesis of the management options, it is important to create a framework of action that takes into account human behavior as a source of variability. In this context, actions that for example encourage, engage, and enable can incentivize behavioral change in order to achieve specific outcomes.

Monitoring the Environmental, Social and Economic Dimensions of the Landing Obligation Policy

“…We also faced problems in finding experts on this topic -which is recent-and assessing variables that are not yet significant for tracing changes due to the early phase of LO implementation and this inevitability leads to high subjectivity in the survey input. And yet, the survey revealed that experts, regardless of their scientific background, perceived that the LO will result in no major changes for Mediterranean fisheries which is in accordance with the suggestion that the LO will have less impact on fishing practices for which discards are driven by market rules (Catchpole et al, 2013;Stithou et al, 2019). For less than half of the assessed indicators, experts assumed that the LO would influence their trends in a positive way.…”

“…Participants assumed that only one indicator (i.e., Discard rate) would decrease, although there was a large variation in experts' opinions. The aim of the reformed CFP to reduce the impact of fisheries on the marine environment, "including the avoidance and reduction, as far as possible, of UWCs" (EU, 2013), could be the ultimate oxymoron as the discard ban may not result in a dramatic reduction of UWC and thus it may have a limited impact on the fishing sector or it may create additional problems to the industry (a "Crash Landing" Obligation), if it is not implemented in conjunction with additional measures and in accordance with fisher's incentives and practices (Condie et al, 2013;Christou et al, 2019;Stithou et al, 2019). Effective introduction of discard ban policies relies on high levels of surveillance or economic incentives (Condie et al, 2014).…”

“…There is a strong regional and/or fishery variability in unwanted catch composition and its drivers within Europe (Eliasen et al, 2014), implying the need to follow a case-by-case approach to explore technically possible and cost-effective solutions agreeable to fish producers, consumers and policy makers. It is likely that the LO will have less impact on fishing practices in which discards are driven by market rather than by regulatory provisions (Catchpole et al, 2013), while a number of factors have a synergistic effect on discard patterns which are sometimes difficult to disentangle and capture (e.g., social norms and values) (Stithou et al, 2019). The introduction of the LO may cause changes at multiple scales, including the socio-economic well-being of fishers and the functioning of marine ecosystems.…”

“…If changes follow expectations, the LO may help to achieve values of landings at/above maximum sustainable yield (MSY), in accordance with targets for healthy stocks and accurate stock assessments (Prellezo et al, 2016;Sola and Maynou, 2018). However, an important issue to be resolved is the full reporting of catches (Condie et al, 2014) and the compliance with regulations (Maynou, 2019), which will require high levels of control and monitoring coverage (James et al, 2019), and the creation of the right incentives that will enable the support of the measure by the fishing sector (Stithou et al, 2019).…”

Εκτίμηση Των Επιπτώσεων Του Κανονισμού Υποχρεωτικής Εκφόρτωσης (Κανονισμός ΕΕ Αριθ. 1380/2013) Στη Μεσογειακή Αλιεία

“…υπομεγέθη, μη εδώδιμα, δηλητηριώδη άτομα/ είδη) ή λόγω ελλιπούς χωρητικότητας ή εξαιτίας υπερβολικού χρόνου/ κόστους χειρισμού ή λόγω νομικών περιορισμών (π.χ. απαγορευμένα είδη, απαγορευμένη περίοδος, εργαλείο ή αλιευτικό πεδίο, επίτευξη ποσόστωσης κλπ) (Gillis et al 1995, Alverson et al 1994, Hall et al 2000 ή ακόμα για κοινωνικούς/ πολιτισμικούς λόγους (Stithou et al 2019). Άλλοι λόγοι που επηρεάζουν τους αριθμούς των απορρίψεων αφορούν το υπόστρωμα, το είδος, το εργαλείο, την εποχή, και διαφορετικές τοπικές παραμέτρους που ορίζουν τις εκφορτώσεις , Damalas et al 2018.…”